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AT WHAT AGE SHOULD A CHILD BEGIN PARTICIPATING IN YOUTH SOCCER?
The answer to this question will vary from child to child. Some children may never be interested in participating in any type of sports. Some children will be extremely ready to participate in many different types of sports at the age of 3 and many child sports programs, such as youth soccer start enrolling children at the age of 3. Before the age of 3 is too young because a child's central nervous system is not fully developed until they are about 3 years old.
Keep in mind that doing something new; is generally much easier the 2nd time we try, than it is the 1st time we try. If a child experiences many different types of positive kid fitness programs at a young age, they will be more likely to continue experiencing many positive youth sports activities as they become adults.
It is important to expose young children to a large variety of experiences and activities. This helps them figure out which activities they want to continue participating in. It also makes it easier for them to join a team or practice a sport, later in life, if they have already had some experience doing the same activity.
Don't force a child to participate in an activity for a prolonged time if it becomes obvious that the child is not enjoying the activity. Once the child has had a reasonable amount of exposure to a new activity, for example, 1 hour occurances on 6 different days, and the child is definitely not enjoying the activity, it is probably time to end this ritual.
An exercise for kid type of program can help a child improve their level of coordination and fine motor movements. A youth soccer league is currently a very popular sport and has proven to be very beneficial and enjoyable for massive numbers of children.
If expense prevents you from enrolling your child or children in organized sports, various exercise books, software, videos & DVD's can be purchased at reasonable prices. Parents can join together; start doing some sports coaching, form their own neighborhood youth soccer league and create their own youth soccer tournament.
Soccer books, soccer software, soccer videos and soccer dvd's can all be excellent sources for learning coaching youth soccer skills. Many are specifically designed for a kid fitness program and managing a soccer team.
Of course, a parent should monitor their child's physical and emotional safety. They should be sure the sport is not too dangerous for their child's abilities. They should also make sure their child is being treated properly by the adult(s) and or child/children they will be interacting with.
Once a parent is sure their child is being properly supervised by an adult or adults; they can use this opportunity to have time away from their child to accomplish other activities that are on their list-of-things-to-do.
If it is obvious that a child is anxious to arrive at and participate in an activity; definitely continue this ritual. If this is the case, however, do not make the mistake of encouraging this child to be participating in scheduled activities every day all day long. An extremely full schedule can be harmful for a young child. They need some free time that is not scheduled and structured.
Studies have proven that children who have ample free time have a tendency to become more creative. They learn to feel content when they are at rest. Studies have also proven that children who have too much free time and not enough structured-time, scheduling and routine; are likely to have trouble with managing their time and meeting deadlines when they become adults. An exercise routine can be very beneficial for children who have attention deficit disorder or hyper-activity disorder.
Young children should be exposed to a healthy balance of free time and scheduled time.
Children who have attention deficit disorder and/or hyper-activity disorder have a greater need for schedules and routines. They will be less likely to manage free time well.
Children who develop too many tendencies to be followers may be likely to follow and imitate the wrong crowds and may be prone to make bad choices during their developmental years. Parents should realize that if their children are questioning what their parents are doing and saying, then, maybe their children are also questioning what people their own age are doing and asking them to do. Children should become independent thinkers to a certain extent when their appropriate age arrives.
Children are not likeley to agree with their parents on every topic. They will naturally have some view points that are different from their parent's viewpoints. Because they have a unique genetic make-up. They will have different interests. They will likely feel comfortable in different environments then their parents do. (For example, some people enjoy interacting with other people most of the day every day; while some people prefer to be left alone most of the day everyday). It is very difficult for some people to comprehend that their friends or relatives have different comfort zones than they do.
People become self confident when they accomplish positive tasks they set-out to do. Achieving good things just makes people feel good about themselves. They are more likely to learn to think for themselves and tell the people who try to introduce them to bad things, "No".
Coaching youth soccer should be age specific. Extensive information can be found on this site regarding: coaching u8 soccer, coaching u10 soccer, u5 soccer drills, u6 soccer drills, u7 soccer drills, u8 soccer drills, u9 soccer drills, u10 soccer drills, u11 soccer drills and u12 soccer drills. Soccer practices should adequatley match the childs developmental stage.
Learning how to play soccer; acquiring new friends or becoming physically fit are all things that make people feel good and self-confident. Consequently, encouraging young children to participate in sports such as youth soccer will give them many opportunities to achieve high child self esteem. Some children will likely enjoy participating in team sports. Some will feel more comfortable participating in individual sports. Children who have attention deficit disorder may have trouble staying focused on what all the different players are doing all the time and the sport of soccer may not be the proper sport for them to participate in. Children who really love to be around large groups of people all of the time may really love being part of a soccer team.
Written by: Dawn Perucca
www.thesoccerlockersite.com
Click on the Home Page tab to view more articles about Coaching Soccer for Adults, Teens and Children; The History of Soccer, Mia Hamm, Pele, Healthy Diets for an Athlete, Manufacturing of a Soccer Ball, Staying Hydrated, Diabetic Athletes, Weight Loss and more.
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