Kids & Soccer
Fun
There it is, the pack. A solid throbbing mass of children chasing a ball. What is this all about? Why do children play sports? Well, kids play sports because it’s fun and exciting. However kids do vary in their personalities, so one child’s definition of fun can be quite different from another. For example one child might really enjoy the social aspects while another derives great satisfaction developing their personal skills. Regardless of what makes the game fun for a child, it’s important to know that if they are not having fun, they will likely quit.
Exercise
The secret is that while they are having fun, you know there is a lot more going on. As a parent you know that your child two or three days a week is getting exercise in a healthy social atmosphere. Sports offer children a fantastic environment that can improve both their emotional and physical health. Kids that exercise regularly and continue to do so throughout their lives are less likely to contract diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions. Regular exercise has also been shown to improve a child’s abilities in the areas of reading and math
Social Skills
The added benefit of soccer beyond simply getting exercise is that kids develop valuable social skills. Kids learn how to get along with others, be part of a team, and learn about tolerance, fairness and responsibility. Soccer can be a very good character building experience for a child. Character is meant as the total set of experiences the child gains by participating. In soccer your son or daughter will come in contact with rules, respect, teamwork, success and failure.
Soccer provides the environment in which kids can have those experiences. However, the adults define the environment. The adults play an important role in determining whether or not those experiences are positive or negative. If cheating, abusive behavior and violence are ok with the adults, bad habits will be passed on directly to the children.
Violence in soccer is completely intolerable no matter what the age or level of play. In soccer the same rules and expectations of conduct apply to adults and kids. This similarity provides a good role-model situation because the professionals are held to the same standards as the children. This consistency dramatically reduces the mixed messages on behavior kids receive in other professional sports.
However the weakest link in conveying the message of fair play is likely to be not the player or officials, but the parents and coaches. You have to understand that even as a parent you are part of the overall experience all the kids have in soccer.
