Many parents are more than happy to watch their children play sports like baseball, soccer, tennis or golf, but some have their doubts about soccer. In high school and beyond, soccer is associated with serious and catastrophic injuries, and parents may think their child is likely to get hurt. However, a study conducted by the U.S. Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma revealed that the injury rate in children’s soccer is between 1/3 and 1/9 of the injury rates at the higher levels of the sport.
Characteristics
Children playing soccer must understand what is at stake before they commit to playing. If a child wants to apply for an organized soccer league, he and his parents need to know that many leagues practice at least 4 days a week and play 1 game a week. The season can be at least nine games, and usually there is training for at least 4 weeks before the season starts. To commit that much time to a season that includes blocking, attacking, and other strong moves, a player needs to be old enough to know what he or she is getting into. Kids as young as 9 or 10 may be old enough to make that commitment.
Function
Kids who play organized soccer learn the tricks of the game, and that can help them become good players by the end of elementary school and into high school. Many schools have teams for 14-year-olds, and in high school soccer is open to all students 15 and older. Players who start young have a better chance of competing and becoming good players who enjoy the game compared to those who start later. The experience of the game gives young players confidence to continue playing.
Expert advice
Getting your kids involved with American soccer at an early age can help lead them down a path to a happy and productive life. The key is to make the learning experience enjoyable, says former NFL coach Tony Dungy. “Coaches who achieve an enjoyable experience have the best results with players,” says Dungy. “Coaches must teach players the fundamentals of the game. Enjoyment is an important part of those fundamentals.”
Warning
Putting undue pressure on kids to win at all costs and not make mistakes can turn a potentially wonderful experience into hell. Youth soccer is not about the coach’s win-loss statistics. It’s about teaching young people how to play and giving them an opportunity to learn about teamwork, work ethic and doing their best. Coaches and parents who fail to do this can hurt young people emotionally.
