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THE FIRST KICKS MAY WELL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
A child’s first encounter with a soccer ball will almost certainly have a lifetime effect – positively or negatively.
The sheer joy of running and kicking a ball and then running and kicking that ball again will probably occur well before a child enters a formal soccer program. It may be in the backyard, at the park or on the beach with Mom or Dad or an elder brother or sister.
The next big soccer hurdle to be overcome is when a child enters their first “formal” soccer program. Mom and/or Dad will have signed them up – possibly at the urgings of the child.
These days more and more community soccer organizations are being encouraged – even pleaded with – to run programs for players U6, U5 – even U4.
It is particularly important that this first “team and club” experience is a good one. For starters, they may not know many if any of the other children participating and this can be very intimidating for a young child.
We – parents, coaches, club executives – have a major responsibility on our hands. We must do everything we can to enthuse a child about the game of soccer because if we do it could well be “a game for life.”
It is our strong recommendation that community soccer organizations start with some version of our “One-with-One” program and that the progression from “One-with-One” is into a small-sided game format, but in a “Jamboree/Festival” environment.
Learn to play... play to learn!
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