Youth soccer for girls, boys and your family.

Keep Soccer Fun !!!

Why do kids like to play soccer? What keeps kids playing soccer? This is an important question to ask because, according to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, about 70% of children in sports leagues quit by the age of 13 and never return. Why are we losing these kids and what can we do about it?

In 1990, the Athletic Footwear Association conducted a survey of over 20,000 kids nation-wide and asked children why they participate in sports. These are the top 10 reasons:

To have fun
To improve their skills
To stay in shape
To do something they are good at
The excitement of the competition
To get exercise
To play as part of a team
The challenge of the competition
To learn new skills
To win

The key to successful participation is ensuring that the kids have fun. Keep practices active; avoid long boring lines. Younger kids don’t need to run laps. Many dread this exercise and find it boring. Focus on improving their skills, integrate prizes, play games and scrimmages. Don’t focus on winning and foster the fear of failure. Teach them it is ok to make mistakes and engage in good sportsmanship between team members and other teams. If they have fun they will continue to play the beautiful game for many years to come.

Kicking The Ball

By Soccer4Kicks Leave a Comment

One of the most important fundamental skills of soccer is kicking the ball. Many new players will kick using the toe of their foot. This can result in a longer kick but you lose accuracy. Most of the time the ball should be contacted with the outside, inside, or top portion of the foot. Determining when to use each style of kick is key. Proper guidance from a coach at a young age can help players develop much faster than learning by “trial and error.”

Kicking with your toe – this kick can be used effectively in very close range shooting situations or when a defender needs to kick the ball without delay. Using your toe to kick usually results in lower accuracy but is easy to execute and can be powerful.
Kicking with the inside or outside of your foot – highly accurate but not usually a very powerful kick. This strategy works well when shooting at close range or passing.
Kicking with the top of your foot, “on the laces” – is a more difficult technique to master but is highly accurate and very powerful. This works well for shooting or passing long distances.

Mastering each of the kicks and understanding when to use them will result in more skillful play and a more enjoyable game. If you complete the pass or score the goal you chose right 🙂

Throw-In

By Soccer4Kicks Leave a Comment

A throw-in is a method of returning the ball to play in soccer. When the player throws the ball in they must be facing the field of play, have both feet touching the ground on or outside the touch line, hold the ball with both hands, and deliver it from behind and over their head. The thrower must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player from either team.

Some additional rules are:

The throw-in takes place at the point the ball left the field of play.
All opponents must stand no less than 2 m (2 yds) from the point at which the throw-in is taken.
The ball is in play when it enters the field of play.
You can not score directly from a throw-in.

The Most Popular Sport In The World

By Soccer4Kicks Leave a Comment

Why is Soccer the Most Popular Sport in the World?

There is no doubt that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Over 3.9 billion fans tuned in to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The World Cup has been played every four years since 1930 (with the exception of 1942 and 1946). It is the most watched sports competition in the world. Soccer, also known as “the beautiful game,” is popular due to its ease of entry, entertainment value and global participation.

Soccer is an easy sport to start playing. One needs shoes, a ball, friends, and a goal. Soccer can be played in the dirt, grass, a parking lot or at the beach. Rules are simple: do not use your arms and get the ball into the net. There are a few other rules but most people can learn them easily. Size matters less in soccer; agility is more important. Young and old can play. Soccer truly is an easy sport to begin playing.

The “beautiful game” is also very appealing to watch. A soccer match is 90 minutes long and played at a fast pace with almost constant action. Soccer fans are extremely passionate and can be part of the entertainment at the games. Additionally, the skill level of professional soccer players is amazing. Watching the winning goal go into the net can be a very satisfying experience. Fans worldwide would agree that watching soccer is a fun pastime.

Soccer is popular all over the world. Nearly every country has its own soccer league. A country’s team is a source of national pride for its citizens. Watching a national team compete unifies countries that have strife within. Few countries have another viable national sport. During the World Cup, the entire planet comes together to watch the world’s teams compete. The global popularity of soccer is most evident during the World Cup.

Soccer is easy to play, fun to watch, and popular in most countries. Anyone can learn to play; there are few barriers to the sport. Watching soccer is a pastime that most people enjoy immensely. It enjoys worldwide popularity. If you haven’t tried playing soccer, try it. If you haven’t watched a soccer match, go to a live match. Then you can experience the beautiful game for yourself.

Picking your team

By Soccer4Kicks Leave a Comment

Picking the right soccer club and team for your child to play on takes some thought about what you and your child want to achieve. Players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge but it must also be fun.

Some things to consider when picking a soccer club are:

What is your current skill level – Are you new to the game or a seasoned player. Will you be improving rapidly or have you already developed your skills to a level where you are “fine tuning” your abilities.
What are your goals – fun, socialization, character building, responsibility, college scholarship, olympics, pro-team, career, coaching, training?
Does the coaching focus on advanced game strategies or the basic fundamentals of soccer?
This will be an important peer group for your child. Will some of the players on the team make good friends?
What days does the team practice and how often?
How far do you have to travel for games?
In the off season do many players participate in training camps or maybe play on a Futsal league?
How much does it cost to play on this team. Do you have to buy jerseys, pay tournament fees, travel and hotel fees?
Do you have options for carpooling to practice and games?
Are the other parents and their families enjoyable to spend your weekends with?
Some clubs have guidelines where all players get to play – win or lose.
Are the competing teams in the league of equal ability. It’s more fun and beneficial when games are close.
Is good sportsmanship promoted or is winning at all costs more important.

If you pick the right club to join, soccer might become a lifestyle for your family. It can be a fun adventure bringing your family closer together. Give your child the chance to learn about life, sportsmanship, the fun of competition and physical activity with the opportunity to play soccer.