North Carolina Youth Soccer Presents

A Parents Guide to Recreational Soccer“The Game for All Kids!”

This presentation is designed to introduce the game of soccer to parents of recreational

players and increase the benefits of the sport without limiting the child

What Can I Expect?“Play is the Key to Open Many Doors”

Dr. Marianne Torbet

Why Do Players Play?1. To Have Fun

2. To Be With Their Friends

3. To Make New Friends

4. To Improve and Learn

5. To Feel Good

6. To Wear the Stuff

(US Youth Soccer)

• Soccer is “the game for all kids” and that means there will be all types of kids playing together

• Children will differ greatly due to age, gender and maturity• Soccer will help develop FUN, SELF-ESTEEM, TEAMWORK, FRIENDSHIPS• In soccer they will be able to run, kick, jump, roll, skip, fall down and shout –

which is essential for mental and physical development

From an early age, every child loves to play with a ball. Soccer is just playing with the ball, except with others and a few simple rules. Soccer is having FUN! (US Youth Soccer)

Soccer?The Purpose: To put the ball in the

opponents goal

How: Two teams face each other and

try to put the ball in the opponent’s

goal. Players cannot use their hands.

Where: The game is played on a

rectangular field, with goals at each

end

The Team: Apart from the goalkeeper,

the only player allowed to use their

hands, there is no fixed spaces or

positions in soccer. Players must

move and interchange positions

according to the flow of the game.

Equipment: Soccer is a simple sport

with little equipment needed:

1.Ball 2. Cleats 3.Shin Guards

Age Group # of Players Field Size Ball Size

Under 6 3 v 3 30yd x 25yd Size 3

Under 8 4 v 4 35yd x 30yd Size 3

Under 10 6 v 6 60yd x 45yd Size 4

Under 12 8 v 8 80yd x 55yd Size 4

Under 13 + 11 v 11 120yd x 75 Size 5

Did You Know…..

Soccer is the most participated youth sport in the U.S. In 1999, there were 17,582,000 total soccer participants in the U.S with 7,881,000 under the age of twelve (SGMA, 2000)

What Matters to Your Child?

“Most children play to have fun with

their friends. They do not play to

entertain the adults, boost the adults

ego, or improve the family social status

within the Community.

(Adams, U of Missouri)

Psychologists attribute three motivational factors in children's involvement in sport:

1. For Approval – take up sport for the approval of adults/parents/grand-parents

2. For Success – they enjoy competing in contests with other children

3. For Mastery – to improve and master at least some aspects of the sport

Did You Know…..The major two reasons children give up sport:

1. It’s no longer fun

2. It’s too competitive

Guidelines for the Sidelines

Think of the soccer field as a playground!

- Emphasize enjoyment

- Encourage your child regardless of success

- Cheer for all Children

- Applaud a good effort no matter who makes it

- It’s okay to talk to other teams parents

- Be a parent – not a coach

- Resist the urge to critique

“When asked what embarrasses them most, the overwhelming response from children is parents yelling.” (www.MomsTeam.com – Survey)

6 Guidelines for the Sidelines:

1. Cheer

2. Relax and Let Them Play

3. Yelling Directions = Distraction

4. Remember, they are just kids having fun

5. Have reasonable expectations

“If you’ve ever driven a carwith three kids screamingand fighting in the backseat,think about this: Does it tendto pull your attention awayfrom the task at hand? Do you ever feel overloaded? If you add more pressure tothat car ride, such as an icyroad, can you handle all thatat once? That’s exactly whatcoaches/parents do whenthey yell at kids to dosomething: They distractthem. They create “cognitiveoverload.” (pg. 161, Just Let the Kids Play)

The Ride HomeGood Questions on the Way Home:

• Did you have fun today?

• What do you think you did well today?

• Did you learn anything today?

“For some reason, adults - some who can't even kick a ball - think it is perfectly okay to scream at children while they're playing soccer. How normal would it seem if a mother gave a six-year-old some crayons and a coloring book and started screaming? "Use the red crayon! Stay in the lines! Don't use yellow!“ You think that child would develop a passion for drawing? Most important parents must realize that playing sports is a way for children to express themselves."       Claudio Reyna, Former Men's U.S. National Team Captain

Topics to Avoid on the Way Home:

•Don’t Evaluate your child's performance, he or she is playing to have fun, not to earn a grade!

•Be Supportive! Fun = Success

What to Expect from the Coach…At Practice

• Will create a safe, fun environment!

• Players should be engaged, active

and having fun through games!

• Games should be the teacher

you should not see lines, laps, or lectures

At Games

• Players should be allowed the

freedom to play without constant

Instruction

• Players should not be restricted to

fixed spaces or positions in soccer.

Players must move and interchange

positions according to the flow of the

game.

Did You Know…

90% of volunteer coaches in the U.S have had no coaching education!

Keeping it in Perspective….73% of all kids who play organized

Youth sports end up quitting by the

time they reach the age of 13!

(Time Magazine, 7/12/99)

Major Two Reasons Kids Give Up Sport

1. It’s No Longer Fun

2. It’s Too Competitive

• Congratulations on supporting your child's choice to play soccer in their leisure time

• It is going to be a great opportunity for them to have fun, express themselves and make new friends!

• Please enhance your child’s experience by being a ‘positive parent’ and allowing them to play and enjoy the benefits of soccer and sport

Remember………

The spirit of a child knows no bounds until limited by adults….

Where Can I Learn More?

Websites

NC Youth Soccer Education Center

-Videos, skills, links etc

US Youth Soccer Parent Resource Center

-Videos, Quizzes, Age appropriate info etc

Laws of the Game

-U6, U8, U10, U12, U13+

US Youth Soccer Parent Resource Library

-Brochures, articles, coaching info etc

Resources

Parents Guide (Free)

Youth Soccer Parent/Coach Primer

Coaching Youth Soccer by Bobby Clark

Positive Parenting DVD

Coaching Education Brochure

Plus many more…….

Please contact: rachel@ncsoccer.org

Recreation Registration (PDF)or

Recreation Registration Link