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.

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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.

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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, but not necessarily, 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.

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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.

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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 – to develop a love of soccer – because if we do, it could well be “a game for life.”

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One-with-One® is what it is – one child with a significant other person in their lives (Mom, Dad, Brother/Sister, Grandparents, etc.).  A child’s first team-mate is someone they are totally at ease with.

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 in an informal “Jamboree/Festival” environment, but it would be a mistake to get into small-sided play too quickly.