Lets face it. Today in America we have a staggering amount of obese people. 65% of us in fact are so. Instead of playing the blame game and saying that television did this, fast food did this, video games did this, lets find a solution to our problem and end it before it gets even worse. Think of your children in this society today with this problem. Do them a favor and consider the following.
So do you know how to play soccer? In fact I would not be surprised if you didn't. Most Americans do not know how to play soccer because it isn't as big in the States as it is in the rest of the world. This is where you find out how easy the sport is... each time consist of 11 players. One being a goalie, the rest being mixed positions varying from forwards, midfielders, and defenders. There are many different positions, those being the most common. The player may use any part of his or her body to control and move the ball except the elbows to the hands. The only acceptation to this rule would be throw-ins. Thats it, the only other thing to know is the objective. Score in the opponents goal, while protecting your own.
For our youths this concept is really simple. Take the ball, and kick it in that goal got it! Its always fun to watch them swarm around the ball like a hive of angry bees attacking. Except unlike the bees they are having fun and so are the spectators. I always enjoy watching them, one because of their game play, two because I know that the ugly statistic is going down while I watch them.
Youth soccer did, however, teach me more then what met the eye at our games. It taught me vital game play structures. Which in later years can be difficult to learn because the atmosphere around the game changes. In youth years the goal is to have fun. As time goes on the goal is to win more then have fun. Making it harder to learn the game to the fullest. I always would see kids come and go from soccer because they tried to join after the youth years. Some of them picked up quickly others were discouraged and never played soccer again. Thinking outside the box with this, they kids that joined late had to learn their structured play in a hostile environment because we were trying to win a game, not teach the game. Every single time the reason why they said they quit was because they were not good at the game or it was to frustrating trying to learn when people are literally running around them during game play.
Youth soccer was important builder of my childhood. It taught me out of the field things like teamwork. Plus I made new friends along the way which was always fun. It also was a confidence booster. I could play a video game beat it and no one else would care, but I could play soccer score and a lot of people would clap and cheer for me? I think I will go with soccer! You mean all I have to do is put this ball in that goal and people will be happy? On my video games I have to do way more then that and no one says good job afterword. This is easy!
My experiences as a player are all linked to my early years in soccer. I have played every position that is offered on the field. That was only possible because I played youth soccer. If I wanted to learn how to play the different positions in travel or high school soccer I would be faced with a mountain of difficulties. One, I don't know how to play the position so chances are that I will make rookie mistakes like I was still in youth soccer, and two even if I did practice and study my position to death game play is a whole new world from practice. I may be able to tell you how to stop a break away as a goalie, but I probably couldn't do it in game.
Now I pass the gauntlet to you and your child. Do with it what you want, but remember the effects of your decision. At the very least you have taken a couple minutes out of your time to read this article, take some time out so you can get your child active with youth soccer. Go buy a soccer ball at least; if you can't find them they are all over the place online. Just give your child more options of physical activity.
Signing your child up for youth soccer today could alter their world tomorrow. We all know the statistics, but no one will do anything about it. We blame blame blame, but its a shame we don't try to prevent it. Do you child a favor create a better world for them. Get them physically active today. Who knows you might appreciate the sport enough to join an adult league! - 16004
So do you know how to play soccer? In fact I would not be surprised if you didn't. Most Americans do not know how to play soccer because it isn't as big in the States as it is in the rest of the world. This is where you find out how easy the sport is... each time consist of 11 players. One being a goalie, the rest being mixed positions varying from forwards, midfielders, and defenders. There are many different positions, those being the most common. The player may use any part of his or her body to control and move the ball except the elbows to the hands. The only acceptation to this rule would be throw-ins. Thats it, the only other thing to know is the objective. Score in the opponents goal, while protecting your own.
For our youths this concept is really simple. Take the ball, and kick it in that goal got it! Its always fun to watch them swarm around the ball like a hive of angry bees attacking. Except unlike the bees they are having fun and so are the spectators. I always enjoy watching them, one because of their game play, two because I know that the ugly statistic is going down while I watch them.
Youth soccer did, however, teach me more then what met the eye at our games. It taught me vital game play structures. Which in later years can be difficult to learn because the atmosphere around the game changes. In youth years the goal is to have fun. As time goes on the goal is to win more then have fun. Making it harder to learn the game to the fullest. I always would see kids come and go from soccer because they tried to join after the youth years. Some of them picked up quickly others were discouraged and never played soccer again. Thinking outside the box with this, they kids that joined late had to learn their structured play in a hostile environment because we were trying to win a game, not teach the game. Every single time the reason why they said they quit was because they were not good at the game or it was to frustrating trying to learn when people are literally running around them during game play.
Youth soccer was important builder of my childhood. It taught me out of the field things like teamwork. Plus I made new friends along the way which was always fun. It also was a confidence booster. I could play a video game beat it and no one else would care, but I could play soccer score and a lot of people would clap and cheer for me? I think I will go with soccer! You mean all I have to do is put this ball in that goal and people will be happy? On my video games I have to do way more then that and no one says good job afterword. This is easy!
My experiences as a player are all linked to my early years in soccer. I have played every position that is offered on the field. That was only possible because I played youth soccer. If I wanted to learn how to play the different positions in travel or high school soccer I would be faced with a mountain of difficulties. One, I don't know how to play the position so chances are that I will make rookie mistakes like I was still in youth soccer, and two even if I did practice and study my position to death game play is a whole new world from practice. I may be able to tell you how to stop a break away as a goalie, but I probably couldn't do it in game.
Now I pass the gauntlet to you and your child. Do with it what you want, but remember the effects of your decision. At the very least you have taken a couple minutes out of your time to read this article, take some time out so you can get your child active with youth soccer. Go buy a soccer ball at least; if you can't find them they are all over the place online. Just give your child more options of physical activity.
Signing your child up for youth soccer today could alter their world tomorrow. We all know the statistics, but no one will do anything about it. We blame blame blame, but its a shame we don't try to prevent it. Do you child a favor create a better world for them. Get them physically active today. Who knows you might appreciate the sport enough to join an adult league! - 16004
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To find out more about Youth Soccer, please visit the number one Soccer Information Resource online.
