Among all the recommended sports for kids, soccer is definitely one of the best choices!
In has a ton of benefits that will serve well you kid and help him build many useful attributes for the future.
In this article, I address 15 solid reasons why your kid should consider playing soccer at an early age.
Let’s dive in!
1. Improves physical ability
Soccer is an excellent way to build a child’s physical ability. Professional soccer players average 7 miles during a match. No child will come close to that amount of running, but they will still get that much needed physical exercise.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem that affects many kids around the world. With all the many ways to keep “busy” inside the house, kids are avoiding time outside more than ever. Children become lethargic and incapable of being active.
Playing soccer breaks the routine of sitting in front of a screen for hours.
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2. Improve Cardiovascular abilities
Since the heart is of the hardest working muscles in the body, it goes without question why a child should build his endurance.
Fortunately, building this muscle while young will translate into longevity well into their adulthood.
As the saying goes, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
This applies to the heart and all of the cardiovascular system. A healthy heart pumps more efficiently and provides much needed oxygen throughout the body.
3. Soccer is safe
Of all the team sports, soccer is relatively safer than most.
Are injuries possible? Yes.
However, they are less often to occur during a match and the chances become slimmer when factoring in soccer practice.
Although soccer might be considered as contact sport, most injuries associated with the sport involve torn ligaments and strained muscles. The upside to this is these injuries are preventable with proper warm ups.
Besides the rarely occurring concussion injuries, bruising is the only other danger to be worried about. No life altering injuries are associated with soccer as compared to football or baseball.
If safety is a major concern, then soccer is a great option for parents when considering which team sport to put their kids in.
4. Improves coordination
It takes a fair amount of skill to soccer. May not seem too hard to kick a ball, but it’s not as easy as people think to get the ball to go where they want.
A player must be able to move in all directions on the whim. They may have to go to a full sprint then immediately change directions, then pause to receive a pass only to go back into a full sprint.
Having coordination is essential to the sport. And frankly, most kids have no coordination. Soccer helps improve coordination because of how important it is to be successful in the sport. The various drills needed to be a proficient player will translate over into the real world.
5. Teaches the importance of teamwork
To function in society, being able to work with others is essential. As kids get older they become more independent and want to do everything on their own.
During this phase, everything becomes about them. A team sport teaches them how to work with others to accomplish a common goal.
Soccer offers the chance for kids to interact with more people their age and older. Shy kids will become more comfortable interacting with people because in order to be part of a team it involves communication.
It helps them break out of their “shell.”
6. Improves focus
Soccer is demanding. It takes all of your attention when on the field. Kids that are typically unable to pay attention manage to succeed in soccer. The constant flow of the game helps reign these kids in.
Since the ball is mostly in motion, kids have to actively pay attention. There is something always happening and it forces kids to follow the ball. Rather than their mind wandering off, they have motion that keeps them alert and aware.
The ability to focus on one object for a long period of time is difficult for children. Practice and matches help build their focus.
7. Teaches healthy competition
Leagues for kids below the age of 10 don’t typically keep score. These leagues are for building up these young athletes and focusing on the fundamentals.
When kids get older, the idea of winning and losing is introduced. Whether a team wins or loses, either time is great for learning from. The idea of healthy competition is vital because it teaches kids in order to win they must put in hard work.
Losses also teach where to improve. Either way, both outcomes have a valuable lesson to learn.
8. Kids learn the importance of hard work
Hard work pays off. As much as everyone would like to believe the world is fair, it is not. Only those willing to put in the work will succeed.
This important life lesson is learned out on the field. Those willing to persevere through hardship will know victory.
Seems intense for a kids soccer league, but it still holds true for them as well. Winning and losing is a fact of life. At least in this controlled environment they can learn the harsh reality of this world all while having fun.
9. Gets kids back outside
As mentioned above, kids spend a lot of time indoors. It’s difficult to pry them away from their immersive video games since real-life is not as exciting as the virtual worlds they spend so much time in.
Or is it?
The great outdoors is full of wondrous things and soccer allows them to enjoy the coming of the seasons. A breath of fresh is perfect for anyone trying to become grounded and distance themselves from the virtual world.
Kids get to be kids while playing soccer. This means they can break away from the screen and enjoy some fresh air with friends all while getting some much needed exercise.
10. It’s an international sport that brings the world together
Soccer is the only sport the whole world actively participates in. It’s the one sport everyone can agree on.
Because of this, kids all around the world can share a commonality and begin to learn about other cultures. Soccer is the gateway to bridge the gap across nations and countries.
Languages may be different, but the sport is the same everywhere you go. It introduces kids to a whole new world beyond what they are used to. This one sport makes the world seem just a little bit smaller.
11. College scholarship opportunity
An often overlooked fact about soccer is the potential scholarship it offers. In America, football and basketball reign supreme when it comes to athletic scholarships. However, every sport offers this same opportunity, including soccer.
Starting young helps build athletes from an early age which will eventually lead to an upper hand over competition come time for scouting.
The longer a child plays, the more likely they are to develop an athletic edge over other kids. This upper hand leads to more possibilities for scholarships. Beginning young will help improve their odds of getting into college with a scholarship.
12. Gives parents the opportunity to coach them
Child soccer players get a lot of benefits in life from the sport. But, parents can piggy back off these opportunities by being a coach for their kid’s team.
Little league teams are always in need of volunteer coaches. If a parent has a child on a team, it becomes even easier to be a coach. For the kids that suffer from severe anxiety, the comfort of their parent will help ease their anxiety.
The coaching can even begin at home without the need of a team. Young kids especially need guidance and no one better than their own parent fits this role better.
13. Parent-Child bonding
To continue on the last point, whether or not a parent becomes a coach for a team they can still spend time with their child.
The time spent coaching a child will be a valuable bonding time. They can work one on one in a solo environment without the pressure of others watching on. Or, without the stress of being on a team.
Instead, they can practice together as a means of bonding. Both parent and child will benefit from this time together.
14. Excellent way to make friends
Social skills are only learned through socialization. Unlike classroom settings where the focus is on the learning material and less on the interpersonal relationships, soccer offers the opportunity for kids to meet others their age.
Again, shy kids are given the opportunity to make new friends they would otherwise not make. The emphasis on teamwork really drives home the importance of communication.
Friendships are built on teams, and some of them last a lifetime.
15. It’s Fun
Most of all, soccer is fun. Kids nowadays have enough stress. The opportunity to:
- Get fresh air
- Learn valuable life skills
- Make new friends
- Learn to become more confident
- Develop physical abilities
- Break out of their shell and express themselves
All of this available to kids who participate in soccer. Joining a team is ideal, but practicing alone or with a parent also offers these same kinds of benefits.
Soccer is a fun sport that teaches valuable lessons on and off the field.
Final Thoughts …
One more benefit or reason that I’ve forgot to include earlier, is that this sport doesn’t require much gear and the latter is quite inexpensive. For example, soccer cleats for kids (Check its Price Here on Amazon) is generally affordable …
…Other sports like Tennis, require some expensive gear thought!
Finally, I highly invite you to check those important soccer skills for kids … You will find those really useful!