Notes

Lessons From a Soccer Mom
As a mother of a, energetic five-year-old son, I found myself looking for something he could do to utilize up his energetic enthusiasm. Like most parents I considered sports to see if that might be an excellent match for my son. I came across that AYSO was holding registration for fall/spring soccer in my city. I came across myself somewhat nervous on the prospect of signing him up. I've seen the stories in the news w here some overly fanatical parent gets arrested at a recreation league sporting event for assaulting another parent, referee, coach or child. I worried that my son might end up getting a coach who approached the sport with a military drill sergeant enthusiasm, taking the joy right from it for his players. I was also concerned that when so when my son lost games, missed goals, or messed up in some way; it could hurt his self-esteem together with his feelings. Regardless of all the worries, he was excited at the prospect of playing and I was determined not to let my anxieties block the way of his childhood. We have been now in our second season of recreation league soccer and have found the experience much more than we hoped for. In website have found a handful of lessons that I could teach my son about not only soccer and team sports but about life in general.

1. Having fun is what sports are all about. Last fall we joined the ranks of a large number of soccer parents. We got up early and filled our son with a nutritious breakfast. We dressed him in his royal blue and black uniform, complete with soccer cleats, shin guards and socks, and headed off for the 9:00 AM game. We found the soccer fields that have been teeming with soccer players, coaches, parents, and onlookers. We found our son's field and setup our camping chairs on the sideline. Watching the 4 person team of four and five-year-olds was a great experience. A few of the little players had been kicking soccer balls around since they could walk while some, like my son, had never seen a soccer ball prior to the first practice a couple of days earlier. Some were quick with the ball and had excellent reflexes. Others were aggressive towards the other team and some were shy and awkward. We were pleasantly surprised as parents that our son appeared to have good mechanics and scored a couple of goals in that first game. By the end of the twenty minute game, our son came around people smiles and at that moment I knew our a reaction to that first game was important. I considered all the things I possibly could tell him..."Great game!!", "Good job scoring!", "You won, congratulations!" However, when he came up to us I decided finished . I most wished to reinforce was, "You look like you had so much fun!!!" He smiled enthusiastically and nodded vigorously, agreeing that he had indeed had fun. He has now learned that scoring and winning is fun, more fun in fact than losing. He never complains about losing though and always appears to have fun at Saturday games. At half time, he is able to be observed kicking the soccer ball around while some are sitting on the sidelines After the field has cleared and the other players are packing up and leaving, he'll stay so long as he is able to kick the ball with anyone who'll kick it around with him. He loves the sport for the pure fun of it. He doesn't play to win. He plays for fun. How happy I'm as a mom he has found a talent he loves and contains fun with.

2. Treating others with respect and kindness is more important compared to the game. Inevitably about half way during that first season, my son's team encountered a team that was highly aggressive and was filled with very good little players. My son's team was outscored badly. One of many players on another team seemed to revel in his superiority over other players. How to Leverage Social Media 'd "talk trash", so to speak, calling names and pointing and laughing when his team scored. He'd push and even grab jerseys's and pull other players down. After enduring this treatment for the better area of the game, my son decided he would return exactly the same to his opponent. He began calling the boy names and getting in his face. As the quarter ended I asked the coach if he could pull my son out. I then sat him by me and asked how it felt to be bullied and teased. He responded that it didn't feel great. I then explained that when at anytime down the road I saw him teasing or bullying back I would ask his coach to pull him out and he wouldn't be permitted to play all of those other game. We talked about how name calling and teasing takes the fun from it for everyone. He quickly realized that the fun he finds in soccer isn't worth sacrificing. We've since talked about different techniques for bullying on the field, including walking away or just saying good job to the bully. Once in a while I still may catch him pushing but overall, his lesson to take care of others with respect was well learned in early stages.

3. Family support and unity are important. Another lesson is one for not only my son but our whole family. Our son has an older sister and younger brother. They are his biggest cheerleaders and will take a seat on the sidelines yelling encouragement to my son and his teammates. Soccer games on Saturday morning are a family affair. Most of us load up and we all go. At times, I admit, I would want to send off my little soccer player with his dad while I stayed home with his siblings. But I'd like my children to learn they are supported by a caring family. My other two children, who don't play soccer, get yourself a possiblity to encourage and show their support while my soccer player feels that his sister and brother look after him and his interests. In return, when it is time for his sister to perform a piano recital, my soccer player knows that the support he receives from his sister must be reciprocated. Does recreation soccer solve all of the problems between siblings? No, needless to say not. However, it can offer a chance to teach them to support each other.

4. A team working together will accomplish more than one great player. This lesson appears to be the hardest for all your soccer players to grasp. When this little team first began, the only thing on your brain of the players was to kick the ball in to the net. They would push and kick wildly, no matter whom else was in the huddle kicking with them. We often saw a huddle of only we players, fighting over the ball. I find myself still having to gently remind my son that it is okay to kick or pass the ball to one of his teammates if he is surrounded plus they are open. He still tries to throw the ball directly into himself and forgets that he has teammates who can help you. However, anytime I see an assist at the target, I reinforce to him how much easier it was for him to score with an assist. Anytime I see him fighting too many opponents and the ball, I encourage him to pass it to a teammate.

5. It is okay to identify the strengths in himself and others. Lastly I have found that soccer gives my son the opportunity to find his own strengths. He finds a little bit of self esteem he is proficient at scoring from far away. We ask him what he feels he could be best at and what he thinks he could work on. He could be learning through the process that he is good at some things and that he can improve in areas if he works at them. We also encourage him to cheer on players on his team for their strengths. We point out when other players are good at ball handling and tell him to tell them. We have him notice when the other team is good at teamwork or defense as soon as again, ask him to let the other players know. The guy can concentrate on good in others rather than be as critical of himself as he realizes that many people are proficient at different tasks and skills.

Our recreation soccer experience has been nothing but a fun and learning experience for all of us. As a parent, my influence is still more powerful than a coach's, other parents or other players. I can help to infuse my son with more than just soccer skills and a need to win. I can help him to understand lessons about life and getting along with others. As he grows so when long as he continues to play, I am hoping these first lessons on soccer are the ones he retains. I hope the game is definitely fun and he treats others with respect. I am hoping he appreciates the support from others and finds in himself strengths he is able to be pleased with and weaknesses he can work on.

Nicole Wardell is a mother of four and writes for [http://www.greggsports.com] in her 'spare' time.
Here's my website: https://thegadgetflow.com/user/rasmussenagger968