Youth soccer is a great activity worth your child’s time. This team sport will keep them physically and mentally active, teach them to work on a team and follow coach leadership, develop discipline, and create friendships with other players. If you want your child to reap the benefits of the sport early, it’s best to start when they are young. Below, learn when to introduce your child to soccer and how to do so. 

When to Start Introducing Soccer 

You can introduce your young one to youth soccer techniques as early as three to five years old. At this point, you can just buy a lightweight ball and play with them at home. Kick the soccer ball around together and give them plenty of time to acclimate with the ball. You can use small goal posts to teach them how to score against you and help with basic techniques.

Once your child is five years old, you can decide if they’re ready to join an introductory program. The programs for this age bracket are more about fun and less about competition. They’ll get to know the game in a team setting with easier drills and basic techniques. Once they’re seven or older, they can join a soccer association to get more competitive training and start to participate in official games. 

How to Make Youth Soccer Rewarding

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting your child to succeed and be a top player. However, pushing them too much may actually make them lose interest. Remember that children have short attention spans. If they start to lose interest in the activity after a little while, move onto something else. They’ll then be more excited to get back into it later on. Lead by example by playing with them and joining your own sports league. You can watch professional soccer together, or sports movies if you’re not a professional sports fan. You can teach your child that the sport is more about teamwork and fun than anything else. The excitement of professional sports will create great memories associated with soccer and encourage them to get more into it if they choose to. 

Beachside Soccer Club is a world-class youth soccer organization of Norwalk, CT. Their experienced coaches offer a variety of programs for kids over the age of five. With programs tailored to varying levels of expertise, your young one will find a program that suits their goals and abilities. Learn more about their programs online and call (203) 852-6969 to enroll your child.