How to Know What Skills Are Important for a Beginning Soccer Player

Many children begin playing soccer between ages 4 and 6. It's good to know what to expect from your child's beginning soccer program. Also, a good foundation allows your child to progress properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Apparel
• Soccer Cleats
• Soccer Goalkeeper's Gloves
• Soccer Goalkeeper's Shirts
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Soccer Videos
• soccer balls

1. Keep it simple. At this stage, children are more likely learning basic physical skills rather than specific soccer skills.

2. Look for parts of whole skills. Proper positioning of the child's weight, proper transferring of weight and hand-eye coordination must be developed before complicated soccer skills can be mastered.

3. Look for lots of running. Moving forward, backward and side to side are basic skills for beginners.

4. Notice balance. Beginning games should incorporate balance, such as standing on one foot, which eventually leads to striking the ball.

5. Watch what they do with the ball. Beginners often walk, and then jog, with the ball kept close at the feet.

6. Understand exercises that don't appear to look like soccer. They are related. Children may also hold the ball between their knees or their ankles, which teaches balance and coordination.

7. Practice at home. The more children play, the more skillful they become.

Tips & Warnings

• Recognize the priorities. The No. 1 goal of a beginning soccer program is to provide a fun experience for children.
• Reinforce the rules and basic safety issues. This should be taught to children primarily by the coach.
• Play with your child. You don't have to have played soccer to be able to toss or pass a ball.
• Check for understanding. Ask children to explain what they have learned after practice or games.
• Ask children to demonstrate. Children love to be experts, especially with their parents. Also, this reinforces their understanding of the soccer skills.
• Check for challenge. A good coach can accommodate children of all levels, including one who is ready to move on to more advanced skills.

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on 6/11/2007 When you have the ball, don't just stand there with it at your feet, you have to go! Otherwise they will come and steal it from you.

on 8/11/2006 My last game I realized that when the player was charging at me with the ball, I was waiting for the shot. I could have charged and got the ball before they shot! So,when you get the chance to go, don't wait, really go. I'm not saying charge every time, just when you have the chance.

on 2/23/2006 I have been playing soccer for at least 9 years now. I used to play very well when I was a kid. I continue to do so, but there is a problem; I did not play soccer for a few months. This proved to be disastrous. First of all, I lost touch of the game and lost a lot of stamina and these are two of the most important things for a soccer player. I, who used to be no.1 in school at the age of 14, turned out to be 4th or 5th in class. So you should understand the importance of continuing to play. The only good thing that has come out of it is that I developed into a goalkeeper and I am the best in the district. However, I think I could have been an even better midfielder if I had continued playing.

on 11/22/2005 I myself began playing soccer only a few years ago in high school. When I first started I made the game a lot more complicated than it really is. Soccer is a very simple game, that's why it's so fun and beautiful. For any beginning soccer player, the first lesson to learn is the value of hustle (meaning that you must try your hardest at all times). The more you work, the better you get. Another tip is to start in the back. Beginning players should start playing defense. Defense is a simple position to learn, and it doesn't take as much experience to perform as other positions do. This doesn't mean that defense is easy, it means that defense has basic fundamentals that are easier to learn, but harder to master.