3 ways reality TV has influenced sports fun
Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate. – Author Unknown
Competition is becoming more intense with each passing year and in more parts of the country and we see the exageration of that on reality television all the time. Children are losing the opportunity to have fun with sports – for it to be a healthy break from other parts of a busy life. The opportunity to rest and relax and be with family are shelved in favor of staying busy. At ages 7 & 8 training should still be fun. Kids this age tend to view soccer as a fun sport and not a business {and they should view it as fun}.
This is a critical age – if the kid does not look forward to time with the team or trainer each week or if you feel the kid should not have time off then you run the risk of burnout. This is not to say that all kids are the same. Some kids this age live and breathe the sport {they can name more pros than I can!} and in all likelihood these are the kids who will go on to play professionally. However, burnout is also a risk for these personality traits as well.
You may see other parents and kids who seem to be on the success track. Do NOT compare yourself or you kid – kids peak maturationally in both form and skill at different ages. Introduction of more skills and agility is done at this age as some kids can do almost any skill that is demonstrated for them. They still have a wonderful imagination at this age so fun is still the primary focus. Things to work on:- Age7
- Foot Skills
- 1-Touch Juggling
- Passing & Receiving
- Defending & How to Tackle
- Age 8
- Foot Skills
- Turning
- C.O.D.
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