How to Introduce Soccer to a Child

Have soccer balls available. Balls come in three sizes: Size 3 is the smallest and is recommended for children under 8 years. Size 4 is for 8 to 12 years, and size 5 is for 12 and up, including adults.

Every time you are in the yard or at the park, have a ball with you. Use even a few moments as an opportunity to kick back and forth. This helps your child feel comfortable with the basic skills.

Teach how to kick. Even a 2-year-old will pick up the basics from watching you. In the early stages, a child will simply push her leg through the ball and propel it forward. This is perfectly fine-at the introductory stage, don't worry about the particulars of kicking with the toe vs. the laces vs. the sweet spot. Encourage your child to get behind the ball when she kicks to help it go in the direction she intends.

Teach how to block. Frame this as "catching with your legs." Show him how to put his knees together, bend down slightly and catch the ball with his shins. This one will take some practice, but if you start with gentle kicks, he will catch on.

Set up a goal using cones, landmarks or an actual kid-sized net goal.

Teach the difference between "little kicks" and "big kicks." In time, little kicks will turn into dribbling and big kicks into shooting.

Using cones or landmarks (trees, benches, rocks, trashcans) encourage your child to do lots of "little kicks" across the field toward the cone. As she progresses, try weaving in between cones toward the goal.

Make a big fuss at every score. Goooooaaaaaallllll!!!

Whether you have an actual net or a makeshift goal, practice goalkeeping. It can be difficult for young kids to resist handling the ball, especially when their kicks aren't going the direction they want. Having them play goalie gives them an opportunity to grab that ball.

Teach them how to do an overhead throw. This is relatively easy to learn and reinforces some of the basic rules about soccer, although there's no need to preach the strictest rules just yet.

Unless your child is practicing headers on his own, don't introduce this skill at first. You don't want to scare off a young child with something as tricky as hitting a ball with his forehead.

As with most kid-related endeavors, start slow and always try to keep things light and fun.