Why Soccer is the Best Sport for Children

I have been a soccer mom for several years now. Both my daughters have played several seasons of soccer and are eagerly anticipating the Fall season. Soccer is an excellent sport for children for many reasons. If your child is thinking of trying a new sport this Fall, check out your township's soccer program and consider soccer as a top contender for these reasons:

Soccer Provides Great Exercise. Running down the field and trying to kick the soccer ball into the net is wonderful exercise for children. Even if your child is chosen to play goalie, he or she will still get a fair amount of exercise during practice performing soccer drills.

Soccer is Played Outside In The Sunshine And Fresh Air. Unlike other sports, such as basketball, soccer is played outside on the soccer field providing your child with plenty of fresh air and sunshine.

Soccer Has Two Seasons, Spring And Fall. Again, unlike basketball which is usually only played during the winter, soccer has two seasons which enables the children to keep up on their skills and keep them busy for much of the year. I am not criticizing basketball. I think it is a fantastic sport and my older daughter plays this as well, but she waits all year for it to start again and really wishes there was an additional season.

Soccer Starts The Children Young. Most soccer leagues have micro divisions with children as young as four years old. At this age, it is more about having fun and learning to be part of a team. There is no stress or pressure and rarely do the soccer coaches even keep score at the games. It is simply an introduction to the basics of soccer while playing games and hoping the children run the right way during the matches! It is loads of fun for the children and the parents. There is no competition at this level and every parent cheers for every one else's child.