Football is undoubtedly one of the most played sports in the UK and is popular with children of all ages. There are lots of ways young kids can access great football training through local clubs, classes and groups – most of which start taking children from around aged 2 years onwards.
Giving your child the opportunity to get involved with football at a young age allows them to benefit from a whole host of positive mental and physical practices that they can use in their everyday lives.
- Fitness and Health
Some hot topics amongst parents nowadays are both childhood obesity and the amount of time children spend on electronic devices such as iPads. Giving kids the opportunity from a young age to be included in regular, challenging sporting activities lays a foundation to build on from which they make football and exercise part of their daily lives as they grow older.
Just some of the positive effects playing football regularly can have on the body include;
- Increased muscle and bone strength
- Reduction in body fat (when combined with a healthy diet)
- Increased stamina and speed from cardiovascular fitness
- Good for heart health and blood pressure
- Social Skills, Confidence and Communication
For some children socialising doesn’t come naturally and making friends can be difficult. Being part of a football class or team is a great opportunity for kids to speak to, engage with and become friends with children their own age.
Kid’s football classes are also a great tool for building up confidence in young children. Whether it’s encouraging and praising them for their speed, ability to dribble the ball or simply how hard they tried – there are a lot of ways that football can help them.
- Team Building Skills
Being part of a team is a great life lesson to teach children at a young age. Many activities that kids experience are based on solo effort, with success being gained by a lone individual rather than a team. The camaraderie kids get to experience when they are part of a football team is a positive and enjoyable practice that can help them understand and recognise the emotional needs of those around them.
Football challenges children to rely on their team mates and to think outside of just themselves and their needs or capabilities. Whether it’s learning when to pass the ball rather than take the shot, to encourage team mates not to give up or to console their fellow players after a defeat – there are so many ways in which football can help kids grow and develop not just as players but as people.
- Discipline
Whether it’s mental discipline or physical discipline – football can be tough and challenging in a whole host of ways that young kids can benefit from.
Mentally as parents of course nobody wants their child to feel sad but playing football and accepting the loss of a match is a very good way of helping kids to develop mental toughness and acceptance that defeat is part of the game. It gives them the coping skills that with the help of their coach, team mates and parents, will allow them to handle setbacks not only on the football pitch but in life and learn how to bounce back from them.
- Because it’s Fun!!!
This is the most important reason of all and something that it should always come back to – football should be fun!
Football isn’t all about rigorous exercise, running drills and early morning games. For kids it’s about scoring their first goal, saving a penalty, winning a tournament, having fun with their friends, mastering a new skill or beating their keepy uppy record. All boys and girls should have the opportunity to play football and enjoy all of the great ways it can enrich their lives.
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