The benefits of youth soccer are found in the many life lessons it teaches. First youth soccer encourages kids develop healthy lifestyle habits early in life. It does this by the very nature that youth soccer is a sport. By definition, participation is active, running from one end of the field to the other, chasing the ball, and scoring the goal. Youth soccer leagues also generally take place outside and encouraging kids to be outside. Kids in youth soccer learn to associate spending time outside being active is fun. These foundational factors often spur youth soccer players to live active lives long after they have hung up their cleats.
Second, youth soccer develops teamwork skills, valuable both on the field and life in general. For youth soccer is a team sport. All the players on the team have to work together to get the ball into the goal. The player who initially takes the ball from the referee is not usually the one who kicks the ball into the goal. Kids are also taught that the player on the bench is just as important as the player on the field. Each is necessary to win the game. Teaching kids these skills early in life helps them off the field as well. For example, a youth soccer player is assigned a group assignment at school, or later on in life at work. The player already knows how to deal with the situation effectively from his experience on the team, leading him to succeed in the group project for school or the team project at work.
In similar fashion, youth soccer also teaches leadership skills. Just they learn to pass the ball; kids in youth soccer also learn when they are the ones who have to take the shot to score. These youthful experiences translate right back into places of authority off the field whether that is a club at school or the corporate board room.
Third, youth soccer helps kids develop character as well. Each and every player has to develop certain character traits in order for the team to be successful and win games. These traits included being disciplined and hardworking. Each youth soccer player has to learn to show up to practices and games on time and ready to play. Each one also has to be willing to give his or her best to help the team.
Each of these lessons learned from participation in youth soccer are helpful in later life. For example, the former youth soccer player is preparing for a job interview. She will be prompt, remembering her youth soccer coach's admonitions to be on time for practice. Once she lands the job, she will strive to do her best in her position no matter what. It does not matter to the former player whether or not the specific task is glamorous. What will matter is achieving the goal, the completion of a job well done.
The lessons recounted here are but the tip of the iceberg for youth soccer players. Many more lessons are learned as well. These lessons about healthy living, teamwork skills, leadership ability, and character development are the longest lasting.
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