I have four and five year old boys, and they are just starting soccer this week with a city legue. I have a large yard and we are out there almost everyday kicking the ball around, but after 15 or 20 minutes, they are ready to quit and I am just warming up. I try to encourage them and give them nothing but positive comments when we play, and they seem to have a general understanding about the concept of the game, but they are just not getting motivated enough. Can someone give me some suggestions please?
2007-03-18 12:32:59 · 8 answers · asked by Crystal 2 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ Other - Football
think up a few games that explore the different aspects of soccer, just kicking it back and forth can get very boring
designate yourself as the goalkeeper, and get them to take turns at penalty shootouts against you, to make it easier for them get down on your knees, then let one of your sons take over the goalkeeper position and give him a few easy kicks and a few hard ones.
another exercise would be dribbling, you can buy some cheap 'training cones' form any sports good store, set the cones up around 2-4 metres apart in a straight line for about 15 metres and have the boys dribble the boy, weaving in and out of them.
kids love kicking the utter crap out of soccer balls too, so if you have a brick wall or similar near your house, chalk up a a few targets for them to kick at and give them point values, this teaches them accuracy as well as proper kicking technique. let the winner have first choice of what mini-game to do next.
your kids may also get annoyed if you're too good at soccer and they're not so good, so it's helpful if you pretend you're pretty bad at it at times, eg. pretend to kick the ball and miss and fall over, all in good humour.
one final piece of advice would be to take the kids away from the house, if you're only in the backyard they may be tempted to just go back inside and watch TV, but if you're at a soccer oval or a park they can't just walk into the house, the temptation isn't there.
2007-03-18 12:49:03 · answer #1 · answered by TedRoy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you don't push a 4 and 5 year old past what their attention holds. They may rebel and stop holding any interest in it whatsoever.
Why are they playing? Did they want to sign up for the league, or is it wishful thinking on the parent's to fulfill a dream that they could not?
If the children WANT to play, make sure they understand that games are longer than 20 minutes. Set a kitchen timer outside, and have them practice until it goes off.
If it to fullfill a dream of the parent's, let them go before you start an irreversable rebellion.
2007-03-18 12:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by rouschkateer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps u could show them videos of games on TV. Or even better take them to live matches. This may give them idols to aspire to be like, and make them want to practice and be motivated to suceed or a least try!
2007-03-18 12:40:41 · answer #3 · answered by Xavier W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make practice more fun since fun should be a main purpose to play on the team Get a boom box player with their favorite music
2016-03-16 22:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them that you forbid them to play such a violent sport, and you want them to learn how to knit instead. Before you know it, they will be saying "Hi Mom" on national TV.
2007-03-18 12:42:19 · answer #5 · answered by johN p. aka-Hey you. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should ask them if this is something they want to do. maybe they woyuld like to try football, swimming, baseball, and other sports. four an dfive could be too young, but give it time!
2007-03-18 13:25:42 · answer #6 · answered by iluvlizzie21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try taking them to games (college or pro)
also, try to get friends over to play
you could also try to make it more competitive (whoever kicks it farthest gets to pick the ice cream flavor(?))
2007-03-18 13:07:18 · answer #7 · answered by The Question Master 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could try a different sport...maybe a real one even!
2007-03-18 12:54:48 · answer #8 · answered by Stevo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋