Kids need to get outside and play to develop

I really believe that if kids got outside and played more, there wouldn’t be such a need for additional fitness training for our athletes.

If kids were outside running, jumping, climbing, wrestling, throwing, chasing, playing games and doing hard work it wouldn’t be necessary.

It certainly wouldn’t be necessary for the majority of kids who just want to play and have fun. And this is 100% of U8, maybe 80% of U12, and 60% of U16. I think at the older age groups the kids that are playing are more competitive and might want some extra soccer fitness training.

(I wish there were more opportunities for older kids who DON’T have the desire to excel and just want to play for fun and fitness. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really happen till we get to be adults.)

But the kids I see (and I see a lot) are behind in their physical development. They don’t run correctly, they fatigue easily, they lack strength and basically don’t have the physical skills that kids 20 years ago had.

Eight years ago, I coached a girls swim team where 15 out of 18 girls could not jump three feet. That’s sad.

The lack of play time is because of many issues; not safe outside, parents fears of letting them play unsupervised, schools afraid that if kids run they will fall down (so?), and of course video games, Satan’s spawn for kids fitness.

As a coach and parent you must help develop these skills. You need to make them fun and game like. You need to challenge them and encourage them. You need to provide them with lots of variety and activities so they love it.

Besides having a better chance of success on the soccer field, they will be more likely to be fit and healthy adults. And that’s what it’s all about.

To learn how to help develop your child’s soccer fitness, click the link. Start working on soccer fitness today!