Do you want your kids to love watching soccer as much as you always have? Better yet, do you envision your child becoming a big-time soccer star in the Premier League, La Liga, or the Bundesliga? There's really no guaranteed method of getting kids interested in football. After all, some kids raised in sports-loving households end up wanting to blaze their own paths, while other children develop interests in different sports than what their parents or siblings love. However, if you want your child to take up football, here are five ways that you can help the dream along.
- Start Early
It's never too early to start planting the seeds for lifelong football fandom. From dressing infants and toddlers in miniaturized soccer kits to taking them to games at a young age, raising your child in the culture of association football improves the chances of them adopting that culture as their own. Just make sure not to overdo it. Buying your son or daughter a Barcelona kids home kit 2015 2016, or making a point to watch games on TV with them are good ways to encourage passion for the sport (not to mention parent-child bonding). As your child grows older, though, make sure that soccer is something they are interested in. Ask them if they want to go to games or pursue playing football for themselves-don't force them. Putting too much pressure on the situation will take the joy out of soccer for your kids, and make it something they resent more than something they enjoy.
- Teach Them the Game
There are so many different ways that you can teach your child the game of football, both on and off the field. On the one hand, exploring the history of a league or a favorite team can be a fun way to kick-start the encyclopedic knowledge that many soccer fans have. On the other, simply heading out into the backyard and kicking around a soccer ball can be a great way to build lifelong memories with your child. With kids who are a bit older, you can even participate in a fantasy league together. The main goal is to teach your child all about the game-from the rules to the history to the marks of a good player and beyond-but having fun along with way is arguably more important.
- Get Them Involved in a Soccer Camp
Once you've established basic skills in the backyard, the natural next step is to get your kids involved in a football camp to develop their skills further. Ideally, your child will attain the makings of a promising footballer at camp, while also developing friendships with kids of similar interests. Just make sure to stay and watch a few camp sessions to make sure that your child is having fun. If your son or daughter has to slog through a soccer camp that they hate, it has the potential to turn them against the game forever.
- Enroll Them in a Soccer League or Team
Does your child's school have a soccer team? If not, is there a local extracurricular football league you can enroll them in? If your kid seems to be having fun in their soccer camp, then they would likely have even more fun playing as part of a competitive team. School teams and youth leagues are common and fun, and often forge lifelong friendships between teammates. These teams/leagues are also the first step on the competitive football ladder, and that ladder can lead anywhere depending on your child's talent and interest level.
- Nurture Their Love of the Sport
Even once you get your son or daughter into a competitive soccer atmosphere, that doesn't mean they are going to keep playing forever. Many kids' interest in football will diminish as they grow older, whether because the challenges of the sport get more intense or because they simply become interested in other sports or activities. With that in mind, nurturing your kid's love of football in a supportive way (as opposed to demanding that they keep playing the game) will boost the chances that they will stick with it. This support can take just about any form, from tickets to marquee soccer events to just being there to lift your child's spirits after a tough loss.
Interested in instilling a passion for football in your child? Start by choosing a youth football jersey from Soccer Box! From the Barcelona football kit 2015 2016, to the Bayern Munich kids home jersey 2015 2016, and the latest Chelsea merchandise we have all of the biggest clubs covered!
