As a long-time member of the Positive Coaching Alliance, our #1 goal is leave a positive impact on every child we coach. With a curriculum developed by early childhood experts and coaches trained in PCA techniques, our coaches not only teach soccer skills but character skills as well. Given the current COVID-19 situation, providing a positive sports experience is now more important than ever. 

The Power of Positive in 5 Simple Steps

1. Keep Things Fun - Kids play to have fun, period. Respect that core value. Children are more likely to learn and stick with an activity when they enjoy it. Ditch the criticism, don't be afraid to get silly, and let loose.

2. Specific Praise AND Constructive Criticism - It's okay and necessary to give corrections, especially as your child gets older. But in order to make sure that they get the most out of a session, be sure to tell them what they're doing right and celebrate it. For example, keeping a ball under control does not come easy to many adults, let alone kids who just learned to walk a few years ago. Praise it, but be specific: "I like how you're using both feet!" rather than just "Good job!"

3. Create and Uphold Routines - Many of the parents who are a part of our program during COVID tell us that the sessions are among the truly consistent things that their child--and they!--have to look forward to each week. Children thrive in consistency and stability. Weekly Soccer Shots sessions with the same coach and same faces help to create an environment conducive to learning and growing. You can even add to the routine: after Soccer Shots, grab a yummy snack (or meal) and then relax with a favorite show or book!

4. "No Hands" is Easier Said than Done - Although it's the main rule in soccer, for kids, not using their hands is a tough concept to remember when they've been told all of their short life that a ball is okay to pick up. If they're having a hard time using just their feet, try making a game out of it. When they pick up a ball during soccer practice, instead of saying "no hands" or "don't do that," remind them that "In soccer we use our feet!" and challenge them to keep their hands on their hips/head or hold onto another object (cone, stuffed animal). For older children, time them to see how long they can go without touching the ball with their hands or how many touches they can make on the ball with their feet.

5. Be Positive for Yourself, Too - We see you. Mother, father, grandparent, godparent, caregiver, educator--whoever you are, we know that the past year has not been easy. Things are different, and adapting to this change doesn't happen overnight (or even in 10 months). It's not easy to stay positive all the time, especially now. But if we've learned anything during this pandemic, it's that we're grateful that we're still here. We still have the support from the community. We still have coaches who care. And we're here to provide 30-40 minutes of positivity to you and your child, because you and your family deserve it.

 

Check out the PCA article "10 Tips for Emotionally Supporting Athletes"