Kids and energy seem to be having a synonymous kick in our heads as parents eventually start looking for ways to channel all that rush to something that’s more productive and meaningful, like soccer.
True enough, there is even a soccer ball size for six year old, so we do know that going around being their Number One Fan in the crowd also means knowing how to help them through their training at home as much as when they’re on the field.
Perseverance, Dedication, and Teamwork
Soccer is a contact sport which means that there are still preventive measures at play that parents should consider when they let their kids play ball.
However, the long-term benefits that they learn from playing as a team, the hard work they put into getting from training to actual games, and the love for the sport that channels all their energy into a productive learning experience still weigh more.
This is why soccer is a healthy investment that parents can encourage their kids to develop.
Preparation comes in being engaged with possible rules that can help younger kids play in safer spaces and in choosing better equipment.
There are indeed various ball sizes and designs available out there, and we’ve listed down a few tips that you can consider when you choose one for your bouncing ball of energy:
- Size Matters
Soccer balls are usually available in four sizes: 1-2 (or mini), 3, 4, and 5. These sizes usually come with an age range compatibility for official little league rules.
The mini is around 18-20 inches in circumference and can be used by practically anyone, anywhere. It is usually the ideal play ball for simple kicking and playing.
The remaining sizes are now more for actual training, ranging from 23 all the way up to 28 inches in circumference, which are covered for official sizing in actual games.
If you’re getting your energetic bundle to kick balls for fun, then you can simply stick to the mini.
But if you’re getting them to truly play the sport, you can check the other sizes that fit their age for little league policies.
- Practical Purpose
Soccer is both a fun activity and a sport. The purpose of you getting your kid a ball will need you to determine what it will be for.
If you’re looking for a soccer ball for pure, unadulterated fun, you can look into soccer-like toys that you can play with even indoors.
As a sport, getting a ball that they can use for both training and in actual games might be a better investment.
You can check into the policies of official games for your kids’ age range and follow through with the requirements that actual games have so you can train with your kid using the same size and material of the ball in official games.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Use
Indoor practice might require a smaller ball they can dribble around the house with. This means getting a ball in mini size or a size 2.
If you’re ready to let your kids train on the lawn or in open spaces, you can already invest in a size 3, which allows them to work better on a bigger ball to prepare their gross and fine motor skills for an actual game.
- Control for Training
Getting a ball that’s meant for training requires you to look into the material as much as the size.
Though a size 2 is smaller than the actual ball size in an official game for young players, the size two ball is meant for technical development.
It enables the child to learn how to control dribbling and improve their coordination.
Investing in a size three ball, on the other hand, means that your child is practicing with an official size ball for actual games in their little league.
This ball is one that your kid can practice with and can also even use in an actual game.
Rules and policies governing little leagues change without prior notice.
This means you need to keep yourself updated.
In general, it will be best for your young athlete to have both a size 2 and 3, which enables him or her to target continuous muscle control and coordination and get used to the official game size of a soccer ball.
Contact sports have a way of helping children develop better skills beyond just physical activities and impart important values when working as a team.
You are part of your kids’ team, too, by going the extra mile of encouraging them through training by getting them better equipment to train with, and more importantly, by showing up to their official games.
Your presence is the ultimate proof of being their fan.
