TIME FOR A CHANGE: RETHINKING CHILDREN’ S SOCCER IN THE U. S.
TIME FOR A CHANGE: RETHINKING CHILDREN’ S SOCCER IN THE U. S.
KARL DEWAZIEN Emeritus Director of Coaching, California Youth Soccer Assoc. 1979-2012
Teaching children isn’ t the same as coaching adults— and anyone who’ s ever tried to explain the offside rule to a group of six year olds can confirm this. Yet, in many communities, we treat children’ s soccer like a scaled-down version of the adult game, assuming that smaller fields, balls and goals are all it takes to make soccer“ kid-friendly.”
But here’ s the hard truth: It’ s not working. Despite these adjustments, 70-75 % of players quit the sport in their teenage years. That’ s three-quarters of our young players walking away from soccer before they even have a chance to score their first dramatic last-minute goal and slide across the field like they’ re in a World Cup final.
Why? Because we’ re not meeting kids where they are. The traditional approach to the game— and the way we teach it— is too often rooted in adult logic rather than in an understanding of how children learn, grow and play.
Let’ s move beyond simply saying that children aren’ t mini-adults— they’ re unique, with only one chance at childhood. Their responses to the environment around them are deeply shaped by how they are treated. When adults raise their voices, even when giving encouragement, or fail to bring a genuine sense of joy to the game, kids feel that. Imagine facing few, if any, adult smiling faces— how can we expect children to thrive or even want to return? It’ s time we created a positive, supportive atmosphere where kids feel safe to learn, explore and enjoy their soccer journey.
WHAT’ S MISSING FROM THE CURRENT APPROACH?
When we talk about children in soccer, the conversation often focuses on game results and practice activities that look fun and keep kids entertained. Sure, kids love activities like“ Shark & Minnows” or“ Martian Invaders,” but are we preparing them for the game they’ ll actually play on weekends? You know, the one with goals, teams and the occasional questionable handball call from a referee squinting into the sun?
Think about it: How many times have you seen kids playing“ Shark & Minnows” in their backyard or at recess? Compare that to soccer-dominant countries, where children are constantly playing impromptu games of 1v1 or 3v3. Those kids don’ t need elaborate drills or choreographed warm-ups— they just need a ball, a bit of space and some creative“ goalposts”( two backpacks will do nicely).
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM SOCCER-DOMINANT NATIONS
In soccer-dominant countries, kids grow up immersed in the game. It’ s not unusual to see a group of older children getting the younger ones( teaching them) to play small-sided games on the street, dodging traffic and somehow managing to nutmeg each other with a ball that’ s seen better days. These kids aren’ t just playing for fun( though it certainly looks fun)— they’ re learning, growing and building skills that will serve them for life. continued on page 19
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