The first football of the child!

Kids And Energy

2007-09-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure why, maybe because it’s summer, I’m getting a lot of questions and stories about kids and energy. I’ll put them all under that broad category but there have been several different subcategories discussed: kids and ADHD, kids and anger management, and kids and computers.

Kids and ADHD

Let’s start with kids and ADHD. There seems to be a big trend here in the US of drugging our children so they can “control” their behavior in school. I am NOT in favor of this practice.

Why is there such an epidemic of ADHD diagnoses in our children? I don’t want to oversimplify but I believe one reason is that our children don’t have the opportunities they had in previous generations to run around and expend their energy.

In years past, kids got to play in the parks, in the streets and in their own yards. Today, that happens less and less. Parents are too afraid to allow their children to be outside unsupervised, and rightly so! There are predators out there who would do your children harm. However, kids still need to expend their energy, somehow.

So, many times the activities available to them at home are sedentary, such as playing video games, watching television, talking on their cell phones or using the home computer. None of this provides opportunity to release energy, unless your children are like my niece who paces vigorously while talking on the phone.

Then we send them to school and expect them to sit down and be quiet. In addition, many schools are reducing the amount of physical education time for our kids and I’ve even seen recently that some schools forbid children to run at recess or use certain playground equipment because they fear of physical injury lawsuit. Is it any wonder our children are having difficulty?

Now I know there are parents and teachers out there who have stories of children who have been helped immensely by the addition of Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta or Dexedrine to their daily diet. If you know a child who is being helped by his or her medication, I’m not saying to discontinue it but for every child who is being helped, I believe there are at least three others who are still exhibiting all the ADHD behavior the medication was designed to reduce.

There have been studies done on placebo medications that show that in double blind studies, when neither the patient nor the doctor knew whether the patient was getting the actual drug or the placebo, the ones getting the placebo actually did better. Is it possible there is a placebo effect with some children?

If your child displays what you or the teachers believe is an excessive amount of energy, do your best to create situations where that child can expend energy. I have two boys who could both have been diagnosed with ADHD as children. They were very physical. Luckily, I lived in the country during a time when parents sent their kids out the door to simply “play.” I also spent a lot of my spare time running them around to different athletic events—YMCA soccer, wrestling, flag football, T-ball, basketball, you get the idea. This definitely helps.

Kids and Anger Management

I spoke with a woman over the weekend whose son is 10 years-old and she says has anger management issues. We didn’t really get into his specific behaviors but it caused me to reflect on some inherent differences between males and females.

I think that from very early on, boys and girls deal with their anger differently. As a general rule, girls need to talk about it to feel better, while boys need to work it out physically.

So if you have daughters, you want to teach them verbal skills to be able to work out their frustrations but with boys, you will need to provide opportunities for them to work out their anger physically—maybe with a punching bag, racquetball, running, or martial arts. The list of possibilities is truly endless but don’t expect your boys to “talk about it,” at least not until they’ve had the opportunity to release the anger in a safe physical manner.

Kids and Computers

This week, a mother contacted me about her child disobeying her limits with the home computer and sneaking time beyond her allowed limit.

In this situation, the mother had a need to protect and nurture her child. She wants to be able to loosely supervise her daughter’s time on the computer to possibly prevent her from falling prey to adults who victimize children by finding their victims on the Internet. She also wants to support her child’s need for physical activity so she restricts her computer usage and encourage outside physical activities instead. Is this mother wrong? Absolutely not.

Her daughter, on the other hand, has a desire to be on the computer. All her friends are on there and want to know why she isn’t. They don’t have limits while this girl does. This girl is quite accomplished on the computer and can build website pages for her friends. She also has a high need for freedom and doesn’t like being restricted and the computer is plain fun to her. She gets her love & belonging, power, freedom and fun needs met with the computer. Is she wrong? Absolutely not.

How does it get resolved? I think the way to resolve this issue is for the mother and daughter to sit down and talk about what each other needs and wants in the situation. If the child can convince her mother that she has the skills and knowledge necessary to protect herself from predators and she agrees to engage in other healthy activities each day, then her mother could relax her restriction on the amount of time she has on the computer.

In this case, and many others like it, the daughter wouldn’t be able to meet her freedom need with the computer if there wasn’t a rule to break. Sometimes we create the very behavior we are trying to stop with the rules we make. When a person has a high need for freedom, they will inevitably break the rules, particularly the ones they don’t like or that don’t make sense.

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever do and the stakes are incredibly high. We all do the best we can and hope for good results. Fortunately, when we have good intentions are kids generally survive in even thrive.

About Author:
Kim has a graduate degree in counseling and works with parents and children helping them with their communication skills ultimately leading to an improvement in their relationships. Sign up for her free teleclass Empowerment Parenting

Keeping Kids Safe

2007-09-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

We can teach you to teach your kids to keep themselves safe when you are not around.

That's right. Teach your kids to keep themselves safe. When you are not around.

You will want kids naked to pay very close attention to those words. The cold war kids words are the key: keep themselves safe.

That's right, again. Mom and Dad, its not about how safe they are when you are around.

Pay very close attention to this concept.

As long as you are around them your kids are pretty safe. It's when they are alone, walking home from school, shopping at the mall or even in your front yard, anytime you are not with them, that they are most vulnerable.

Of course it's about predators but it's also about bullies.

It's also about:

Fire safety
Water safety
Pool safety
Bicycle safety
Roller blade safety
Halloween safety
Sports safety

The list goes on. But the real point is, can your children can keep themselves safe when you are not around? If they can, they can be stronger individuals and you can worry and stress out less.

Keeping your kid safe starts with safety from sexual predators and bullies at school. A great and effective safety program teaches kids to learn for themselves how to stay safe if Mom and Dad are not around. It also should help parents reinforce safety techniques at home to make sure they are learned and understood well.

Things like pbs kids confidence and mental focus are real safety techniques. Kids as young as four years old can use them and be less of a target for predators and bullies. Kids with good mental focus and self confidence are less of a target.

Kids with these qualities tend to spot potential danger early and stay away from it before they get involved or trapped into it.

There are also techniques, we call ours Getaways, that kids can learn that allow them to escape the grasp of any adult in the horrible event that they get grabbed.

It does not get any better than this for a parent.

Now For The Truth. Now its time for you to pay even closer attention because in order to keep your kids safe you have to be on top of things as an adult and a parent.

Working with kids to learn safety techniques is one thing as we teach them to improve their self confidence and self image. If they appear to be happy and confident your kids will be less of a target for predators or bullies.

You, as a parent, can't fake this. You need to be confident and centered in order to help your kids be the same. You need to lead by example.

So, we involve parents in everything we teach. We improve families and kids together in order to keep them safe.

You need to take care of yourself first before you can take care of you kids. Are you a positive person? Do you feel good about yourself? Are you happy, centered and focused as kids crafts an adult?

Focus, improve yourself, then reinforce it in your kids for safer kid rock.

Why Should Children Be Encouraged To Play Soccer?

2007-09-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

In today's media we are constantly being reminded of a health time bomb that is about to explode as children today are not active enough.

There are so many competing distractions for our children's attention, video games, endless channels to watch, these can all lead to sedentary lifestyle if they are not kept in check.

Soccer is the beautiful game, played by millions of young girls and boys (aged 6 to 18) across many continents, whether it's on the beaches of Rio, the back alleys of a major city nearby or the local park, you will find someone kicking a football around.

In today's society there has been a shift to more organised soccer practice for our youth players. Gone are the days of jumpers for goal posts, as streets are littered with cars and grass verges now have houses built on them.

Having a more structured approach is both a good and a bad thing; on one hand young players get structured development and education through willing volunteers who show them how everything from how to warm up correctly, develop their technical ability with the ball right through to skill development and organised small sided games to wrap everything up together to provide a total learning experience.

Today time is limited and therefore there may be only an hour or two devoted to structured soccer practice during the week, what happens when practice is over?

Getting your child to participate in an organised soccer school or club can bring tremendous benefits to you and your child.

Soccer can help increase your child's self esteem, which feeds their self talk which ultimately drives their performance. But soccer isn't the only winner, quite often it can be seen that academic performance can increases to!

Studies have shown that getting young children involved in soccer at an early stage promotes a real healthy attitude towards the game and this attitude continues with them into adult life.

The number one reason why children play soccer is to have fun; if soccer is fun and enjoyable then players will want to continue playing. This benefits their overall fitness and reduces their health risks considerably.

Soccer is made fun by coaches worldwide who willingly give up their time voluntarily to organise youth soccer practice and coach teams.

Gone are the days when soccer, for the really young players, was an 11 a side game with offside rules and no touches of the ball for massive periods of the game.

Youth soccer from the age of 6 to 11 is typically about having fun, playing small sided matches such as 4 v 4 with no goal keepers, promoting lots of touches of the ball and player interaction on the pitch.

Through playing soccer and encouraging children to take regular exercise many of the risk factors that are associated with heart disease such as obesity and diabetes can be reduced significantly. It is stated that childhood obesity has increased by more than 50% since 1976, which is a really scary fact.

Getting your child involved in soccer doesn't just improve their health. We've mentioned already the improvements at school.

Social benefits, such as mixing with others, having to work as a team, contributing through individual effort to a collective goal, experiencing the highs and lows, picking each other up, competition, striving to be the best, aiming to win and supporting and helping others are all by products of playing soccer.

Many of the life skills that the players learn through soccer are beneficial in later life, how to form and build relationships, developing a sense of co-operation, how to lead people, how to handle adversity, what commitment means and punctuality, are all key qualities that will benefit the players in adult life.

If your child is already playing soccer, great. But what can you do if you want to get your child involved in a local soccer team? Here are seven must ask questions that you and your child should consider when attempting to find a suitable club…

1) What level of commitment is required in terms of practice sessions and games at the weekend?

2) When are the training sessions? When are games played, what's the format and how much time will you need to devote?

3) How far are you willing to travel to training and to matches? Some clubs will operate travel teams where distances can be considerable, including overnight stops.

4) What are the costs involved? Some clubs adopt a pay when you play, others a more structured approach. The most expensive clubs are not always the best, ask yourself is what your paying in the equivalent to what your child is getting out?

5) What do you and your child want out of playing soccer? This needs to be aligned with the prospective clubs philosophy, is it about having fun or winning?

6) How best will your child learn, develop and stay interested? Are they happy just to be involved or would they thrive in a more competitive environment?

7)What is the clubs constitution and philosophy to soccer, how long have they been in existence, the experience of the coaches, location, facilities etc.

Once you have considered the above questions what are your next steps to finding a suitable club or soccer organisation for your child?

You can…

i) Get in touch with your local Soccer Association by searching the web or looking in yellow pages. They should be able to provide you with a list of clubs and organisations in your local area.

ii) Ask other parents/guardians about local junior and youth soccer teams. You'll be surprised at how many adults or their children are involved.

iii) Encourage you children to ask their school mates where they play their soccer. Knowing some of the team can be a real advantage as players integrate themselves into a team.

iv) Ask your child's form tutor or headmaster if they know of any clubs or organisations. Many clubs have formed good relationships with the schools over the years.

v) Read the local papers or local news websites you'll be amazed at how much coverage youth and junior soccer gets.

These five practical steps should enable you to find a club that meets yours and your child's soccer aspirations. However, if there still isn't a club near you that can satisfy a need why not look to set up your own team!

How to start a football programme collection

2007-09-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

To effectively begin a football programme collection, an individual needs to choose a specialisation to his or her collection. There are hundreds of thousands of programmes available in the United Kingdom, and even more worldwide. To give a collection some sort of meaning a theme ought to be adopted to avoid needless accumulation and so as to put the designated budget a collector has to as best use as possible.

Of course, it will sometimes be the case that you come across a programme that joins or crosses two themes at once. These are likely to prove to be valuable acquisitions in years to come as they signify a special or historical occasion, which will muster memories for football fans from across the world in the future.

A football programme is the most easily adaptable element of a football match to celebrate or commemorate a particular event. This could come in the form of some sort of achievement such as a player milestone, which can be featured in the programme itself. A player milestone could come in many forms, such as an appearance record, a goal scoring record, the end of a players career, a number of years of service by the manager, and much more.

The darker side of football is also recorded in editions of match programmes. These historical events again attract collectors who see them as poignant reminders of the past and are sought after and valuable as a result. The disasters a Hillsborough, Ibrox and Bradford have valuable programmes associated with them, not only for the day itself, but also the subsequent commemorative matches.

A notably valuable set of programmes to own are those associated with the Munich Air Disaster involving the Manchester United team and Busby’s Babes. The programme from the match against Partizan Belgrade who Manchester United were playing on the tragic trip can sell for over a thousand pounds. A similar sum can be achieved for the programme against Sheffield Wednesday directly after the disaster where the team list wasn’t filled in for the Manchester United team.

Notable and celebratory occurrences are usually reflected in the content and style of the programme. Important programmes to get hold of are final matches in an old stadium, or the first issue within a new one. Most programmes of this type are abundant with interesting features and historical information, making them a gem in any soccer programme collection.

Programmes can mean different things to different collectors. The reason why you may value one programme could be due to entirely personal reasons and memories which they may conjure up. For others the pursuit is one of football passion, finding out more about the history and traditions of a football team they support. Whatever your reason, collecting football programmes is a highly rewarding hobby, and comes highly recommended to any football fan.

Kids And Energy

2007-09-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Soccer info

2007-08-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

A site dedicated to a child centered approach to the organization and instruction of youth soccer.

youth soccer teams and leagues source for soccer gifts, soccer jewelry, soccer tshirts, soccer school supplies and more.

The official site with information about state associations, training tips, letters from players, soccer links, and camps.

The official site for this volunteer-driven youth soccer program for kids 4-1/2 to 19 years old. Includes FAQ, history, membership information, ...

Effective, easy to use soccer drills, skills, formations, rules and tips. Everything a youth soccer coach needs for practices and games.

Youth Soccer online magazine covering soccer drills, soccer tips, soccer rules - designed especially for beginning coaches, parents, and youth soccer ...

youth football (soccer) coaching - everything you need including drills, articles, practice plans, downloads, expert advice and more.

Serving northern and central California. Includes information on leagues and tournaments, team manual in PDF format, and coaching resources.

JS Enterprises sponsored: International Soccer Cybertour: Soccer resources for kids of ALL ages. JS Enterprises creates effective, high quality marketing ...

The Jetix Kids Cup is a national 5v5 tournament produced by Disney and Major League Soccer. The Jetix Kids Cup National Finals were held May 20th and 21st ...

General information, news, leagues, and contacts. Represents over 30000 players.

The Official web site of the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association and its affiliated leagues.

Today, we introduce the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association Program for Concussion. Our partnership with imPACT on-line testing, ThedaCare Physicians and a ...

FRISCO, TEXAS (March 12, 2007) - Beginning this weekend Maya & Miguel, the award-winning children’s series on PBS KIDS GO!, and US Youth Soccer, ...

All Sport 4 Kids specialise in Childrens Football Coaching, Childrens Holiday Courses, School Sports, Childrens Football Teams and Sports Coaching ...

Includes information on leagues and tournaments, teams, and coaching resources.

Specializing in Recreational Soccer. SAY Soccer means 'Kids Having Fun!' The Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) was formed to provide an organization within ...

... 2007 Region II Championships Intern Positions Available. US Youth Soccer intern positions in Des Moines, June 23-27 ... "Let the Kids PLAY". Best Email: ...

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in the Rowlett area.

Come celebrate with our kids in some fun non-soccer activities. Net proceeds from these events to benefit the Nevada Youth Soccer Association. ...

Youth making up teams that play in Recreational and Select divisions of the Georgia Youth Soccer Association.

IYSA - Provides tips and training information of interest to soccer coaches worldwide. Additional information is provided of special interest to Indian ...

The Jetix Kids Cup is a national 5v5 tournament produced by Disney and Major League Soccer. The Jetix Kids Cup National Finals were held May 20th and 21st ...

Our philosophy is to provide an atmosphere of good sportsmanship within which the players and teams can compete, learn and enjoy the game of soccer.

P.O. Box 1174 - Moline, IL - 61266 "For the Kids" Click Here to see the final schedule. ... Youth Soccer Camp & Goalkeeper Camp. East Moline camps: ...

Offers registration, schedule, standings, calendar, news, and FAQs.

The official web site for the Swampscott Youth Soccer Association, Massachusetts.

North Dakota Youth Soccer Association is pleased to announce the new addition of Matt Howe as the first Director of Coaching for the state of North Dakota. ...

Youth soccer magazine with help coaching soccer for kids. Online multimedia soccer library includes complete soccer training programs, soccer coaching video ...

Soccer training from a professional former olympic soccer player. Check out the animated soccer drills and our read about our youth traing camps and more!

Field maps, registration information, and club calendar.

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in the Wylie area.

Recreational, competitive and select soccer teams for youth. Site includes schedule, registration information.

SnVYSA, providing organization to the Soccer program in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley area of WSYSA District II in the State of Washington.

Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, event management software, League administration software, Club management software, Club management software, ...

An open forum for New Jersey Youth Soccer enthusiasts.

Vote YES for More Soccer Fields. Help Make Our Kids a Public Policy Priority. San Antonio is woefully lacking when it comes to parks and recreational fields ...

A volunteer, non-profit organization serving Auburn, Washington. 45 teams serving almost 700 players. There are five major levels of team play: Modified, ...

San Jose, CA. Provides select, competitive and recreational soccer for boys and girls from U6 to U19.

It would be helpful to have as many kids as possible show up for at least ... 2007 and spring 2008 soccer seasons on Sunday, May 20th and Sunday June 3rd. ...

Traveling club based in Idaho Falls. Tournaments, news, links.

Quick tips for the beginning soccer coach pressed into teaching beginning kids soccer. From About.com World Soccer Guide Bill Hutchison.

This is a great opportunity for kids in Eastern Kentucky to advance their soccer skills while learning from some of the states best coaches. ...

Variety of Youth Soccer Drills for soccer coaches and parents. Teaching Soccer Coaching Drills and making training more fun for kids and youth players.

... accident on 5/29/07 involving five students from Northwest High School , which took the lives of two members of the Corpus Christi Soccer Club. ...

Soccer players, coaches and teams can share their old soccer gear with poor mountain children in Honduras. Find out about how Soccer is played in poor ...

Governing body of District II California Youth Soccer Association for Santa Cruz county and outlying areas. Local and regional soccer links and tournament ...

CYSA is dedicated to developing the youth of Chelmsford through soccer.

A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing player development & the game of soccer! Mass Youth Soccer is the official representative of US Youth ...

Newsletter, photos, teams, programs, fields and registration information.

spokane valley youth soccer league: league web site hosted at eteamz - Spokane Valley, Washington 99206 USA.

Promoting youth soccer in Fluvanna County. Provides a recreational and a travel program. Includes program overviews, downloadable forms, and coach contacts.

Greenpoint Williamsburg Youth Soccer League is an AYSO youth soccer league for boys and girls ages 5 to 11, playing at McCarren park in Brooklyn, New York.

Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads? - Summary of the IOM Workshop on ... Injuries in Youth Soccer: A Subject Review ... Donate to Neuroscience for Kids.

Youth soccer organization with both a competitive and a recreational soccer program for boys/girls ages 5-18 in Escondido, California.

Information, registration, coaches, maps, and links.

Soccer sites for kids. Original coloring pages, crafts, word searches, mazes, graphics and music. Kid Safe Site.

Amazon.com: Coaching Kids to Play Soccer (Fireside Books (Fireside)): Books: Kurt Aschermann by Kurt Aschermann.

How to Coach a Kids' Soccer Warm-Up Drill. A proper warm-up sets the tone for a good practice and game. Try this fun game, called 'Stuck in the Mud,' to ...

Smithfield — Johnston County Commissioners voted 4-3 Monday night to approve a youth soccer league's multi-field facility, but with some modifications to ...

Please access the CORI/Kids Safe form here on their web site. Please make sure to reference the Cohasset Soccer Club under club name on the form. ...

The official home page of the Zephyrhills Youth Soccer League.

Welcome to the Rapid City Youth Soccer League (RCYSL) web site.

If you love kids and have a passion for teaching, or would like to develop some ... AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) is a nonprofit organization ...

For 2007 the Jack London Youth Soccer Sports League has initiated a JLYSSL Coordinated Tryout Schedule for Class I and Class III programs. ...

CanadaSoccer.com. Official Site of the Canadian Soccer Association.

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in San Antonio.

Yahoo! reviewed these sites and found them related to Youth Soccer.

Premiere League); New Hampshire Soccer Association · Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association · Missouri Youth Soccer Association ...

Smoke-Free Kids is a collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services, the US Women's National Team, and US Soccer.

The Sport for All Kids. Click Here For 2007/2008 Fall Registration Information ... 2007 Nevada South Youth Soccer League Member of the AccessDance Network ...

Amazon.co.uk: 101 Great Youth Soccer Drills: Great Drills and Skills for Better Fundamental Play: Books: Robert Koger by Robert Koger.

May 9, 2007 (Washington, D.C.) - As part of a commitment to get kids moving and improve their lives through sport, Nike and the U.S. Soccer Foundation ...

Let the coaches' coach, let the kids play and let the referee's ref! Take a deep breath, relax, sit back and enjoy watching your children play! ...

Welcome to the Home Page of Region 112 of the American Youth Soccer Organizition ( AYSO ) serving San Dimas and La Verne California.

Welcome to the home page for Palo Alto AYSO, Region 26 of the American Youth Soccer Organization. Palo Alto AYSO is open to all boys and girls aged 5 to 18 ...

A Houston based youth soccer organization with leagues throughout the city, focusing on fun, and equal play with positive reinforcement.

Assabet Valley Youth Soccer League Kids playing soccer. AVYSL Philosophy · League Officers · Coaches Code of Conduct · Coaches Pledge · Zero Tolerance Law ...

District II Soccer Line (408) 997-8600. Thanks for helping the kids play! ... There are a number of myths in youth soccer, such as children must specialize ...

BRYC provides recreational and travel soccer to the youth of Fairfax County. Register online, volunteer, contact staff members, view news and tournament ...

World Almanac for Kids: Facts, games and helpful stuff for kids ages 8 and up. ... U.S. Youth Soccer, a division of the USSF, which began in 1974 with ...

The Fall River Youth Soccer Association would like to Welcome you to a new season! ... Sign your kids up early to avoid them missing out. ...

Gate City Youth Soccer League representation and information site.

Run by volunteers, the club proudly claims a membership of nearly 700 local soccer players in its house and travel programs. ...

The official site with information about state associations, training tips, letters from players, soccer links, and camps.

The official site for this volunteer-driven youth soccer program for kids 4-1/2 to 19 years old. Includes FAQ, history, membership information, ...

Effective, easy to use soccer drills, skills, formations, rules and tips. Everything a youth soccer coach needs for practices and games.

Youth Soccer online magazine covering soccer drills, soccer tips, soccer rules - designed especially for beginning coaches, parents, and youth soccer ...

youth football (soccer) coaching - everything you need including drills, articles, practice plans, downloads, expert advice and more.

Serving northern and central California. Includes information on leagues and tournaments, team manual in PDF format, and coaching resources.

JS Enterprises sponsored: International Soccer Cybertour: Soccer resources for kids of ALL ages. JS Enterprises creates effective, high quality marketing ...

The Jetix Kids Cup is a national 5v5 tournament produced by Disney and Major League Soccer. The Jetix Kids Cup National Finals were held May 20th and 21st ...

General information, news, leagues, and contacts. Represents over 30000 players.

The Official web site of the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association and its affiliated leagues.

Today, we introduce the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association Program for Concussion. Our partnership with imPACT on-line testing, ThedaCare Physicians and a ...

FRISCO, TEXAS (March 12, 2007) - Beginning this weekend Maya & Miguel, the award-winning children’s series on PBS KIDS GO!, and US Youth Soccer, ...

All Sport 4 Kids specialise in Childrens Football Coaching, Childrens Holiday Courses, School Sports, Childrens Football Teams and Sports Coaching ...

Includes information on leagues and tournaments, teams, and coaching resources.

Specializing in Recreational Soccer. SAY Soccer means 'Kids Having Fun!' The Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) was formed to provide an organization within ...

... 2007 Region II Championships Intern Positions Available. US Youth Soccer intern positions in Des Moines, June 23-27 ... "Let the Kids PLAY". Best Email: ...

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in the Rowlett area.

Come celebrate with our kids in some fun non-soccer activities. Net proceeds from these events to benefit the Nevada Youth Soccer Association. ...

Youth making up teams that play in Recreational and Select divisions of the Georgia Youth Soccer Association.

IYSA - Provides tips and training information of interest to soccer coaches worldwide. Additional information is provided of special interest to Indian ...

The Jetix Kids Cup is a national 5v5 tournament produced by Disney and Major League Soccer. The Jetix Kids Cup National Finals were held May 20th and 21st ...

Our philosophy is to provide an atmosphere of good sportsmanship within which the players and teams can compete, learn and enjoy the game of soccer.

P.O. Box 1174 - Moline, IL - 61266 "For the Kids" Click Here to see the final schedule. ... Youth Soccer Camp & Goalkeeper Camp. East Moline camps: ...

Offers registration, schedule, standings, calendar, news, and FAQs.

The official web site for the Swampscott Youth Soccer Association, Massachusetts.

North Dakota Youth Soccer Association is pleased to announce the new addition of Matt Howe as the first Director of Coaching for the state of North Dakota. ...

Youth soccer magazine with help coaching soccer for kids. Online multimedia soccer library includes complete soccer training programs, soccer coaching video ...

Soccer training from a professional former olympic soccer player. Check out the animated soccer drills and our read about our youth traing camps and more!

Field maps, registration information, and club calendar.

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in the Wylie area.

Recreational, competitive and select soccer teams for youth. Site includes schedule, registration information.

SnVYSA, providing organization to the Soccer program in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley area of WSYSA District II in the State of Washington.

Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, event management software, League administration software, Club management software, Club management software, ...

An open forum for New Jersey Youth Soccer enthusiasts.

Vote YES for More Soccer Fields. Help Make Our Kids a Public Policy Priority. San Antonio is woefully lacking when it comes to parks and recreational fields ...

A volunteer, non-profit organization serving Auburn, Washington. 45 teams serving almost 700 players. There are five major levels of team play: Modified, ...

San Jose, CA. Provides select, competitive and recreational soccer for boys and girls from U6 to U19.

It would be helpful to have as many kids as possible show up for at least ... 2007 and spring 2008 soccer seasons on Sunday, May 20th and Sunday June 3rd. ...

Traveling club based in Idaho Falls. Tournaments, news, links.

Quick tips for the beginning soccer coach pressed into teaching beginning kids soccer. From About.com World Soccer Guide Bill Hutchison.

This is a great opportunity for kids in Eastern Kentucky to advance their soccer skills while learning from some of the states best coaches. ...

Variety of Youth Soccer Drills for soccer coaches and parents. Teaching Soccer Coaching Drills and making training more fun for kids and youth players.

... accident on 5/29/07 involving five students from Northwest High School , which took the lives of two members of the Corpus Christi Soccer Club. ...

Soccer players, coaches and teams can share their old soccer gear with poor mountain children in Honduras. Find out about how Soccer is played in poor ...

Governing body of District II California Youth Soccer Association for Santa Cruz county and outlying areas. Local and regional soccer links and tournament ...

CYSA is dedicated to developing the youth of Chelmsford through soccer.

A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing player development & the game of soccer! Mass Youth Soccer is the official representative of US Youth ...

Newsletter, photos, teams, programs, fields and registration information.

spokane valley youth soccer league: league web site hosted at eteamz - Spokane Valley, Washington 99206 USA.

Promoting youth soccer in Fluvanna County. Provides a recreational and a travel program. Includes program overviews, downloadable forms, and coach contacts.

Greenpoint Williamsburg Youth Soccer League is an AYSO youth soccer league for boys and girls ages 5 to 11, playing at McCarren park in Brooklyn, New York.

Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads? - Summary of the IOM Workshop on ... Injuries in Youth Soccer: A Subject Review ... Donate to Neuroscience for Kids.

Youth soccer organization with both a competitive and a recreational soccer program for boys/girls ages 5-18 in Escondido, California.

Information, registration, coaches, maps, and links.

Soccer sites for kids. Original coloring pages, crafts, word searches, mazes, graphics and music. Kid Safe Site.

Amazon.com: Coaching Kids to Play Soccer (Fireside Books (Fireside)): Books: Kurt Aschermann by Kurt Aschermann.

How to Coach a Kids' Soccer Warm-Up Drill. A proper warm-up sets the tone for a good practice and game. Try this fun game, called 'Stuck in the Mud,' to ...

Smithfield — Johnston County Commissioners voted 4-3 Monday night to approve a youth soccer league's multi-field facility, but with some modifications to ...

Please access the CORI/Kids Safe form here on their web site. Please make sure to reference the Cohasset Soccer Club under club name on the form. ...

The official home page of the Zephyrhills Youth Soccer League.

Welcome to the Rapid City Youth Soccer League (RCYSL) web site.

If you love kids and have a passion for teaching, or would like to develop some ... AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) is a nonprofit organization ...

For 2007 the Jack London Youth Soccer Sports League has initiated a JLYSSL Coordinated Tryout Schedule for Class I and Class III programs. ...

CanadaSoccer.com. Official Site of the Canadian Soccer Association.

Recreational soccer for boys and girls in San Antonio.

Yahoo! reviewed these sites and found them related to Youth Soccer.

Premiere League); New Hampshire Soccer Association · Mid-New Jersey Youth Soccer Association · Missouri Youth Soccer Association ...

Smoke-Free Kids is a collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services, the US Women's National Team, and US Soccer.

The Sport for All Kids. Click Here For 2007/2008 Fall Registration Information ... 2007 Nevada South Youth Soccer League Member of the AccessDance Network ...

Amazon.co.uk: 101 Great Youth Soccer Drills: Great Drills and Skills for Better Fundamental Play: Books: Robert Koger by Robert Koger.

May 9, 2007 (Washington, D.C.) - As part of a commitment to get kids moving and improve their lives through sport, Nike and the U.S. Soccer Foundation ...

Let the coaches' coach, let the kids play and let the referee's ref! Take a deep breath, relax, sit back and enjoy watching your children play! ...

Welcome to the Home Page of Region 112 of the American Youth Soccer Organizition ( AYSO ) serving San Dimas and La Verne California.

Welcome to the home page for Palo Alto AYSO, Region 26 of the American Youth Soccer Organization. Palo Alto AYSO is open to all boys and girls aged 5 to 18 ...

A Houston based youth soccer organization with leagues throughout the city, focusing on fun, and equal play with positive reinforcement.

Assabet Valley Youth Soccer League Kids playing soccer. AVYSL Philosophy · League Officers · Coaches Code of Conduct · Coaches Pledge · Zero Tolerance Law ...

District II Soccer Line (408) 997-8600. Thanks for helping the kids play! ... There are a number of myths in youth soccer, such as children must specialize ...

BRYC provides recreational and travel soccer to the youth of Fairfax County. Register online, volunteer, contact staff members, view news and tournament ...

World Almanac for Kids: Facts, games and helpful stuff for kids ages 8 and up. ... U.S. Youth Soccer, a division of the USSF, which began in 1974 with ...

The Fall River Youth Soccer Association would like to Welcome you to a new season! ... Sign your kids up early to avoid them missing out. ...

Gate City Youth Soccer League representation and information site.

Run by volunteers, the club proudly claims a membership of nearly 700 local soccer players in its house and travel programs. ...

Soccer: Lessons For Parents Not Just Kids. By Christina Walton. Muddy Soccer Boy He wanted my best player off the field. He screamed insults at me, ...

A site dedicated to a child centered approach to the organization and instruction of Little League Soccer.

The official site for this volunteer-driven youth soccer program for kids 4-1/2 to 19 years old. Includes FAQ, history, membership information, ...

Effective, easy to use soccer drills, skills, formations, rules and tips. Everything a youth soccer coach needs for practices and games.

Youth Soccer online magazine covering soccer drills, soccer tips, soccer rules - designed especially for beginning coaches, parents, and youth soccer ...

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JS Enterprises sponsored: International Soccer Cybertour: Soccer resources for kids of ALL ages. JS Enterprises creates effective, high quality marketing ...

The Jetix Kids Cup is a national 5v5 tournament produced by Disney and Major League Soccer. The Jetix Kids Cup National Finals were held May 20th and 21st ...

General information, news, leagues, and contacts. Represents over 30000 players.

The Official web site of the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association and its affiliated leagues.

Gift Idea Help Sharing Mothers Day Gift Ideas That Are Special

2007-08-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Giving the perfect Mothers Day gift can be easy and inexpensive. Investing your time and effort into thinking up a handcrafted gift is often the best way to show your mom that you care. Getting help from other family members can be a great way to ensure that you choose the best Mothers Day gift for your special mom.

The perfect Mothers Day gift can be found by examining what your mom enjoys the most. Does she spend time relaxing with her favorite music, gardening or watching a special television program? These favorite activities can all provide possible gift ideas that your mother will be sure to enjoy.

Most moms would love a day of pampering to relieve stress. A Mothers day gift basket always looks pretty, and you can fill up a nice basket with scented bath salts, some bubble bath, and even new makeup for her to try. Add some pretty soaps or organic shampoos and conditioners, and you have a great gift that will leave her thankful at the end of a long day. For a special touch, toss a pair of candles and a natural sounds CD into your basket.

If you have children, they may want to get in on the action and make a Mothers day gift. One idea for a creative gift that kids can make is a collage of photos of the kids. They can cut up their pictures and glue them onto a sheet of cardboard, then add a colored construction paper frame overtop. Moms love pictures, and a collage is a creative gift that is touching and fun at the same time. Kids will love making a Mothers day gift that gets put on display too.

Another creative gift is a personalized card. With this simple mothers day gift, use your computer to find free greeting cards you can download. Print one out, then add pictures to your card and write a personal message. You can even include a small poem that describes how special your mother is to you, or go one step further and write her a letter to tell her why you care about her so much.

A Mothers day gift for women who have newborns or toddlers is a break. Nothing says love more than your time, and a nice gift is to come in and take care of the dishes, laundry, and housecleaning for a day. Put on some soft music, chat while you work, and finish off your gift by cooking supper (or better yet, prepare supper in advance and freeze it to bring the day you go visit). Offer to baby sit older kids so that mom can go out for a night, or give her "gift certificates" for babysitting that she can cash in when she needs a break.

Mothers Day is a special opportunity to show your mom how much you care, but a special gift of love and appreciation can be given any day of the year. Feel free to give a Mothers day gift any season for any reason, just to show that you recognize the effort and devotion it takes to be a mom.

In the sporting context these can include:

2007-07-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Physical
where a child is intentionally injured or made to do excessive exercises as punishment,
where training methods are inappropriate for the developmental age of the child, where
they are allowed play with an injury or where inappropriate drugs or alcohol are offered
or accepted.

Sexual
Sexual abuse can occur in soccer For example: a child is exposed to, or invited to participate in sexual contact, activity or
behaviour if photographs are taken or adapted and placed on child pornography websites where there is inappropriate touching or where intimate relationships occur

Emotional
where a child is made fun of, criticised, discriminated against, or put under an
unrealistic pressure to perform by parents, coaches or spectators who abuse their power.

Neglect
where a child is not provided an appropriate level of care and supervision. In soccer

neglect can occur if children do not have proper supervision, clothing, drinks or food or
if they are allowed or encouraged to play whilst injured.

How can I recognise abusive situations?
As a parent, you know your children best. Look for signs that they are not their normal
selves and may be unusually withdrawn, disinterested, unhappy or angry.

There are many signs, both physical and behavioural, to suggest possible abusive
situations. Unexplained injuries, sexually explicit actions or language beyond their age,
new friendships with older persons, or sudden changes in behaviour are just a few
examples. Harassment or abuse can take many forms and these are detailed in Appendix
Two.

What can I do about it?
You can protect your child both at home and in the environment in which they
participate. Encourage your child to talk openly to you about their activities and let
them know that it's okay to tell when something isn't right.

Teach your child to think critically and question adults respectfully. Encourage them to
say "No" to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and to talk to you about any
problems or questions.

In addition, you should:

Get involved in their soccer activities by getting to know their coaches, volunteers and
other parents;

Attend training and matches; your child will appreciate your interest, and it will give
you the opportunity to watch the coach in action, and see how she/he interacts with the
other participants;

Talk to your child and their coach about what's okay behaviour and what your child
wants to get out of their activity;

Ensure the club has a child protection policy in place for staff and volunteers;

Ask if the club's coach is certified and a member of a coaching association
with a code of ethics;

The FAI Technical Department maintains a database of all qualified officially registered
coaches and also delivers training courses appropriate to all levels of competency. They
can be contacted at (01) 8900700.

Keep an eye out for other children whose parents are unable to attend practices or
games;

Be wary of private, closed practices. If they occur on a regular basis, ask the coach for
an explanation;

Be wary of any increase in the amount of time the coach spends with your child beyond
the training situation.

Part of keeping children safe is not taking offence when asked about your own
background. If you volunteer in sport, and you are asked to take part in screening,
accept this as a positive step to keeping children safe;

Listen to your child's complaint and no matter how far-fetched it seems, check it out;

If the problem relates to “Poor Practice”, try to resolve it with league or club officials;

Have the situation corrected and, if necessary, remove your child from the activity;

Make sure you aren't part of the problem yourself by screaming abuse at referees,
coaches, participants or other spectators;

Children learn by example, so model fair play by applauding good performances of both
your child and his/her opponents;

Make your child feel like a winner every time by offering praise for competing fairly
and trying hard. Never ridicule your child for making a mistake or losing;

Encourage your child to play by the rules and resolve conflicts without resorting to
violence or bullying.

What Parents can do!

2007-07-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Creating a safer place for our children to play is everyone's responsibility... coaches,
volunteers, local clubs, leagues and national governing bodies, schools, all levels of
government, the participants, and you, the parent.

As a parent, part of supporting your child's involvement in soccer includes ensuring
their safety while they're having fun.

All parents have a responsibility to make sure their children are protected from abusive
situations. This guide will provide you with information on what to watch for and where
to turn if you suspect harassment or abuse.

While there are different degrees of harassment and abuse, all provide serious
setbacks to a child's enjoyment of, and participation in soccer.

Abuse is any action, physical or verbal, which exploits or potentially harms or damages
a child's physical, emotional or psychological health.

Sources of Child Abuse

2007-07-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

It is important to realise that children may be subjected to abuse by parents/guardians or
other family members, persons outside their family, other children, or those who have
responsibility for their care for one reason or another for short or long periods. We
cannot ignore evidence which suggests that there are people who have sought access to
children through their involvement in sport.

Some facts about abuse:
Abuse occurs across all social classes, professions and ethnic groups
75% of children effected by abuse know their abuser
A child will seldom make false accusations or take back accusations
A child will rarely be moved from the home, it’s usual to remove the abuser from
the situation
Both boys and girls are abused
Disabled children are more vulnerable to abuse, less able to speak about it and
more dependant on adults for their care
90% of abusers are male heterosexuals but women also abuse

Child Protection in Soccer

2007-07-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

The protection of under-age players from any form of abuse must be a priority for all
those involved in soccer.

If under age players are at risk of harm, it is the duty of those in a position of
responsibility to take immediate steps to remove the risk and to ensure that all necessary
procedures are undertaken in accordance with statutory guidelines.

The detection and prevention of child abuse depends on the co-operation of all
concerned. The following points are central to the success of this effort:
Acceptance by all involved with children that abuse, whether physical,
psychological or sexual, severely damages children and must be confronted;
Knowledge of the behavioural and physical indicators of various forms of
abuse;
Knowledge of the appropriate action and response to be taken when abuse is
revealed or detected;
Vigilance and avoidance of all situations conductive to risk;
Open, trusting and co-operative relationships within the club, with
parents/guardians and others concerned with children’s progress or welfare;
Willingness to co-operate with the Statutory Authorities (Gairdai, Health
Boards), in relation to sharing information about child protection concerns at
any time.

Kids soccer drills

2007-07-05T07:33:00.001-07:00

I believe all kids can open up but it is up to the parents and people around them to encourage them and 'persuade them'.

My oldest son used to be a timid boy and afraid to go on stage. He used to be quiet when strangers are around. That was when he was about 3 or 4 years old. Now that he is five, there is such a great change in him. He volunteers whenever someone ask "Who wants to answer this question" or "Can we have a volunteer?"

He even joined a story telling competition and went for a audition recently for a role in the 'Forbidden City'. He was selected for the first round but not the final round. To us, it is a good exposure for him.

My younger son needs more 'training' too. He talks but is sometimes it depends on his mood.

What did we do? We talk to him a lot. We never stop encouraging him. Tell him you love him (that is the first step).

I used to ask him "Are you a leader or a follower?" Tell them what happens if they are followers and if they are leaders. Leaders lead and are not afraid to make mistakes. Leaders learn the right things from others and not simply follow what others do.

If they choose to be followers, they may not have some previleges. Followers can only accept other people's commands. (Of course, we must have a balance so that they will listen to us too)

Whenever there is a chance, encourage them to go on stage. Entice them to do it. Once they have done it one time, they find that it is not so terrifying after all. It may take a long long time before they do it. Parents must never give up trying.

Highlight their successes to them. Let them know they can do more in the area you are focusing on. Since we are focusing on helping 'open up' our kids, even when they attempt to speak to a new friend, praise them.

My husband and I know our kids like Macdonalds. We tell our younger son that if you want french fries, you will have to buy them yourself. He was afraid. He tried but kept coming back. We insisted, if you want it, you have to do it yourself. Finally he bought it himself. Every little step brings you one step closer to your goal. Do not overlook every step and action that you take.
Sports nutrition to you
Dance for man!

Kids soccer drills

2007-07-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

American Soccer In The World Cup Disappoints Again

2007-06-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

The 2006 World Cup was going to be our year to show the world that we belong on the world stage in soccer. The Americans boasted a squad with quite soccer a bit of international experience and a hunger to show the world that they belonged. Coming into the 2006 World Cup, the United States team was ranked 5th in the world by FIFA. Another great sign of hope was that the Americans soccer made it to the Quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, which gave everyone hope that this could be the year everything was going to come together. For one of the first times I could remember people in America were actually excited about the World Cup.

The first soccer match for the United States was against the dangerous Czech Republic. The United States gave a lackluster performance and was dominated by the Czechs 3-0. This loss was a huge blow to the psyche of the American soccer team, but it would help them focus in their next match. One of the best teams in the tournament, Italy was next in line for the Americans, so things looked grim. It appeared that the United States team was going to disappoint again. However, the American soccer team displayed the skills and toughness everyone expected to see from them this year, and fought for a tie against the Italians 1-1. With Ghana beating the Czech Republic, American soccer once again had an opportunity. If Italy beat the Czechs, and the United States won against Ghana, the Americans would be into the Quarterfinals of the World Cup again. Italy beat the Czech Republic, but the United States suffered a very disappointing loss to Ghana, 2-1.

After the disappointing first round exit from the 2006 World Cup, the American soccer team fell from 5th to 16th in the FIFA World rankings. This was a huge setback in the American’s struggle to reach the pinnacle in soccer. However, we will not be disappointed for long, because the women’s soccer team is tuning up to make their run at the upcoming World Championships. Once again we will have to pin all of our hopes on the women’s soccer team to win on the world stage.

My Golden Child

2007-06-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Your Grandmother loves to brush your hair while you tell her stories of your day. She sits and talks with you, listens to your adventures and hangs on your every word. Your artwork covers her fridge; Child protection for soccer your handprint covers her heart.

Your Grandmother’s next-door-neighbour, well into her nineties, waits for your visits. She savours every moment of those visits, sitting in her sunroom, listening to your tales of soccer games and school adventures. She insists child protection for soccer on teaching you to play the piano, she wants you to be able to play the music that’s in your heart.

The cashier at the store, always asking where you are, how are you doing in school, do you have any Girl Guide cookies to sell? She insists that we come through her checkout when we’re in the store, child protection for soccerjust so she can chat with you. She calls you her sweetheart; you call her “Heart”.

Your friends at school, and you have so very many, plan their summer holidays around your birthday party. They couldn’t possibly miss it! One friend couldn’t be there, and his parents insisted on taking you out for your birthday a month later. He couldn’t believe he had to go to the lake and miss your party. It broke his heart.

Your soccer coaches know that you’ll be at every game. Even when you’re sick, you’ll be there, to cheer on your teammates. When a game has to be cancelled because of bad weather, they call and speak to you personally so that you’re not too upset. They know how much you love soccer. Some of your past coaches still come to your games, just to see you run like the wind, play hard and strong, with passion and spirit. Your love of the game has touched their hearts.

The dog lady. Oh, how she loves to sit and talk with you! She brings her dogs to the park in front of our house and waits for you to come out to talk. She spreads out a blanket and for half an hour or more the two of you sit out there and throw toys for the dogs to catch and you talk. She even made a midnight drive on a Hallowe’en night to tie purple balloons and a bag of candy to our mailbox. Even her dogs love you, and they don’t like children at all. You’ve touched their hearts.

Our old next door neighbour, who still invites you over to “work” in the garage. Wood projects, art projects, car repairs, whatever it may be, I can count on you to be dirty and happy when you come home from his house. His wife often sends you home with your own “personal purple flowers”, because you have brightened their day with your smile and energy. You’ve definitely made your mark on their hearts.

Your first grade teacher told me that you were a gem, a joy to have in the class, an absolute treasure. “If all children were like her, the world would be a wonderful place.” Those were her exact words. She thought you were helpful, cheerful, persistent, and absolutely wonderful. Even though things were sometimes difficult for you, you never gave up. She had tears in her eyes when she said goodbye at the end of the school year. Your spirit, determination, and wonderful attitude captured her heart.

The Instructional Assistant that another student had in Kindergarten fell in love with you. She was somewhat acquainted with the family, living just around the corner from your Grandmother, but had never really met us. She always stops us on the street, in the store, wherever we meet, making sure that all is well with you. She invited you over for a “pool party” in a kiddie pool during the summer holidays, brought you a birthday present last year, and even another one this year! (Soccer Lego! She knows you very well!) You have a hold on her heart.

The list goes on and on my darling. You touch the hearts of almost everyone you meet. Your father and I are always amazed by the fact that no matter where we go, there seems to always be someone calling out hello to you, someone asking how you’re doing, someone anxious to talk to you. This weekend was one we won’t forget for a while. You became RollerBladeGirl as well as SoccerGirl, and went off around the block for a bit of practice. But what should have been a ten-minute “spin” turned into 45 minutes of panic for your father, your brother, and me. Where is she? We called everyone; your brother went on his bike around the block, around the next block, and no sign of you. We knocked on every friend’s door, but no one had seen you. Families all around the neighbourhood were out riding their bikes, looking for my girl, your uncles jumped in their cars to start searching. “I found her!” I heard your brother call. You made a new friend, just two doors away from your best friend’s house. “That’s wonderful that you made a new friend, but you must always, always, always tell me where you are!” I told you. I cried when I saw you, your brother even cried with relief and told you, “I don’t know what I’d do without you!”

It was your seventh birthday this weekend. Seven wonderful years with you in my life. I am truly blessed to have you here with me. I felt so badly that we weren’t able to have your party this weekend, but you understood. You never tried to make me feel bad about being sick, you just wanted me to get better so that we could have your party another time. You filled my arms with hugs, and my heart with love this weekend, and more than that, you made a difficult day bearable for me.

I remember last year, the week before your birthday, praying that my father wouldn’t die on your birthday. I prayed so hard that he’d pass away either before or after. I knew the time was near, and I wanted his pain to end, but not on your special day. But he did die on your birthday. And we decided not to tell you, so that you wouldn’t carry that memory of your birthday throughout your life. And you had a wonderful party; we celebrated bravely and happily. I was so worried that this year, this first anniversary of my father’s death would make it hard to celebrate your birthday. But God knows what he’s doing. Although I had child protection for soccer sadness in my heart, the joy of having you in my life made the pain bearable. The miracle of you made the loss of my father easier to endure.

You are an amazing golden child. You touch so many hearts without even know that you do it child protection for soccer. You have an amazing beauty, both inside and out. You are loving, kind, considerate, helpful, and persistent. You never give up, child protection for soccer always accepting a challenge with enthusiasm. You can have it all, my darling. Those beautiful eyes, that golden hair, the adorable sprinkle of freckles and your wonderful gap-toothed smile give you an outward beauty that no one can deny. Mix that with the immense beauty of your soul, and the world is yours for the taking. You amaze me every single day, sometimes you look up at me and I am overwhelmed by the love I have for you. I thank God for you every single day of my life.

I love you so much, you have my heart………always!

Kids first soccer

2007-06-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Soccer is the fastest growing team sport for boys and girls in America. The quality of some of the existing soccer programs for children, however, is a source of growing concern. The available research findings on youth sport provide very clear guidelines to better serve children's, as opposed to adults' needs.

The purpose of this Web page is to promote a child centered approach to the organization and instruction of youth sports. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion of the game of soccer as a life-long, family oriented activity, that provides for child-parent bonding, team work and friendships, as well as, adequate aerobic exercise. This is a message from a sport psychologist and soccer parent to fellow soccer moms and dads.