Her day begins early in the morning. She ferries the kids off to school in a minivan or SUV. After school, she picks up kids from one or more schools and drops them off to practice soccer. On weekends she ferries kids to games, prepares snacks and cheers her children on. This is the traditional soccer mom.
And I am excited to become one again! There will be a change this time, though...My oldest will play soccer, like last time, but now my step-daughter will play (so I have two schedules for two different teams to keep up with) and my husband will be coaching.
I am excited. For some reason I am excited to be a soccer mom. I think that maybe it is status thing for me. The smartest and most popular kids, the kids that everyone looked up to, were all soccer players in my Colorado high school. Perhaps, I hope to be more like them and raise children more like them. They were always smart, well prepared, and super nice people. The kind of people that I want my girls to be.
Unfortunately, I never really played sports as a child, unless it was required in gym class. And I didn't really take it very seriously the first time my oldest played, so I am ill prepared for two children to now be playing. Time for research again...I love it!
I have found some information on how to be a good soccer mom.
The best way to support your little player is to give them encouragement and love.
Next, you should learn about the game that your child has taken an interest in.
Here are a few tips:
1. Practice and/or play. Kids learn by doing. It is critical that kids (and soccer moms ) get to play with a soccer ball as much as possible.
So, buy a soccer ball and play soccer with him/her (just 10-20 minutes every other day will help tremendously). For those who are really enthusiastic, buy some orange practice cones or use whatever you have around the house to use as markers. And even make or buy a small soccer goal for the yard. (Bonus: A soccer goal is often a kid magnet for the neighborhood, friends, and teammates.) If you are super enthusiastic, you can even buy training aide such as: kicking aids, soccer videos, and even soccer books.
2. Learn the game yourself. Learn the rules and terminology.
Some interesting terms that I have found:
Clearing – the act of moving the ball out of the area of one’s own goal by throwing (goalkeeper only) or kicking it.
Foot Trap – the use of the foot, usually the bottom, to control a rolling or low bouncing ball.
Slide Tackle – a move where a player attempts to win the ball by sliding towards the ball. If the tackling player touches the ball first, he is allowed to make contact with the player controlling the ball. If the tackling player strikes the player before the ball, a foul is assessed. A tackle from behind is always a foul regardless of whether the tackler managed to get to the ball first.
Drop Ball – a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other.
Offside – a difficult soccer rule. A violation that occurs when an offensive player is closer to the opponent’s goal than both the ball and the second-to-last opposing player at the time that the ball is passed to the offensive player by his or her teammate. Players cannot be called offside if they are in their own half of the field or if they receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick, or goal kick.
Obstruction – a foul in which a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, illegally uses their body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.
3. Attend soccer games or watch soccer on TV.
Children can learn in various different ways, choose the method best for your child. Or, even better, mix it up a bit.
Most of all, though (and I didn't need any research for this one) love your child and encourage your child. Behave yourself on the sidelines and most of all, be a good example to your child.
I am excited. For some reason I am excited to be a soccer mom. I think that maybe it is status thing for me. The smartest and most popular kids, the kids that everyone looked up to, were all soccer players in my Colorado high school. Perhaps, I hope to be more like them and raise children more like them. They were always smart, well prepared, and super nice people. The kind of people that I want my girls to be.
Unfortunately, I never really played sports as a child, unless it was required in gym class. And I didn't really take it very seriously the first time my oldest played, so I am ill prepared for two children to now be playing. Time for research again...I love it!
I have found some information on how to be a good soccer mom.
The best way to support your little player is to give them encouragement and love.
Next, you should learn about the game that your child has taken an interest in.
Here are a few tips:
1. Practice and/or play. Kids learn by doing. It is critical that kids (and soccer moms ) get to play with a soccer ball as much as possible.
So, buy a soccer ball and play soccer with him/her (just 10-20 minutes every other day will help tremendously). For those who are really enthusiastic, buy some orange practice cones or use whatever you have around the house to use as markers. And even make or buy a small soccer goal for the yard. (Bonus: A soccer goal is often a kid magnet for the neighborhood, friends, and teammates.) If you are super enthusiastic, you can even buy training aide such as: kicking aids, soccer videos, and even soccer books.
2. Learn the game yourself. Learn the rules and terminology.
Some interesting terms that I have found:
Clearing – the act of moving the ball out of the area of one’s own goal by throwing (goalkeeper only) or kicking it.
Foot Trap – the use of the foot, usually the bottom, to control a rolling or low bouncing ball.
Slide Tackle – a move where a player attempts to win the ball by sliding towards the ball. If the tackling player touches the ball first, he is allowed to make contact with the player controlling the ball. If the tackling player strikes the player before the ball, a foul is assessed. A tackle from behind is always a foul regardless of whether the tackler managed to get to the ball first.
Drop Ball – a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other.
Offside – a difficult soccer rule. A violation that occurs when an offensive player is closer to the opponent’s goal than both the ball and the second-to-last opposing player at the time that the ball is passed to the offensive player by his or her teammate. Players cannot be called offside if they are in their own half of the field or if they receive the ball from a throw in, corner kick, or goal kick.
Obstruction – a foul in which a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, illegally uses their body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.
3. Attend soccer games or watch soccer on TV.
Children can learn in various different ways, choose the method best for your child. Or, even better, mix it up a bit.
Most of all, though (and I didn't need any research for this one) love your child and encourage your child. Behave yourself on the sidelines and most of all, be a good example to your child.
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