http://www.soccermastermind.com/2008/10/soccer-motivationthe-best-kept-secret-in-soccer/ Kids Soccer, Soccer Coaching Tips, Education, News and Advice. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:56:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.soccermastermind.com/2008/10/soccer-motivationthe-best-kept-secret-in-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-7838 Kids Soccer: The Stars And The Superstars. » Soccer Mastermind Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:52:29 +0000 http://www.soccermastermind.com/?p=497#comment-7838 [...] is no longer enough on its own. It must be accompanied by a healthy dose of soccer confidence and soccer motivation to [...] [...] is no longer enough on its own. It must be accompanied by a healthy dose of soccer confidence and soccer motivation to [...]

]]> http://www.soccermastermind.com/2008/10/soccer-motivationthe-best-kept-secret-in-soccer/comment-page-1/#comment-6326 ferdie Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:19:43 +0000 http://www.soccermastermind.com/?p=497#comment-6326 Thomas, great point. I think this article though is directed to high school age and up. Because i can't see many 8 year olds implementing your list. Everybody is fueled by something. In the end, it probably will come down to some life experience or encounter that will light the fire beneath you. But who knows what that is, and when is it going to come? I think a lot about children 5-10. Here is what i have noticed with them. They tend to get excited about the things WE adults get excited about. So, if i get excited about volleys, they will try to impress me with volleys. If it is nutmegs, that is what they want to show me. Time and time and time again this has been true everywhere i have gone. So if a family shows excitement in tennis, it will be easier for children in that family to want to pick up a racquet. If it is soccer, that will be the order of the day. The unfortunate thing about soccer is that, our parents and aunts and uncles do not know enough to be able to motivate our children about elements of the game, not just the game. This is why the best kid on the team is that kid who's dad is 35, played college soccer, and is now the coach of the team. So, the lack of motivation is really a reflection on us and our culture. If we the parents, coaches, teachers etc. get excited about the game, i am 100% positive that our children will be driven to show and do more. Take a ball and put it between the legs of a player who says "i don't want to play" and i guarantee you, you will drag him or her into a game of soccer. This is the case only if you understand that the game of nutmegging is a game of soccer. Thomas, great point. I think this article though is directed to high school age and up. Because i can’t see many 8 year olds implementing your list. Everybody is fueled by something. In the end, it probably will come down to some life experience or encounter that will light the fire beneath you. But who knows what that is, and when is it going to come? I think a lot about children 5-10. Here is what i have noticed with them. They tend to get excited about the things WE adults get excited about. So, if i get excited about volleys, they will try to impress me with volleys. If it is nutmegs, that is what they want to show me. Time and time and time again this has been true everywhere i have gone. So if a family shows excitement in tennis, it will be easier for children in that family to want to pick up a racquet. If it is soccer, that will be the order of the day. The unfortunate thing about soccer is that, our parents and aunts and uncles do not know enough to be able to motivate our children about elements of the game, not just the game. This is why the best kid on the team is that kid who’s dad is 35, played college soccer, and is now the coach of the team. So, the lack of motivation is really a reflection on us and our culture. If we the parents, coaches, teachers etc. get excited about the game, i am 100% positive that our children will be driven to show and do more. Take a ball and put it between the legs of a player who says “i don’t want to play” and i guarantee you, you will drag him or her into a game of soccer. This is the case only if you understand that the game of nutmegging is a game of soccer.

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