Are you in love with a child? Are you sure about this? Are you in love with a child that’s not yours, not genetically anyway?

A word to the wise for those that have given their hearts to the little men of this world, to the future stars of the game.

Youngsters are not normal. That sounds horrendous so let me paraphrase. Youngsters are full of energy, innocence and have not been conditioned by pecking orders, authority or anybody else pointing the finger.

Kids will fight tooth and nail for what they want. Their defiance is seen as a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia to most adults. My point is young children are a little crazy at times. They hear music that the rest of us don’t.

Have you ever tried to put a hyperactive four year old to bed? Have you tried to brush their teeth whilst trying to stop them from eating the toothpaste?

A young child wants what he wants, now. No doubt about it. But is this a bad thing? Demanding want you want makes perfect sense, don’t you think?

That’s why we must exercise patience. Youngsters are driven by forces they don’t understand and cannot control leaving us to walk the tight rope over a 1,000 frustrations and sighs.

Do we seek proximity to discipline and the need to control? Are we intoxicated by the power to produce robots with no emotions or character? Remember, wild horses will gallop, bulls will stampede and wolves will howl.

Kids will seek and destroy. Kids will fight authority. Kids will grit their teeth. Kids will punch the air in defiance and will never surrender. Makes you wonder why we stopped being kids. Have we surrendered to the status quo? Are we raising children that will inevitable add to the status quo?

Here’s a thought

Don’t look to change your child. Harness the mischief, the energy and direct it towards the soccer field. Harness the mo. For those that aren’t hip or tech savvy, mo is momentum.

Momentum is cumulative; it builds and increases with repetition. Instead of controlling your children let them run wild on the soccer pitch. Let them exhaust every ounce of energy they have and let them pursue soccer immortality.

Trying to control your child while watching the tube or drinking beer deserves the anarchy you’ll receive. It’s time for accountability, so grab your hats and wear them. A father, a friend, a coach, an anarchist and a plan to take over the world.

Start with passing, shooting, it doesn’t really matter, just START! Introduce the anarchist (your child) to sustained effort (training) and the soccer world awaits. Turn the beautiful game into a heroic challenge.

Your love and attention will create self-motivation and self-validation. Your child will direct his energy towards the game and will inevitable stop eating the toothpaste.

If we fast forward 10 years from now I can guarantee you “Mater Chef” is no more. Those fat food critics have become a suppressed memory that only surface through trauma or weird flashbacks.

The Year 2020

It’s 2020 and you’re 100 meters in the air. The smell of smoke irritates your nose but you don’t mind. The orange smoke clears and you remove your scarf from your face. As the 80,000 capacity sits down you catch a glimpse of your son looking at you as if to say, thank you for this life. A tear escapes your eye as you think of the hours you put into training and into the MO. The San Siro stadium is now your home.

Lightning Strikes

There’s usually a moment, isn’t there.

When something happens.

The lightning strikes and nothing is ever the same.

Well, this is you’re lightning bolt. Strip away your self doubt and self-delusions and kick the ball around with your child. I’m sure the fat food critics will be just fine without you.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

Not just young players but everyone, including you, are taught from a young age not to make mistakes. The goal of any test or exam is to get 100%, right? How do you achieve this? Eliminate the mistakes and strive for perfection.

Let me save you years of heartache and pain right here, right now. Perfection in soccer does not exist.

Coaches need to stop striving for perfection because inevitably they will fall short, very short. This applies to parents as well.

Screaming at the Ref

Gerry is a professional, white collar with all the trimmings, a beautiful family and potentially the next superstar. In his spare time he watches his son play with pride only a father can give.

The referee makes a mistake and the gentle giant loses his cool. He screams while punching his fist violently into the air. Every decision enrages him now and feels the ref is out to prove a point. He honestly believes the ref is losing the game for his son.

Does Gerry demand perfection?

The referee has made a mistake and as you can gather from the World Cup in South Africa, everybody makes mistakes, even at the highest level. Gerry regroups at half time and finds refuge in a cold beer.

The point I’m trying to make is this, if you strive for perfection or even demand it, you’ll get upset. Who wouldn’t?

The only sport you can strive for perfection is bowling. That’s right, ten pin bowling. Perfection is signaled by a flashing 300 on the big screen while everyone sits back and admires your misspent youth.

The challenge is to be your best while allowing others to make mistakes along the way. If you’re able to look at what’s happening in kids soccer today and say, “there’s a pattern” “that cannot be right” “what a disgrace”, chances are someone is trying to be perfect.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

A quick question, what is the most popular game in the world?

Can anyone guess?

That’s right, it’s soccer, not Mario brothers.

The benefits and beauty of Kids Soccer are enormous and should not be substituted for any computer game or virtual reality. Grass stains and bruises should not be replaced with joysticks and gaming consoles. Dreams, hope and the fairytale should burn in every young child not the achievement of level 3 in Mario Brothers or the latest DVD set.

An active happy kid is a healthy kid. What better way to keep your kids active and happy by introducing them to soccer? Apart from the obvious fitness benefits, soccer also develops the social skills of all children participating which will serve them for years to come. You never know, they might even find a new best friend.

Soccer is a team sport that allows kids to learn how to share, listen and co-operate and how to leverage their efforts in a team environment. What could be healthier for your child than a group of like-minded friends that share the same passion?

The game will also introduce them to the world of competition and will allow them to develop new skills and techniques that will serve them throughout their life.

What most parents fail to understand is that soccer is not just a sport but rather a lifestyle. A routine such as soccer creates a healthy habit, which will inevitably lead to a healthy lifestyle. What more could you possibly ask for?

Throw in a few smiles, laughter and a handful of friends and the importance of soccer clearly becomes evident. The beauty of kids soccer should never be jeopardised at the expense of Sony or Nintendo.

The beautiful world game has unearthed superstars, great athletes, leaders and some bigger than life characters. What has Nintendo discovered? Mind numbing entertainment that serves no benefit at all would be one.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

Young players usually ask themselves (unconsciously) 3 basic questions when they listen to the coach/parent.

Who cares?

So What?

What’s in it for me?

The best way to combat this lack of interest in some players is to let them know your human.

That’s right, human!

Which means you may not be the best, the brightest or the most experienced coach/parent, but you’re the coach/parent that cares the most.

Without sincerity, love and passion, soccer is no more contagious than a sprained ankle or injured knee. The best way to be sincere, -wait for it- is to be sincere.

Instead of pointing the finger and demanding obedience, give it a try next time your players are misbehaving.

I’m referring to love-based soccer.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars”

Players, when asked for their opinion, pause and try to keep the peace. Whether it’s your coach, parents or supporters, keeping the peace will not get you a professional contract.

Instead of players giving their opinion, they push back with questions.

What do you think?

What did the coach say?

What do your parents think?

How long do we have to train for?

Are we doing this drill again?

That’s great, while you whisper every profanity under your breath.

That’s bullshit, not again, but if you say so.

At the end of the day, you’re the player. When talking about yourself, you’re the expert don’t you think?

Why are you answering a question with a question?

If I ask you for your opinion, I’m not asking for the right answer. I’m asking for your opinion. I’m asking for a conversation, dialogue, debate and every possible answer under the sun.

As long as it’s your opinion.

Next time your coach asks you for an opinion, give it!

Next time your parents ask you for an opinion, give it!

If your child is young, let them express themselves through you, the parent.

Don’t take this post as gospel; it’s only my opinion.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”