Thread: My Kid is a soccer player second

So my son is huge on baseball, he's turning 7 this month and he takes so much BP that my arm can't keep up. I bought him a Hit Away recently and he's out there smacking the shit out of the ball all day. He's easily one of the top two kids in his league, the other kid is sort of a baseball friek and even then it's pretty damn close talent wise. I'm happy as hell for him that he's so good at something he enjoys so much.

My kid is a soccer player second though, he's been playing for two years with this year being the first that they've actually played games. He definatly enjoys playing, and I'm getting him a couple goals for the back yard for his birthday. He's not as good at soccer as he is baseball, not by a long shot, and I think that has a bit to do with the fact that I have no idea how to play the game. I'd like to do a better job helping him out, so I was wondering if anyone out there had intimate knowledge of the game, or had any experience coaching. Can someone guide me in the right direction for teaching my kid this sport? I do have specific questions for anyone who understands how this game is played, I appreceiate any help, but no posers please.

Most towns have a junior soccer league. My parents made me do it when I was his age. I hated it.

how old is the little spartan?

edit: nevermind, I guess I missed the first sentence

well he's just starting so there's not much you can do besides make sure he has fun.

tho a good tip is to get kids away from kicking with their toes. pass with the side of the foot.

Originally Posted by TenGig

well he's just starting so there's not much you can do besides make sure he has fun.

tho a good tip is to get kids away from kicking with their toes. pass with the side of the foot.

My father forced me to participate in sports that I didn't enjoy, and he was way too competitive about it, so I understand that my boy having fun is number one. He's very competative though, and gets frustrated when he's not performing, so it's important to him to actually do well. I enjoy being able to help with that and have fun at the same time. Pass with the side (inside I assume...) of the foot, thanks. Did you play, or is that just something you picked up?

Originally Posted by Sparta

Pass with the side (inside I assume...) of the foot, thanks. Did you play, or is that just something you picked up?

Yeah the inside. he won't be good at passing with the inside of his foot cause he's still young and doesn't have enough strengh, but once he gets older, he'll have to be able to do it if he wants to compete.

And like I said before, try to get him off of kicking with the tip of his toe (if he is doing it). You need to kick with where your laces are on your shoe (but a bit on the inside of your foot too)

I played for about 12 years (incuding indoor soccer, which I prefer). Nothing too competitive. Haven't played for a while so you might want to rely on everything I'm saying, instead lets listen to this kid...

YouTube - How to properly kick a soccer ball=

Cool, thanks. A rules question. If a player is advancing the ball in the offensive zone, can another player take a position ahead of the ball, or does the ball have to cross any lines first?

Originally Posted by Sparta

Cool, thanks. A rules question. If a player is advancing the ball in the offensive zone, can another player take a position ahead of the ball, or does the ball have to cross any lines first?

I think your talking about offside. Well I hope you know hockey rules, cause that's how I'm going to explain it.

You know in hockey there is the blue offside line. Where the puck has to go over the line before anyone else can. It's like that in soccer too but instead of a drawn out line, they use the position of the furthest back defenseman. So the line is always moving (but it can't go pass the center line).

It's a little more complicated then that, but those are the important basics

So if a non ball carrying offensive player advances his position past the furthest defensive player and the ball carrier, that's considered offside?

Originally Posted by Sparta

So if a non ball carrying offensive player advances his position past the furthest defensive player and the ball carrier, that's considered offside?

It is not offsides to be beyond the defense, the way I understand it, but it is offsides to receive a pass beyond the defense. No cherrypicking!