While it may not be the most popular sport in the U.S., soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It is also a popular choice for a parent looking for a sport for their child. Enrolling your kids in soccer from a young age can have a number of benefits. Keep reading to learn a few reasons why this sport might be the right choice for your child.
1. Make New Friends
One of the best reasons to put your child in soccer when they are young is that they will have the chance to make tons of new friends. This is more than just a fun way to get some new playmates. Making friends helps kids to build self-esteem and grow their sense of identity. Doing so early in life can help them to develop essential social skills that will be important later in life. While kids often make friends at school, making friends while on a soccer team is a great way for your kids to make friends who share their interests.
2. Build Healthy Habits and Develop Discipline
As a parent, it is good to know that your child will build more than just social skills while playing soccer. It is also a great opportunity to build healthy habits and develop important life skills like discipline. Practicing soccer regularly will help young ones learn that hard work and consistency lead to improvement. This is a skill that will spill over into so many other areas of their life.
Your children will be able to apply their discipline and commitment to school and other hobbies later in life. Playing sports from an early age also helps kids to learn the importance of staying active and healthy. With childhood obesity at an all-time high, this is more important than ever before.
3. Gain a New Perspective Indoors
As with any physical activity, playing soccer does carry some risks. But with many indoor gyms offering soccer leagues for kids, you can avoid some of these risks by signing your child up for indoor soccer.
According to a study from Business Insider, around 2% of land in the continental U.S. is now occupied by turf grasses. By comparison, that is more acreage than is used to grow irrigated corn. But many indoor soccer fields, as well as some modern outdoor fields, now utilize artificial turf for their fields. Artificial turf offers a more eco-friendly alternative, while still providing soccer players and other athletes with the feel of grass on their fields.
There is another benefit of children playing on artificial turf instead of real grass. Real grass has to be watered to keep it lush, green, and alive. Unfortunately, watering grass can have rare but serious consequences.
A bacteria called Legionella can sometimes be found in water, specifically in freshwater environments. It can spread through human-made building water systems, including the sprinklers used to water soccer fields. Exposure to the bacteria Legionella can lead to the development of Legionnaires disease. With one in every 10 individuals who develop Legionnaires Disease dying from the infection, this is a serious risk.
These are some risks associated with playing soccer, such as the development of Legionnaires Disease. As long as you work within the statute of limitations set by your state, you may be able to file a personal injury case if your child were to develop a condition like Legionnaires Disease as a result of playing soccer at a school or other facility. For instance, in Texas, that statute of limitations is two years.
Luckily, the many benefits of enrolling your child in soccer far outweigh the low risk of developing a condition like Legionnaires Disease.