Kids and Soccer

[RSKY]

I have never been a fan of soccer. But my oldest daughter in a middle school librarian. She is determined that her three year old daughter will start playing soccer as soon as possible. She says that the soccer kids in her school are the fittest, healthiest, kids in the school. She has pointed out to me and my wife several of the soccer kids. Trim, fit, slender, good looking kids. They stand out among the others.

Anybody have any comments.

 

[stratton]

I never played soccer but I do think it is great for kids to play. Lots of running and endurance training.
My 4 year old son just signed up for soccer. We are hoping that he will keep up the athletics just enough to stay fit and healthy but not let it rule his life.

 

[beppington]

Sounds like a fine plan if she can keep her interested, & there is no doubt it should help keep her fit. I played soccer in 6th & 7th grade but then lost interest ... Soccer = run, run, run, run, run, ball comes near you, run, run, run, run, run, run, kick the ball somewhere wildly, run, run, run, run, run; Repeat until the final whistle blows.

 

[California]

Very worthwhile. Both my daughters started young and played on school and rec teams, nothing extreme, just good exercise and friendship.

Younger daughter was good at it and both her JrHi and HS school teams went on to City championships, but she didn't choose to join the serious kid leagues that travel statewide every weekend. Like Little League, I think some people go overboard when they center a kid's life around athletics to the exclusion to everything else.

 

[dmccarty]

Our kids have been playing soccer for years. Not sure they started at four but certainly by five or six they were playing soccer and basketball. There are quite a few fat kids playing both sports.

Getting a few hours of exercise a week playing sports is a good thing but if one is still consuming more calories then expending one will still gain weight.

Our middle school soccer season just ended. There were quite a few heavy girls playing on each team.

One of the best players on our team ended the season with a knee injury. Our kid got hurt two weeks ago in a game. She has injured the same knee three times in six months but only once or twice because of soccer. The XRAY showed nothing broken but she still is on crutches with knee and ankle pain. She goes back to the doctor this week.

Later,
Dan

 

[tcartwri]

I have never been a fan of soccer. But my oldest daughter in a middle school librarian. She is determined that her three year old daughter will start playing soccer as soon as possible. She says that the soccer kids in her school are the fittest, healthiest, kids in the school. She has pointed out to me and my wife several of the soccer kids. Trim, fit, slender, good looking kids. They stand out among the others.

Anybody have any comments.

Unless they are playing on a regional competitive team, the fitness commitment is only about 2~3 hours a week.... So the kids who are slim and fit are that way because of other influences. Most likely the parents are more active, and they pay more attention to their diet.

One huge bonus to getting involved is the number of friends they will accumulate. The girls in particular.

Both of my kids play lower level competitive soccer in the summer, hockey and ringette in the winter.

 

[LMTC]

Do some poking around on the web about soccer injuries. Virtually no protection yet there are at times collisions to rival the toughest football game. I coached youth soccer for many years, assistant coach with HS varsity one year before our oldest quit the game. If I had it to do over with what I know now, our children might play soccer until they were 6 or so for the fitness aspect, but after that I would not allow them to play soccer. Ask a receptionist or tech in an orthopedic office what sport brings them the most leg/knee injuries and the answer will be soccer by a lot.

 

[LazySusanFarms]

All of our three daughters played competitive soccer. They also played basketball, lacrosse and softball. We never pushed them too much. It was a great way for them to fit in and meet new kids. All three played on some form of competitive team in one of the sports.

Soccer is a physical sport and my youngest has the scars to prove it. She will have the four screws removed from her right hip on June 1st from where they broke her hip in three places to permanently fix a recurring labrum tear issue. Alex Gordon on the KC Royals had the same doctor. Her injuries were caused by soccer but the flaws in her bone structure were there at birth. Soccer just hurried things along.

Would she do it again? You bet. She played goalie in the state championship game and held a much superior team at bay through regulation and two overtimes. They lost in penalty kicks. She hurt her hip several years prior and moved to goalie to keep playing through high school. It was an amazing effort and most people didn't know the extent of her injury during the game. We stayed in St Louis and had her hip broken two days later.

My eldest had her left thumb ligament torn from her hand in a freak soccer injury. No one hit her, she just fell weird. She was in a cast for over 6 months. She moved to goalie and now can't feel her left shin because of the many slide tackles and collisions in the goalie box.

The middle daughter excelled at softball which is the most dangerous sport a girl can play. High school pitchers can throw the ball faster than you can get out of the way. They recently moved the mound back three feet to give the hitters a better chance. She was never hurt in any sport she played.

Sports are dangerous whenever played. Freak accidents and overzealous players can get you injured quick. On the other hand, sports kept my kids busy and out of trouble. They all met great people and had plenty of positive role models. Kept us busy on the weekends though so I didn't become a farmer until they went to college.

Anything these days can hurt your kids. With two wage earner families the norm these days, sports, or any other after school activity, will help keep kids out of trouble and teach them some responsibility.

 

[buck12]

My oldest daughter has played recreation and semi competitive soccer. It had been a great experience for her. She has made many friends and learned that competition is a good thing.

 

[Loren49]

Soccer is a great sport. As with any sport, when played at higher levels the chances of a physical injury is increased. Some of the pluses of soccer are that its relatively inexpensive for the athletes (equipment), may be played on any field in smaller groups, is a world wide sport with world wide competition, promotes fitness, and team work and can involve high levels of skill and strategies.
Leg, knee and ankle injuries are a possibility but I contend that if all these athletes were not on the soccer field the other problems they could become involved in with that time would be much more dangerous. It was clear as a HS teacher/coach that those students who participated in sports in general were better students. (I worked in a school with about 100 students per class so a significant percent could be involved in sports - example fall season for 9-12 grade, Football 50 students, Boys Soccer 40, Girls Soccer 50, Tennis (girls) 12, Girls Swimming 20)

Loren

 

[dmccarty]

Do some poking around on the web about soccer injuries. Virtually no protection yet there are at times collisions to rival the toughest football game. I coached youth soccer for many years, assistant coach with HS varsity one year before our oldest quit the game. If I had it to do over with what I know now, our children might play soccer until they were 6 or so for the fitness aspect, but after that I would not allow them to play soccer. Ask a receptionist or tech in an orthopedic office what sport brings them the most leg/knee injuries and the answer will be soccer by a lot.

Our daughter is returning to the Dr today because of the injury two weeks ago. She had her foot on the ball and the other play kicked the ball. The force of the kick hurt our daughters ankle and knee. During the first Dr. visit the focus was on the knee but the ankle swelled up a bit and still hurts. I suspect MRI time since the XRAY showed no problem.

She has been hurt more times than I ever have been from sports. The wifey and I are getting concerned since we have bad backs. We know you can mess up some things and you will have problems and pain for the rest of your life. It is not worth that pain.

I played foot ball and soccer. Soccer was the roughest sport. The hardest sport. I pulled my Achilles tendon playing soccer and the injury haunted me for years. It would heal and then pull again.

Our youngest wants to do gymnastics. Not going to happen. She also wants to be a cheer leader. If it was just cheering I would be ok with her participating. A coworkers daughter was in this type of cheer leading which is really gymnastics. Since her daughter was small they like to put her on the top of pyramids as well as throw her threw the air. This happened once and the child fell down hard. My coworker said that was the end of it. She pulled her daughter off the squad right then and there.

A guy I used to work with had a daughter who was in gymnastics but she got hurt and had surgery as a result. She went on to be a high level judge and now has her own child. Can't believe that part.

Some sports are worth the low risk of getting hurt. Others not so much.

Later,
Dan

 

[beppington]

Our daughter is returning to the Dr today because of the injury two weeks ago. She had her foot on the ball and the other play kicked the ball. The force of the kick hurt our daughters ankle and knee. During the first Dr. visit the focus was on the knee but the ankle swelled up a bit and still hurts. I suspect MRI time since the XRAY showed no problem.

She has been hurt more times than I ever have been from sports. The wifey and I are getting concerned since we have bad backs. We know you can mess up some things and you will have problems and pain for the rest of your life. It is not worth that pain.

I played foot ball and soccer. Soccer was the roughest sport. The hardest sport. I pulled my Achilles tendon playing soccer and the injury haunted me for years. It would heal and then pull again.

Our youngest wants to do gymnastics. Not going to happen. She also wants to be a cheer leader. If it was just cheering I would be ok with her participating. A coworkers daughter was in this type of cheer leading which is really gymnastics. Since her daughter was small they like to put her on the top of pyramids as well as throw her threw the air. This happened once and the child fell down hard. My coworker said that was the end of it. She pulled her daughter off the squad right then and there.

A guy I used to work with had a daughter who was in gymnastics but she got hurt and had surgery as a result. She went on to be a high level judge and now has her own child. Can't believe that part.

Some sports are worth the low risk of getting hurt. Others not so much.

Later,
Dan

Dan, I think you should let her do the sport(s) she wants to do. You can be hurt doing just about anything. Injuries are part of life. Injuries build character & toughen up a person, ready them for life. Gymnastics isn't likely to kill her. I'm not saying you want injuries, just that they're probably gonna happen no matter what you do, so you might as well live the way you want. After all, with no injuries what stories will she have to tell later in life? Pampered bubble babies are the ones who need to get a ribbon even when they come in last, which I think is silly; lessens the desire to improve; lessens the happiness / satisfaction when you do get one well-earned / justifiably. Let 'em live :thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

Any sport that gets your heart rate up for at least thirty minutes 3 or 4 times a week is better than sitting around playing video games. I like watching soccer but after seeing my two older daughters play soccer and my youngest play hockey and lacrosse, I am now more a fan of ice hockey and lacrosse.

I would certainly encourage any child to engage in a team sport as a way not only to get in shape but also to set hopefully lifelong exercise habits. There has never been a country as out of physical shape as the USA and that needs to change. We have the same life expectancy as Cubans despite vastly greater wealth and medical resources. Lifestyle changes would make a much bigger positive impact on our country than pouring trillions into healthcare.

 

[dmccarty]

Dan, I think you should let her do the sport(s) she wants to do. You can be hurt doing just about anything. Injuries are part of life. Injuries build character & toughen up a person, ready them for life. Gymnastics isn't likely to kill her. I'm not saying you want injuries, just that they're probably gonna happen no matter what you do, so you might as well live the way you want. After all, with no injuries what stories will she have to tell later in life? Pampered bubble babies are the ones who need to get a ribbon even when they come in last, which I think is silly; lessens the desire to improve; lessens the happiness / satisfaction when you do get one well-earned / justifiably. Let 'em live :thumbsup:

For most sports I agree. Gymnastics and what they have turned Cheer Leading into is just too risky. The wifey and I have injuries that cause us pain every day but we did not get hurt until late in life. Gymnastics and Cheer Leading are just asking for serious injuries early in life for no good return as far as I can see. There are times to take risks, I certainly do, but they are well thought out risks. Being tossed in the air and hoping things turn out ok is too risky for the reward.

Our oldest turned out to have a broken knee. It was a freak accident in soccer which should not hurt her long term like breaking a back in gymnastics. The injury ended her season, will keep her from going to a summer camp and worst of all, she can't use the tractor right now! She finally grew so she could use the tractor and dang it I need her to drive so she can help me!

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

Any sport that gets your heart rate up for at least thirty minutes 3 or 4 times a week is better than sitting around playing video games. I like watching soccer but after seeing my two older daughters play soccer and my youngest play hockey and lacrosse, I am now more a fan of ice hockey and lacrosse.

I would certainly encourage any child to engage in a team sport as a way not only to get in shape but also to set hopefully lifelong exercise habits. There has never been a country as out of physical shape as the USA and that needs to change. We have the same life expectancy as Cubans despite vastly greater wealth and medical resources. Lifestyle changes would make a much bigger positive impact on our country than pouring trillions into healthcare.

Our kids are great shape in spite of some of the stuff they eat. The oldest cannot do much right now on crutches but boy she can move on them things if she wants. :laughing:

The youngest was bored yesterday so between playing with the chickens she was running sprints with the dog from the gate to the house. Not sure WHY she was doing this but she was having fun. That run is a 1/4 mile. Up hill all the way.

The pool opens this weekend and the kids will be in it many times during the week. Hopefully one of their friends stays off the scooters this weekend. Last opening day their friend hopped on a scooter at the pool basket =ball court, fell down and had a compound fracture of the arm. He jumped right in the pool before her realized how hurt he was. He missed the pool all season because of the arm.

*** I *** should have thrown out the kids scooter after that incident but I did not. Our oldest was riding the danged thing a few months later and it broke which caused her to fall right down on her knee. On concrete. That required a visit to the ER and the bone docs. This is the same knee she just broke in soccer. I really think the injuries are related.

Later,
Dan

 

[MossRoad]

We have two daughters. They have played every grade school sport offered... softball, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, track and both have black belts in karate. Only the younger one played soccer.

The beauty of soccer is all you need is shoes and shin guards. Only one kid needs a ball. That's it. The costs for equipment is minimal. Also, the game takes an hour. They start on time, there are no breaks until 5 minutes at half time. They end on time and you go home. You get a decent coach that isn't overly competitive but more basic skill and fun oriented and you are all set.

I don't care what anyone else says, ALL sports pose a risk to injuries. A softball to the head or chest can kill a kid dead instantly. Basketball wrist, ankle and knee injuries are common. Volleyball takes almost gymnastic skill to perform rolls properly. They drop cheeerleaders all the time. If your kid doesn't get an injury in track it is a miracle. Soccer is extremely hard on the leg joints. And karate, well, ouch! Our instructor won't let our kids break boards because he says it is common to screw up the growth plates in kids' ankles and wrists.

Find an athletic activity that your kid enjoys and let them be a kid. :thumbsup:

Chances are that very few of grade school athletes progress on to high school sports, and even fewer move on to college level sports. I know exactly one kid from our high school who went on to play professional baseball. So, let them play in grade school as much as they want.

 

[zonta223]

Soccer is the most played sport in the world.
If you counted the serious injuries against the numbers playing the actual percentage would be low.
I was playing competitive soccer against adults at the age of 14. Was offered a chance to become a youth player in what is now the English Premier League.
In a week I would play 3 competitive games of soccer each weekend 2 during the week and train the other 3 nights. Never had a serious injury.
Let them play.....................It teaches them team work and how to get on with different people as well as keeping fit. Also does not have the stupid school games rules that there can be no winner or loser. They will learn what it feels like to win and lose...how to control these different emotions and get on with life. If they travel it is the one truly universal game. You can play and enjoy without understanding one word of what the other players are saying.

 

[MossRoad]

Soccer is the most played sport in the world.

We're pretty sure its because it only requires one piece of equipment... the ball. Nothing else required.