How Playing Football Develops Useful SkillsFootball is the most popular sport in the world with its grand stage, the World Cup every four years. Many

Football is the most popular sport in the world with its grand stage, the World Cup every four years. Many of the world’s players can become huge celebrities if they perform well during the World Cup. Fans will travel across the globe just to make sure that they see their favorite team play. This type of excitement can not be duplicated by any other sport anywhere in the world. Football does a wonderful job building many different skills in young children. These skills can help them progress in football, other sports, and in life in general.

Some of the physical skills that football will help children develop are speed, quickness, balance, endurance, and strength. Football players must have these skills to be able to play the game even at a young age. Players that develop these useful skills when they are young, have a great chance to blossom into a star later in life. Also many of these children will take these skills and use them in other sports as well. The skills learned in football can translate well into almost any sport. American football players, basketball players, baseball players, and even hockey players can benefit from playing football at an early age. One of my favorite basketball players of all time, Hakeem Olajuwon, grew up playing football in Africa. He attributed his great balance and coordination to the many years playing football. I believe that every child should grow up playing football, because I think that it can help them later on in life.

Football can also teach children many life lessons that they can look back on as they grow older. Children learn how to work well with others, because they have to communicate with their teammates if they want to have a chance of winning. Football also teaches children how to be humble winners and gracious losers, because they have to work through all of the emotions that come along with playing sports. It also teaches children the value of determination and hard work, because only the most determined and hard working teams will succeed. All of these skills that children learn at a young age will help to mold them into the leaders of the future.

World Cup and the fate of soccer

In 1994, the US hosted the World Cup, an honor we didn't deserve, but handled surprisingly well. While the venues were spread out a bit too far, each town put its imprint on the games. Having Ireland play in Foxboro was a great choice. (Having to sit on a plane full of drunk supporters after the game on my flight back to DC was... hmmmm... very frightening, however.)
The big story in 1994 (outside of the fantastic WC final, the Columbian own goal, and the US advancement) was how Americans hadn't embraced soccer, and probably never would. While it seemed to be a somewhat fair story to run at the time, I was aghast to see the same articles get rehashed in 2002.
Did sports journalists get lazy? Did they research this? In 1994, the term "soccer mom" was gaining cred as a phrase -- you could begin to run for office on that platform (in the Year of the Woman, which is another rehashed story on the pol side). In 2002, every mom it seems is shuttling off to soccer practice in the same manner that our moms shuttled us off to football, baseball and to some extent soccer.

The Game of Football

1) Understand the Game - It's imperative that your team understands the basic rules and tactics of the game of football. And that has to start at the top - YOU. If you really explore our site, you'll find a wealth of information all in one place on subjects such as football plays, drills, fundamentals and much more.

You should also seek out books on coaching football, attend football clinics, watch football games on TV and talk to other coaches with more experience. Search out information through as many sources as you can.

2) Character - If you want your players to carry themselves with a high moral code, you need to show them the way. You must show them what a true role model is. How do you do this?

Start by being consistent. When you say you're going to do something, be sure you follow through with it. Be sure your team always sees you under control no matter the situation. Show your team that any situation can be handled by staying in control of your emotions.

That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice any of your fire or intensity. It just means handling all the things that come up in practice and games without flying off the handle. If the coach can't show character, how can the players be expected to?

Character is also shown when you can admit you're wrong when you make mistakes. Your team will develop much more respect for you if you apologize when you make mistakes rather than trying to set yourself above the standards you expect of them. It's OK when this happens. You're human and we all make mistakes. Just don't try to cover them up or hide from them. You'll be amazed what that'll mean to your players.

3) Communication - Seek out all the info you can to improve your communication skills.

4) Make it Fun - Being able to enjoy the process is vital to a team's success. If practice is all drudgery and no fun, you'll lose your players quickly. Strive to strike a balance between serious learning and a laugh or two.

Allow for a little humor when mistakes are made. When players want to laugh and get loose once in awhile, take it as a sign that they're having fun, not that they're being disrespectful. Keep practices fun and keep all players involved in the process.

5) Be Positive - Nothing will kill your players more than a negative attitude. A positive attitude will keep you above the competition.

Yes, bad things will happen. Your players will make mistakes at the absolute worst times. You'll make bad calls or decisions. Above all else, keep things in a positive light and move on. The only things you can control are you attitude and your actions. Everything else is outside of your control, so don't get negative when those things upset you.

Make sure your experience coaching football is an over-all positive one for both you and your players.

Improve Your Communication Skills when Coaching Football Some of the best football coaching tips we can give you involve communication. You can know everything there is to know about football - the plays, drills, fundamentals, etc. If you can't communicate effectively, though, you're headed for a tough time. When coaching youth football.