Known globally as football, soccer is the most popular sport in the world with more than 240 million people playing the sport regularly, according to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Dubbed “the beautiful game” for its graceful players and rhythmic playing style, it can be as great to watch as it is to play soccer.
The overall popularity and growth of soccer in America over recent years has helped local and travel tournaments, like the ones put on by Global Team Events, become common occurrences in communities across the country. Soccer tournaments provide a great opportunity for kids to grow and develop personally in many ways. Here are three reasons to encourage your child to get involved in one today!
1. Physical Exercise: The most obvious benefit of this kind of sporting event is the physical exercise and subsequent effect on overall health. It’s a sad fact, but only one in four American children exercise for 60 minutes or more daily. That’s simply not good enough, as it’s recommended children get at least one hour of such activity in a day. Just one day or weekend of soccer tournaments can provide a child with ample amounts of the physical exercise they need. On average soccer players run six miles throughout the course of every game. That’s not to mention all practice and time spent training either.
2. Time Management: One of the most underrated aspects of sporting events like soccer tournaments in America is the opportunity to develop important time management skills. Soccer tournaments can be long, all day or even weekend events in some cases. The ability to learn how to balance school, work, and leisure time while regularly competing in weekend events is a tool kids will be able to take with them for the rest of their lives.
3. Mental/Emotional Aspect: While it might be difficult to actually gauge, the mental and emotional struggles one must overcome to participate successfully in any sport are crucial for personal development. Hyping yourself up for a game, learning how to control emotions after a call that doesn’t go your way, and of course coping with a tough loss are all things that can be taken from the soccer pitch and into real life. Knowing how to handle yourself after a big win with grace and good sportsmanship are also important lessons to learn.
Globally, 25 million kids play soccer every year. Whether you’re in America or somewhere abroad these aforementioned skills and attributes can play a big role in a child’s life and soccer tournaments are a great way to properly develop them.