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Community Corner

Pre-K Soccer Focuses on Growth, Not Goals

The Pointe's Tots Soccer League helps 4, 5 and 6-year-olds gain skills which, perhaps more than any other age group, have great value off the field.

I’m a bit jealous of preschool kids today. Not of their infinite naps and delicious snacks, but more the opportunity to play in non-competitive leagues, like the Tots Soccer program currently running at in Ballwin.

You see, as much as I love healthy eating and lifting weights, I must confess I’m not so great at receiving a ball. My parents were book-readers rather than sports people. Today, with increased emphasis on health education and helping their children achieve developmentally, these leagues have become very popular.

In the Ballwin Tots Soccer program, it’s that parents are more interested in giving their children (generally ages 4 to 6) experience working as a team and taking directions, rather than critiquing play in the hopes of cultivating the next World Cup team.

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Traci Jansen, 34, uses Tots Soccer as a way to give her children a balanced life experience, along with activities like library trips.

“It’s just part of the whole dynamic of what you want to give your kids,” said Jansen, whose sons Gavin and Graden play in the league. “For age-appropriate, I think everything they’ve done has been a great experience. “

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An age-appropriate approach is a big concern for many physicians, according to a recent column by Dr. David Anderson, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Mercy’s Children’s Hospital. Anderson said in the Post-Dispatch that most post-toddler aged children aren’t emotionally or physically ready for sports with true competition.

“Winning and losing are adult concepts that are difficult for young children to properly comprehend.”

In order to set the right tone for Tots soccer, the six teams in the league start each Saturday with a 30-minute practice.

“I do a lot of things that are developmentally appropriate,” said Jodi Davidson, who is a coach for Tots Soccer at the Pointe. This includes standing on one leg for balance, jumping for strength, and imitating sounds to tie in other developmental areas.  “What you’re teaching them is how to work as a group.”

The players also are allowed “do-overs”. If the coach instructed one of the kids to kick the ball to a teammate, but the child instead passed to ball to an opponent, the whistle is blown and kicker gets another chance. This is aimed at not only at making the game more enjoyable with less pressure, but it’s also meant to help build self-correction skills.

Social skills also are a key benefit. Liz Yoder, 32, enrolled her daughter, Audra, last season because she was a friend of a coach’s daughter. As time goes on, Audra and her mother have watched her team improve and work with new players this season.

“Aside from getting the physical activity, they learn how to be a part of a team, how to be good winners and losers,” Yoder said.

Showing children that physical activity is enjoyable is another benefit of starting children in such a league. Chelsea Owens, 28, watched her daughter Layla, 4, become energized when she joined.

“She’s so excited,” said Owens. “She is one of those kids who is hard to get up in the morning, but if I tell her we get to play soccer, she’s like ‘Let’s go!’”

Jeff Davidson, 32, sees Tots Soccer as a way to help Laurie, 5, enjoy the outdoors like he did as a child, as well as to have a family activity.

“There are not as many sports for younger kids, but this is a good one because she gets to run around a lot,” Davidson said.

In addition getting exercise, however, the main goal of Tots Soccer is made clear every week.

“What’s our job today?” Davidson asks her team before each practice.

The team replies: “Have fun!”

The Spring Tots Soccer League already is in session, but Ballwin has a T-ball and Basketball Tots program yearly, as well as two other rounds of soccer throughout the year. Check the Ballwin Parks & Recreation website for details.

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