The Opportunities of Playing Soccer
Matt Spear

People play soccer all over the world because it's fun. Plain and simple. As coaches, we can get so caught up in the techniques, tactics, and winning vs. losing that we forget the bedrock of the sport - it's fun to play.

So as you plot your training sessions, lineups, and strategies, try to step back and look at why kids love to play. Here are a few of the opportunities of playing the game.

To Try Something New
Every new sport is exciting in its novelty. Soccer is especially enthralling to take up because so many other people are playing, anyone can play, and it uniquely involves the feet.

Meeting New People
Each experience that involves other people is compelling for the underlying foundation to meet new friends, whether it be teammates, coaches, or parents. Soccer brings lots of different kinds of people together as a bond in a healthy environment.

Enjoy the World's Most Popular Game
People are always curious about "the biggest thing." Soccer is the most global sport and the breadth, history, and media coverage of the game across the world is going to grab most any curious sports enthusiast. Kids included.

Improve as a Player
Soccer is a game that offers countless skills, formations, and strategies that a player (and coaches and parents) can study at end and never fully get a grasp on. Players love the game because of the technique, tactics, athleticism, and intellect that it engenders.

Work in a Team
Striving with others towards a common goal is clearly a challenge that extends well off the soccer field. Soccer is a great example where the individual's effort and ability are all essential, yet subordinate to the growth and performance of the team. We all know that a team with chemistry can beat a team of individuals.

The Chance to Compete
Everyone needs an arena to push him or herself. Life is, to some degree, full of struggles and soccer offers both a release and an opportunity to push oneself. To understand and harness one's competitive instincts is an on-going process.

Learn from Winning AND Losing
Life is also full of both jubilation and frustration. It is how one deals with and, most importantly, learns from the highs and lows that will shape one's composure and flexibility.

Stay with the Sport
As the world's biggest sport, soccer offers a life after playing where one can stay involved as a coach, referee, parent, administrator, and fan. As coaches, we should always mentor our players to celebrate the game as life-long enthusiasts.