Soccer

Have you ever watched 2-year olds play soccer? Every Sunday morning at a local park a group of 2 year olds hold soccer balls, run around in circles, and throw soccer balls into a net. Yes, you heard correctly… they use their hands!

The parents get to stand, run around, and hold toddlers hands as they try to maneuever around a soccer field. I am one of those lucky parents. I get to watch my pint sized ball of energy play 2 year old soccer.

The skill of kicking, using ones feet to launch a ball in any direction, is much harder to teach than you would expect! The practice starts with 10-15 pint sized screaming toddlers circling up around the coach for introductions. After introductions, come the drills. These “drills” are very much kicking the ball into the net, kick over some cones, and don’t use your hands.

Coach always says “ouch” no hands! After drills the time is up and the toddlers run to coach for their after practice stamps. They hold out their hands all at the same time in front of coach as coach stamps each and every little hand that comes his way. This is of course the highlight of the practice.

2 year old soccer is 30 minutes of pure chaos and low expectations.