|
The many positive aspects of the sport of soccer diversify and enhance the child's learning experience. This unique and simple approach allows every student to succeed. The skill and technique learned through instruction and games at little KICKS helps children get familiar with athletics and how to properly play soccer from a young age.
  
The Goals of little KICKS:
- Fun: enjoy the playing of the game of soccer.
- Improve motor skills, coordination, and health.
- Generate interest in soccer (and sports).
- Teach the basic skills and rules.
- Character development.
Quality Instruction:
“They won’t care what you know, if they don’t know that you care. ”
little KICKS Soccer instructors are energetic and experienced youth coaches who share the mission and care about the development of the children they coach. Our curriculum applies some of the most popular and effective games, drills, and exercises from around the globe for this specific age.
Curriculum:
little KICKS' highly effective curriculum has been developed through research and experience. Kids learn best while having FUN! The coaches use the currinculum to place the children in an enjoyable environment and to reach the goals of the program. Coaches understand how virtue is an important part of life, sports, and soccer. They incorporate these virtues very simply within the framework of the sessions. little KICKS Soccer Virtues: Hard work, Discipline, Perseverance, Patience, Listening, Focus, Respect, Sharing, Sportsmanship, and Encouragement.
Specific skills learned and developed:
1. Dribbling the soccer ball at different speeds and with both feet.
2. Trapping the ball. Bringing the ball to a stop (no hands).
3. Sole rolling (“Crazy Leg”) – rolling the ball in different directions with the bottom of the foot.
4. Taps (“Soccer Dance”) – alternating feet on top of ball.
5. Foundation (“Mop the Deck”) – small passes of ball between feet.
6. Juggling (“Soccer March”) – bring ball to different parts of the body. Ex. Foot, thigh, shoulder, and head.
7. Shooting and passing the ball with both feet.
8. Balance, agility, speed, and coordination.
9. Teamwork and good sportsmanship.
10. The fundamental rules of the game (no hands, score goals, out of bounds).
little KICKS participates with the pre-school, day care, or child learing center to offer our quality soccer enrichment program on site. The sessions take place once a week, during school hours, for 30-40 minutes (depending on age group).
FIGHTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Many Child Care Centers are looking for ways to combat the growing threat of childhood obesity in the United States. Experts suggest that young children should accumulate from 60 minutes to several hours of physical activity every day. Unfortunately, many children are not nearly as active as they need to be. Dr. Stephen Sander, author, professor and director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science at the University of South Florida says, "The amount of time pre-school children spend daily in physical activity is decreasing and it will take a determined effort from parents to reverse this trend." 1 in 4 children is obese (International Journal of Obesity) and 1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes (Journal of the American Medical Association). Nearly 50% of obese adolescents remain obese as adults (International Journal of Obesity).
little KICKS ANSWERS THE CALL
The little KICKS Program not only gives children time during the day for fun, healthy exercise, but it also teaches activities and games that help create healthy lifestyle habits and encourages the children to actively play outside of school hours. Children who play sports do better in school, have higher self esteem and have a better body image then those who do not.
|
About
