If you are a parent, you may feel a little anxious when your kids get involved in contact sports.
It is important to understand that you can prevent this from happening by understanding how to better prepare your kids so that they will not miss out on important values such as commitment and teamwork.
This is one of the reasons why there are guides out there that can help explain the right size of a soccer ball for your kids.
The following will provide you with some important tips that you can also consider when choosing the right one for your kid’s age range.
Knowing the Age Range
If you’ve heard of little leagues, you’ll know that in soccer, age range doesn’t just refer to the ball size but also the given skillset expected of players.
There are generally three groups for age ranges:
1. Junior
This range covers children ages eight and under. Usually, the ball size for their official games is a size 3.
However, you can get them to practice on a size 2 to better improve their coordination and gross and fine motor skills to be able to handle and control the ball.
2. Youth
This range covers children to tweeners ages 8 to 12. The ball size for official games under this category is now a size 4.
This is still a few inches smaller in circumference than an actual adult game.
3. Adult
This range covers teens ages 13 and above. The ball size 5, which measures 27-28 inches in circumference, is now used for the rules of this game and is similar to an official soccer ball that professionals use.
Innovatively Made for Training
The reason why soccer is a very famous sport is found in the wonders that it can show between the control, coordination, and core between the human body and a ball.
This is also why each ball size in soccer is designed for specific muscle control and also in consideration of where it can be used.
Smaller-sized ones are meant for practicing and developing muscle control.
If your kid already falls under an adult category for playing, getting them a youth-sized one will be greatly appreciated.
In the same way, you can apply the same technique to have a smaller one than their recommended age range for training purposes before using the actual recommended size for their category out on the field.
Some Designed for Strengthening Girls
Interestingly enough, soccer balls are uniquely designed to work with and make soccer more gender accommodating, such as the Eir ball.
Though it is smaller than the standard adult soccer ball by a few inches in circumference, soccer balls designed for girls are made with softer but heavier materials, which makes them ideal for your tough feline on the field to train with and play.
Soccer balls creatively designed for girls are focused on training muscles in their legs and ankles.
The standard soccer ball doesn’t give this, which is why girls need to kick higher and with much more velocity to make shots happen.
Juggle, Dribble, Kick, and Score
Knowing which ball best suits your kid begins by knowing your kid’s strengths and weaknesses.
It begins with finding out their age category and working along with what needs more development.
There’s not much work to do for your teenager other than further strengthening training on the field and small exercises at home.
For your tweener, you can still bring them the comfort of a smaller ball to keep their leg working while they also spend their gross motor skills honed on the field.
For your tiny tot, it is best to get them a mini ball (size 1 or 2) for training fun and a size 3 for them to get used to the actual and official sizing.
The perks of the mini ball come in the fact that it can be played indoors and outdoors and is pretty small enough to fit a bag that you can bring with you out to parks.
Also, take into consideration the build of your kid, be it part of their biological makeup or development.
They should be able to find fun in the game still as much as they can always achieve greatness through friendly competition in a contact sport won by teamwork and hard work.
The best part about getting kids involved in soccer is that they get a healthy dose of exercise and perseverance, which are both important in the long run, but that an outdoor activity also allows children to work with and adapt to their environment.
Outdoor activities enhance their sensitivity and higher-order thinking skills more than just physical development.
Soccer can become a holistic learning experience for them that you have the privilege to witness as well.
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