THE “G” LICENSE

This License is an introductory step to help moms and dads help their youngsters enjoy a great game – SOCCER. It is as simple as that. Your role is to “TURN ON” children to the sport. By exciting them you open their eyes, mind and the learning door. Enthusiasm sparks the energy to learn while having FUN.

What does “G” stand for? GLEE, GAMES, GOALS & GENIUS’S!

Children love to play. Let them play. Don’t worry about coaching until you are “TURNED ON” as well and want to learn. Just get out there and join in, offering positive encouragement. Enjoyment is the key.

“G” stands for GAMES and that means:

“G”-GOALS: Success breeds success. Play with 4 or 6 goals so that everyone can score and get excited.
“A”-ACTION: Soccer action demands “ball touches” over and over again. Every child must have their ball. The youngster and their ball must become the best of friends above all else.
“M”-MOVEMENT: Movement skills maximize soccer skills, especially in the arts of dodging, jumping,hopping and getting “savvy” with speed.
“E”- ENJOYMENT: Games are about fun. Children also know it is the fastest route to learning. Adults tend to invent boring drills and other non-learning, static events.
“S”-SPORTSMANSHIP: Learning to cooperate and help each other both on and off the field.
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Let me warn you about a rotten letter and it must be avoided at all costs. The letter is “L”. It is at its most dangerous when adults want to ruin children’s games.

“L” stands for: LAPS, LINES & LECTURES

“LAPS” These tend to strengthen the legs and weaken the brain. This requires no imagination.
“LECTURES” They are boring and often a waste of time. If adults had to listen to their own lectures, they would either fall asleep or be taken away to a padded cell! A soccer field is for action.
“LINES” How much do you like standing in line? Youngsters can only improve at soccer when a game or mini-games are in play. Standing in line is a great advertisement for anarchy. When idle, young minds are left alone. If your practices are full of lines you will need that cell!

***YOUR ROLE***
(1) To have fun and encourage youngsters. “TURN THEM ON!”
(2) Encourage but don’t push them to practice at home.
(3) Mess around with them in the backyard. You will learn a great deal from them. Remember--- they invented games.
(4) Facilitate learning with questions rather than answer. Make them think. “Why? When? Where? “What” and “Who?” are probably the best questions to ask on any topic. Good teaching is about “LIGHTING FIRES” and “FILLING JUGS.” If you can ignite their learning “fire” by giving them critical thinking skills, you will help create a bright mind. Whereas to “fill” their mind with information overload (often your answers) is a quick-fix method with short term returns.

The old Chinese learning proverb is a superb guide to help you:

“I hear and I forget,
I see and I remember,
I DO and I UNDERSTAND.”

DOING & UNDERSTANDING are vital pieces to the learning jigsaw.

Courtesy to Graham Ramsay

Graham Ramsay © 2003 First printed in 1976/revised in 1980, 1990 & 2003 email: ramsaysoccer@yahoo.com