Reasons to start football young

There are many fantastic benefits of letting your child play football at a young age. Not only is it good for their physical fitness, it is also great for developing confidence and helps to enhance their sociability.

Before talking about the benefits of youth football, we must highlight the importance that all children should have the correct football kit including clothing, socks, boots and shin pads. Foot protection is one of the most important factors, so choosing the right pair of football socks, shin pads and boots and is vital. Comfort, grip and durability are all things to take into consideration, as well as protection from those nasty tackles and falls. To find the most suitable football socks for your child, visit Newitts.

Below are some of the key reasons to get involved with this popular sport at a young age:

Physical Fitness

One of the main reasons why boys and girls will benefit physically from playing football is the amount of hours they spend engaging in exercise. With plenty of training sessions, and lots of running around during a game, football helps to combat obesity and can improve fitness levels significantly. An active child is far more likely to become an active adult, so it’s good to get them in the habit now.

Social Skills

Participating in ball sports like football encourages positive social skills and allows your child to make new friends. Football can help your child to recognise the importance of working as a team to achieve success and show them what it means to be competitive. School can often be tough at a young age with cliquey groups and bullying, but playing within a football team can help to create a sense of belonging, great for a child’s self esteem.

Health and Wellbeing

Young or old, being physically active can help us lead healthier lives and this is now more important than ever to lure children away from computer games and television sets. About a third of children in England are classed as being overweight or obese. Not only can physical activity like football assist in healthy growth and development, it helps children to feel happier and improve their sense of wellbeing. Other benefits of a healthy lifestyle are a healthy heart, strong bones and better mental health as described by Bupa.

Confidence

As your child improves in the game of football, their confidence levels will also increase. Along with encouragement from the coach and fellow team members, overcoming obstacles on the pitch can boost a child’s self-confidence and prepare them for success later in life. Additionally, football requires players to work within a team, rather than on their own, which can be beneficial to those children that lack in confidence. The game allows them to develop their skills within a friendly environment.

Teamwork

Being a team sport, football teaches children the value of cooperating together to work towards a common goal. There is no ‘I’ in team, and team sports like this encourage teamwork and communication, and allow players to develop problem-solving skills. Football also teaches players to be treated the way you would want to be treated and the value of good sportsmanship.