Soccer has long been the world’s game, but more and more these days, it is becoming America’s game, at least among kids. Soccer has long been one of the most popular sports among young kids, but it is growing among popularity among older kids as well, largely due to them getting more exposure from leagues such as Major League Soccer and the English Premier League being on TV more. To be able to play soccer, you first have to have a chance at how to learn soccer, and that’s where soccer camps and soccer leagues for kids come in.
To give your child a chance on how to learn soccer, a youth soccer league can be a good start. Most small cities have at least one soccer program that offers a league, and larger cities usually offer multiple leagues. If you are looking for a low-key program, you might look to your city’s parks and recreation department or your local YMCA. They usually offer programs that use volunteer coaches that teach the basics of soccer, and they also don’t cost a lot. If you want something that is more organized and uses professional coaches, you will probably want to look to a soccer club.
Another way to get your child introduced to soccer is to send him or her to a soccer camp. These usually are held during the summer while kids are out of school. There are many professional touring companies that travel across the U.S. doing camps run by European or South American coaches. Summer soccer camps give your child a an opportunity for how to learn soccer while not requiring much of a time or financial commitment.
If your child has been playing soccer for a while and is serious about it, there are more advanced camps for players that are run by college coaches. These camps usually serve as ways for the college to identify potential talent. You may have to travel to get to these camps and they are expensive, but they can put your child on the radar for one of the thousands of soccer athletic scholarships that are available each year. There are hundreds of college soccer programs out there for both men and women and various levels, so you should be able to find a college soccer camp fairly close to your location.
Whether your child is just learning how to play soccer or is one of the hundreds of thousands of kids playing high school soccer, finding a good league or camp opportunity is important.
