Who Will Save the Youth of America? Last Saturday marked the end of my first stint as a youth soccer coach. For the past seven weeks, I've spent my otherwise blissfully idle Saturday mornings running around in the wet and cold with a bunch of boys and girls ranging in age from five to seven (or "U-7s," as they're known in coaching parlance).
   At this age, The Beautiful Game generally devolves into a wobbly cluster of frenetic tots whacking away freely at the ball…and each other. Wisely, the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) has developed special small-sided games for the Younger Set. At U-7, they figure about six kids can fit comfortably around the ball, so the format is 3-on-3. This way, everyone gets more touches, and no one stands around. As the kids get older and discover useful things to do away from the ball, players are added to field. Finally, at U-12 they're playing full-sided games.
   Every Saturday, we're descended on by fifty-odd kids, many with watchful and supportive parents in tow. We cull the kindergartners and split them off into small 3-v-3 games. The first-graders are herded to another part of the field for a collective skills session. Fifteen minutes later we switch, so the first-graders get some game time, and the younger kids can work on their skills.
   Your primary mission when coaching kids of this age is to make sure they have a good time. Most of them really don't need the exercise yet--although I'm sure some of the parents appreciate us tiring them out so early in the weekend--and to be honest, there's not a whole lot you can teach them about the game. Not directly, anyway.
   They learn plenty by having the ball at their feet now rather than later. Every week, a new kid figures out you can change direction without waiting for the ball roll to a stop and running around to the other side. Some of them have learned not to kick it away from a teammate. A half-dozen can kick the ball with either foot comfortably. Almost all of them can remember which direction they're going. If they stick with it, every single one of them will be better players in a few short years than I ever was, just from having started so young.
   Although we deal with them en masse for much of the time, I've gotten to know many of the kids. One tries not to develop favorites, but I have really taken a shine to some of the nippers. In particular, there is little Isaac (who at five already knows how to get a laugh by pratfalling over a ball), and even little-er Robert (who's been playing with a nine-year-old sister, making him speedy and fearless). Axiomatically, The Sarahs (there are three, who travel in a pack) are Trouble; but they're good players and also quite funny. Andrew, too, is a passel of trouble, because he is smart and easily bored. Kayla (who's name is not Hayley) was so shy and fractious at the start of the program that her well-meaning father grouped her in with the kindergartners, even though she's seven and a head and a half taller than any of them. She's playing with the big kids now, and let me tell you, she's a buzz saw.
   Most of my young charges won't grow up to play soccer. Football and basketball will lure some of them away; others will grow up awkward or unathletic. And some will become misanthropic little geniuses who can't abide team sports. Of course, if you're good with children (or at least enjoy their company, as I do) a lot of what you can teach them has nothing to do with sports, and may never be apparent in the short time you know them.
   And every one of them has had some fun. That can't help but improve the odds. (Sat 02 November 2002, 08.22 PST)@ #