One thing we know for sure is that a little rain doesn’t stop soccer players from playing! We have the same philosophy at SoccerKidsUSA. Some of our most fond memories are playing in the puddles with a bunch of smiling faces!

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN & GROW

Separation, strength and weaknesses, group dynamic, are just a few options where these new environments and experiences, provide us  with the opportunity to LEARN & GROW.

Each time we step onto our soccer fields, we ALL have the opportunity to broaden our perspective and experience something new. This year, our focus is Coach to learn.

From the first day of class when we get to meet our team, to the last day of class, which we call “Congratulations Day”, where we get to come together as a community to celebrate learning, commitment and fun, we are given the opportunity to teach. More importantly, to make a difference.

There are so many lessons to be learned…below are few goodies!

Ritual — this is one of my favorites. The power of coming together week after week, same time, same place, creates a grounding force. It creates history, keeps us present and allows for us to plan for the future. Having a ritual is a great way to keep connection to ourselves, to others and to what’s important in our lives.

Pace — If we have learned anything over the last 10 years of playing with our friends, we have learned that everyone has their own pace. In many ways, it’s the awareness of our differences that allows each of us to learn
and grow. What happens when we slow things down? Can we be inspired, try a little harder, when we’re exposed to someone’s pace that is faster than ours? We believe it’s the celebration of our differences that bring us together as a team!

Roles and Responsibilities create structure and direction.  The soccer field is a great place to explore who we are and how our individuality impacts everyone and everything around us.  Whether it’s offense or defense, forward or mid-field. Roles and Responsibilities give us an identity, a foundation to build upon.

Team — the understanding that we have the ability to contribute to others and that our choices not only affect us, they impact those around us. We learn that everyone plays a role and adds something special to the group!  When on a team, we are given the opportunity to express our individuality, honor differences and learn about strengths and weaknesses. Team teaches us to give and receive. When we’re part of a team, we get to work together, play together, learn together, and laugh together…

And the list goes on and on…

One final note, and just as important… life lessons on the soccer field are not only for our children, they are for us too.

See ya on the field!

Coach Julie
Co-Founder, SoccerKidsUSA

In soccer, it’s amazing what setting a few goals can do, en route and in pursuit of “the goal.” It’s extra special when that goal is achieved, since so few are typically scored during the course of a game. When little successes lead up to that result, there’s nothing like it. Our GOAL at SoccerKidsUSA is: “To provide a safe, nurturing and fun environment, where kids (and their families) can be themselves, achieve successes, and look forward to coming back~”

Bottom line: it sure is great to be part of a community – one heck of a team! This week we’ll encourage the sense of team with the kids on the field, and start breaking down some of the roles and responsibilities, along with some choices we get to make, as part of the team.

Frozen Orange

Ingredients:

Oranges and orange juice

Final Product:

Frozen orange in orange!

Cut tops off of oranges and remove the insides. Place the insides with orange juice into a blender and pour the mixture into the empty orange shells.

Freeze and eat!
Kids love a refreshing snack in summer, and this one adds fluid to help meet hydration needs!

On The Early Show Monday, registered dietician Keri Glassman