OUR SOCCER STARS

Lately in my centre I have noticed that a few of my children had developed a particular interest in kicking  the ball around or too each other. This occurred every time the children went outside to play and it was always with the same group of children. I had noticed that the children gained a lot of enjoyment through this activity, as it was a re -occurring interest. I also notice that this activity included the boys and the girls.

I decided to stand back and observe the children and was hoping that they included me rather than me forcing my way into their activity.  When I finally had the ball been kicked to me I was able gain a clearer understanding of what level they were at and how I could extend their interest along with their gross motor skills. Teachers that get involved in children’s outdoor play need to be actively and eagerly responsive (Greenfield. 2007).Through my participation I realized that the children’s co ordination and eye movement skills were exceptional. They were able to stop the ball with their feet and pass it over to the next child. At times the children would gather in groups passing it over to only their group. Self esteem grows as children engage in new challenges and recognise their own growth and accomplishments (Ministry of Education, 1996).  As time went on I had recognised that this activity had moved indoors. Where the children were not passing the ball to each but instead excising. When I asked them what they were doing they replied saying that they were doing soccer training. Ah I thought Soccer, since my dad’s a soccer coach and both my brothers play soccer I decided to borrow their soccer equipment and bring it in for a game of soccer.

                                                                           

My next day of work I brought in the equipment that we needed. Together with the children we set the outside up like a soccer field, with three orange beacons and a soccer goal post and hoped that the children would enjoy the activity. I believe that sports can over a wide range of benefits. Gonzalez Mena states that sports help children grow healthy bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons (2008).  It helps them improve personal skills, including co-operation, leadership and social skills. The children each had a turn to dribble the ball around if orange beam making sure that they only used their feet once they had passed the last orange beam they kicked the ball into the goal post succoring a goal. Manipulative skills as those who have poor manipulative skills find it harder to interact with their peers as these skills are normally used during games (Sanders, 2002)