Little Kickers Midrand find innovative ways to teach little ones all about soccer
MIDRAND – Children as young as 18 months old have a blast dribbling 'teddy bears' around 'crocodiles'.
Soccer is meant to be a fun sport. So it stands to reason that when young children are taught the game they should be taught it in a fun way.
Little Kickers Midrand makes sure this is the case through the fun and games that are seen week in and week out for their youngest classes.
Toddlers as young as 18 months old can be heard giggling and shrieking as they dribble the ‘teddy bears’ (soccer balls) around ‘crocodiles’ (cones) or play games involving, walking, running and even hopping based on when the coach blows the whistle.
All the while the parents play along with the children during these fun games that develop soccer and listening skills in disguise.
Club owner Manuella Jardim explained that the club is divided into four classes that each prepare children for the next class.
The little kicks class features children from 18 months to two and a half years.
The junior kickers are from two and a half years to three and a half years, the mighty kickers are from three and a half to five years, and the mega kickers are from five to seven years old.
The mega kickers play league matches against other clubs, so it is through fun games that the youngsters in lower classes learn ball skills, team play and eventually positional play.
“We teach all the grass-roots stuff in a fun way, like kicking with the inside of your foot and not your toes, so it is still fun and comes naturally as the children grow up,” she said.
Often it looked like the parents were having as much fun as their children, as they hopped around and dribbled the ball back and forth.
Details: Little Kickers Midrand 082 564 7432.
