Question: Soccer season begins soon in Palm Desert. My 10-year-old son has never wanted to play any organized sports because he is smaller than the other kids and feels inferior.
Answer: Robert Richardson, president of the Palm Desert Youth Soccer League for 21 years, said, “The great thing about soccer is that size is not an issue. The guidelines of the PDYSL mandate that all players on the team must play at least 50 percent of the time. Many players sign up with no soccer experience at all.” As a kid, I played soccer but spent much of the time drinking Gatorade on the sidelines. My parents supported my efforts and always had a positive attitude, even when I was down on myself. I wasn't the best player, but it didn't matter because I learned a lot about integrity on the field. Seize this opportunity, and let team sports help your son learn commitment, work ethic and loyalty regardless of his skill level — which may coincidentally improve. Provide positive reinforcement without making comparisons to ot her children. Be mindful not to tarnish your child's experience of soccer by making it about winning or losing, how much playing time he gets or how many goals he scores. Teach him that playing sports should be about having fun.
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