Why do children want to play organized sports? What are their goals, hopes and aspirations? Each child has his or her own specific answers to these questions. Understanding their reasons for wanting to play sports is a critical first step towards helping children to have the best possible experiences in sport. Articles in magazines and newspapers as well as some coaching textbooks often suggest that socialization is a major value of participating in youth sports. Certainly, learning to work together in a group and striving to achieve group goals are potentially important outcomes. Learning about and practicing sportsmanship also is a worthwhile goal as is understanding how to deal with success and failure-winning and losing.

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"Put me in, coach!"

That’s what most kids said in response to our survey about coaches. More than 60% of boys and girls said that - more than anything else - coaches should give everyone a chance to play. Giving everyone a chance to play ranked above teaching new skills (27%) and even winning (9%).

Did you think that kids would say "winning is everything"? Think again. Most kids didn’t think winning was all that important. Only 7% of girls said coaches should be most concerned with winning, whereas about 18% of boys said so. It sounds like kids think that too much importance is given to winning at all costs. And many adults are starting to think that changes are needed in youth sports. Why? Because as youth sports have become more intense and competitive, it has put a lot of pressure on kids.

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ENJOYMENT for everyone

EXCELLENCE – age appropriate, proper motivation

EDUCATION – 10-15 years---5-19

ENVIRONMENT – safe and developmentally appropriate

Great Experience for the players

Goals for SYA Soccer and each coach:

#1 Goal:  Character and personal development:  become a better person and citizen through participating in sports

#2 Goal:  Life skills:  self confidence, character, self-discipline, cooperation, friendship, industriousness, self-control, reliability, initiative, work ethic, do our best and play to win

#3 Goal:  Learn and acquire skills

#4 Goal:  Learn to play skillfully and smart

#5 Goal:  Teach team play and principles of play

#6 Goal:  Make friends, belong to a team, feel wanted and safe

#7 Goal:  Foster life long love for exercise

#8 Goal:  Appreciate and cultivate a healthy lifestyle:  no drugs, alcohol, or any other unhealthy lifestyle.