Loving Soccer Shots From the Inside Out

 There's a reason for Soccer Shots being named the #1 Children's Fitness franchise, as well as a Top 30 New Franchise.  What is that reason? Not only is Soccer Shots an effective soccer program for young children, it is dynamic, fun, and as a Coach you can't help but feel like you have the best job in the world! 

 

When owners of a company happily pour their heart and soul into a program, so that everyone involved is having a positive experience, you instantly feel the same motivation to make Soccer Shots the highlight of every child’s week! Soccer Shots coaches have the added benefit of knowing that helping kids be active, while having fun, will encourage active and healthy lifestyle choices.  We want all of our little Soccer Shots all stars to be as healthy as they can be!

But wait! There's more? 

I remember when I first discovered Soccer Shots.  I knew that I wanted to coach children the game of soccer.  Nothing sounds more fun than playing soccer with cute little kids… right? The more I learned about Soccer Shots, the more I liked it. Not only do the kids look up to you as a soccer idol, but seeing the children light up when they learn something new, and then get it right, is one of the best feelings ever! The Soccer Shots curriculum has proven to be a great success and each week the kids learn a different character word of the day, in addition to our soccer skills! We don't just teach them a new word; we apply it directly into our soccer class for that day!

With there being so much love of the game of soccer, it comes as no surprise to me that so many people, nation-wide, have had such a positive experience with Soccer Shots.  We do know there is always room for improvement and with the help of our team and the feedback from you all, we will continue to do our best to keep Soccer Shots the #1 Children’s Fitness Program!  We love feedback, the good and the not so great stuff too.  Our team uses all information to continuously improve our program from the inside - out!  So NEVER hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

I hope all of you have a great spring season and don't forget to check out our Spring Skill Camps. If you would like to know more about what your child is learning at Soccer Shots, be sure to check out our Session Summaries and get involved!

Parents: Reasons to Keep Kids Active

Two new studies show youth who exercise are healthier later in life.

By

Michelle Hamilton

Published

March 25, 2013 Runners World Magazine 

Kids who play soccer, swing on the monkey bars or get other forms of exercise not only lower their risk of childhood obesity, have improved concentration and sleep better, they’re more likely to be healthy adults, two new studies show.

One study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from the existing Danish European Youth Heart Study, which examined health indicators in 332 boys and girls over a 12-year period. The kids performed back extensions and crunches; their cardiovascular fitness was tested using a bicycle ergometer test; and cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, weight and cholesterol were measured.

The researchers found that youth with greater muscle strength were less likely to develop risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease as young adults, regardless of their weight.

The second study looked at the benefits of PE class on bone health. Researchers followed two sets of kids for six years, beginning when they were seven to nine years old. One group of 808 boys and girls had 40 minutes of physical education during school every day, totaling more than three hours per week. The control group did only 60 minutes of exercise per week.

The more active youth had greater bone density at the end of the study and their risk of sustaining a fracture did not increase, as has been previously found. The authors concluded that kids should be encourage to exercise.

In a separate but related study, some of the same researchers analyzed the bone density and fracture rate of former male athletes who were 50 to 93 years old and who hadn’t exercised regularly in roughly 30 years. Unlike a control group, the athletes had maintained most of their bone mass later in life and had a lower risk of sustaining a facture. 

The researchers believe the two sets of data suggest that activity levels in kids translate to less risk for broken bones throughout their lifetime.

“According to our stud[ies], exercise interventions in childhood may be associated with lower fracture risks as people age, due to the increases in peak bone mass that occurs in growing children who perform regular physical activity,” says lead author Bjorn Rosengren, M.D., Ph.D., of Skane University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden.

To help keep your kids active, here's a guide to encouraging your children to run.

Fun and Free things to do with your kids around Phoenix.

Are you looking for something to do with your kids during Spring Break after our Spring Soccer camps we have in the valley? Here are a few fun ideas for activities with the kiddos that you can do on a budget!  Thanks so much Judy Hedding

1. Go fishing at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. With 125 acres and a huge recreation center, there's always plenty to do there.
2. Take your kids to the library. All of the area libraries have story times for the younger kids, and programs and events for the older ones.
3. There are places where you and the kids can take a behind-the-scenes tour, and some of them, like the Stuffington Bear Factory and Cerreta Candy Company are free.
4. Got skates or a skateboard? The valley now has several skate parks. Novice skaters can watch the more experienced ones practice.
5. I don't believe a week goes by in this town without some community having a free festival or concert. Bring juice boxes, water and snacks.
6. There are more than 400 animals on display at Cabela's in Glendale. Some were real animals that were stuffed, and some are original creations. All are very lifelike, from the tiny mouse to the huge elephant. Sure, it's primarily a hunting and fishing store but the exhibits are great.
7. Have your kids ever seen petroglyphs? Take a hike at Waterfall Trail in the West Valley. If you want something that's more challenging for the bigger kids,try climbing Piestewa Peak? It's fun, pretty and healthy! Not necessarily a summer activity, though. Bring water and light snacks.
8. The City of Tempe offers a monthly arts activity for preschoolers and their parents called Free Art Friday. It's free, whether you live in Tempe or not! Home Depot has monthly classes for kids that allow them to build something. They get to wear an apron, learn how to use tools, get free materials, and leave with a masterpiece. Lakeshore Learning Store also offers free project / craft classes for kids.
9. Take the kids swimming. here are community swimming pools all around the valley. Most charge a very nominal fee. If your kids don't swim yet, many of the area parks now havesplash pads or splash playgrounds during the summer.
10. Museums aren't [always] boring! Here's a list of museums that offer free admission in the Phoenix area. The adults will enjoy these, too.
11. Put the bikes in the back of the SUV and drive to a beautiful park, like South Mountain, and go for a family bike ride. If it is too hot for that, just go for a scenic car ride.
12. Are the kids old enough to sit in the car for awhile? A drive on the Apache Trail is scary and a lot of fun.
13. The City of Phoenix, and other cities and towns in the Greater Phoenix area, often hold free summer sports clinics for kids, like golf and tennis. Check your city's recreation department and sign them up!
14. Arrowhead Mall in Glendale, Chandler Fashion Center in Chandler and others have indoor play areas for the little ones. The kids love it! At Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa, there's a carousel that kids (and adults) can ride for a nominal charge. The Westcor Malls all have a Kids Club that meets regularly for both fun and entertainment.
15. On those warm summer evenings, take the kids to see Minor League Baseball games. The Arizona Rookie League plays in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria and Surprise. There's no charge to watch!

Tips:

1. Every week Judy Hedding blogs about the coming week's free activities. Some are fun, some are educational, some are artsy, some are even for adults, but they are all free. Check here for the most recent "Free Things To Do" list.
2. Some free special events only happen once or twice a year. Here's a list of her favorite free annual festivals and events.
3. Get on mailing lists for nearby libraries, so you can get the events calendars in the mail or by email. These aren't just book discussion programs anymore--the libraries in Arizona are very creative.
4. Get a free meal for your kids! Many restaurants in the Valley have a Kids Eat Free program.

March is National Nutrition Month!

For interactive games, quizzes, and videos about health and nutrition click here

Teaching our kids how to nourish their bodies is an essential lesson that can, and will benefit them throughout their entire life!  The month may be halfway over but it's never to late to start teaching yourself and your kids the importance of eating right!

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH MARCH 2013

The National Nutrition Month 2013 theme, "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day," encourages personalized healthy eating styles* and recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all impact individual food choices. 

*Based on 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommendations and MyPlate messages.

National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. This year is the 40th anniversary of National Nutrition Month.

Great Books for Your Preschool Age Child

"What’s the most important trait you’d like to develop in your child? If you’re like most parents, intelligence is probably at the top of your list. We all want bright, smart children, which is why we spend so much time choosing the right schools and making sure teachers are exceeding expectations. But remember: as a parent, you have the power to boost your children's learning potential simply by making books an integral part of their lives." - Early Moments

Below are nine of our favorite Preschool age books! Some of them are the same classics we grew up with.   

Want to know more about why reading with your kids is important? click here for more insights from Early Moments.