European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 29, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sundi scene stars and stripes pages big games for wee ones organized programs targeting younger kids in the Center of a Field of fake grass about a dozen 3and 4yearoids Are attempting to learn soccer or a reasonable facsimile kicking and chasing after scale Down balls some charge ahead with glee expertly guiding the balls with their feet others scoot along hesitantly their faces masks of intensity score it in the goal score it in the goal the coach yells excitedly nearby one boy nails the goal with a single kick while another takes three to four attempts a Little girl in pigtails scoops up one Ball with her arms and simply drops it into the net such is organized sports for preschoolers parents May be crazy for it but childhood development experts less so los Angeles times Nicholas Arcadi 3 plays soccer at Upland indoor sports Arena in Upland Calif the facility offers soccer classes for children As Young As 18 months no longer Content to wait until their children Are 5 or heaven forbid 8 the age most kids Start in organized sports moms and dads Are enrolling their off Spring in structured programs at the age of 3 and 4 the lil kickers soccer program at the Upland indoor sports Arena where the extremely Young soccer players were roaming even has a class for 18montholds such preschool focused programs including ones for basketball and tall teach specific skills general motor development and sometimes concepts such As teamwork not always an easy lesson for a population whose conversations can consist largely of the word mine coed classes can be found in Parks and recreation pro Grams and private sports organizations across the nation got a question Revti we l c t 7 i v v in j v u w us t iia i Xcvi re y i Send you questions to debuts april 1 Voith your weekly scene and coordinators say enrolment numbers Are growing every year Many programs even have waiting lists the environment is mostly noncompetitive no one to Tell a 3yearold she Cost the but the fact that organized sports have infiltrated toddler Hood Doest sit Well with Many exercise and child development experts graduating to training pants they say Doest necessarily signal a readiness for structured programs with equip ment and rules and expectations of Victory or failure of course physical activity Trumps sitting around watching to says Michael Bergeron exercise physiologist and assistant professor at the medical College of Georgia in Augusta but he says sports lessons might not be the Best alternative it might seem innocent to say come on catch this run but they May be trying to get kids to do things there not capable of doing and that leads to frustration and anxiety says Bergeron who also chairman of the american College of sports medicines youth sports and health initiative kids who Are further along developmentally look better than those who Are not and kids can Start feeling resentment much of what kids need to learn can be found during free play says Bergeron running around a playground exploring the backyard and playing with age appropriate equipment and toys when play becomes beset by rules in dont pick up a soccer Ball dont kick a basketball kids can lose their natural enthusiasm and willingness to try new things what is their attention Span he says Are you asking them to listen and understand beyond what there capable of doing Crystal Branta associate professor of kinesiology at Michigan state University says preschool level is prime time for learning and developing motor skills such As throwing catching jumping and running but that Doest she adds doing Drill after Drill for Many of today adults structured sports gives their kids the Chance to socialize with other kids and get a leg up on skills seen As increasingly valuable i think parents understand that in school kids Are popular and valuable when there Able to do sports she says classes for 3yearolds Are easily found via local Parks and recreation programs As Well As through some private programs and facilities the american youth soccer organization a nationwide nonprofit group that sponsors soccer programs knocked its starting age Down to 4 years old from 5 years old in 2004 National executive director Rick Davis thinks 4yearolds have the mental and physical capabilities to begin to learn soccer skills and its not really soccer at that age anyway he insists were introducing them to the sport in fun ways from simple motor coordination things like walking around the Ball to kicking and shooting and passing yet a sos under five program has an entire Page of rules and guidelines on its web site for three three games where it says the two goals of the program Are to allow the players to enjoy the activities and to let the game be the teacher headings include the Start of play the Kickoff Ball in and out of play and fouls and other stoppages part of the decision to Start kids at age 4 says Davis came from Parent demand but business also factored into the decision a number of other programs were reaching Down to kids younger and younger with other activities and we Felt that we were not providing a similar soccer experience he says if these kids go to basketball and have a wonderful time they May never decide to give soccer a try d d 3 3 3 d 3 co cd 0 cd