August 2006

PAGE 29

Who Are We, Anyway?

Soccer and

Fitness for Youth

the ball, you watch them struggle to fol-

By Fred Chittenden, DDS

low instructions, you watch the coach

Special to

drop balls between them and have them

k, you've made it through the new

O

crash to the ball first, you watch them

team's first meeting, volunteered to

here are several health and fitness

vision (Dietz & Gortmaker, 1985), not

T

run because someone was talking while

bring cupcakes at birthdays, perhaps for

related benefits to playing soccer. In

only because little energy is expended

the coach was talking, you watch them

the first time wrote a check for some

an age where 5 to 25 percent of Ameri-

while viewing but also because of con-

run because someone else was talking,

overpriced clothes for your child to

ca's youth are obese (Dietz, 1983), a

current consumption of high-calorie

again, and again... What is going on,

wear (typically called `gear') that you

growing problem exists among our

snacks. Only about one-third of elemen-

what did we get into...? This seems

didn't pick out yourself, met a bunch of

youth. In a joint effort, Youth Soccer

tary children have daily physical educa-

awful serious stuff for kids... Oh well,

parents of kids who your child has

Month has partnered with the Presi-

tion, and less than one-fifth have

the kids do seem to be having fun.

played against at all sorts of rec sports

dent's Council on Physical Fitness to

extracurricular physical activity pro-

Pretty soon, it will be bumped up to

during the years, reworked your

help educate and promote the sport and

grams at their schools (Ross & Pate,

the next level ­ your new team's first

evening schedule around practices, kind

all of its benefits to young and old alike.

1987).

game. Gosh, look at where the coach

of checked your weekend agenda for

The messages of Youth Soccer

In 2002, US Youth Soccer, the

has my munchkin playing ­ they've

the next month or two to look for con-

Month mirror those of the President's

largest youth sports organization in the

never played there before. They're

flicts with tournaments and friendlies,...

Council on Physical Fitness and Sports -

country with more than 3.2 million play-

going to look terrible ­ no wait, they're

Now what?

the importance of physical activity and

ers spearheaded National Youth Soccer

doing ok...!

Well, pretty soon you'll find your-

fitness and exercise and their link to

Month in order to recognize the impact

It's happening, and you probably

self out on the practice field with a

good health. It also furthers President

and importance the sport plays in the

just missed it. "They" are evolving from

bunch of other parents with the same

Bush's vision of a healthier United

day-to-day lives of America's soccer fam-

a rug rat, to a random gaggle of ener-

apprehension... the kids will be all

States, where citizens are physically

ilies.

getic individuals into a "they," a team.

bunched up around the coach, as he

active every day, value nutrition, and

For more information please, visit

As with any newborn, pretty soon par-

starts to mold them into a team. You

www.usyouthsoccer.org. s

avoid risky behaviors. Each week during

watch them run, you watch them touch

(continued on next page)

Youth Soccer Month, a different mes-

sage will be the focus of communication

and programming:

The Four Messages of Youth

Soccer Month

· Fitness (Week 1): The health and

fitness (physical, psychological and

social) benefits of playing soccer.

· Friendship (Week 2): The relation-

ships and fun generated through

playing soccer and their extension

beyond the field.

· Family (Week 3): Playing soccer

ties families together as schedules,

vacations and family time are coor-

dinated.

· Fun (Week 4): Whether recre-

ational or competitive in nature,

involvement in soccer is easy,

affordable and rewarding.

In the 1950s, the Presidents Council on

Physical Fitness launched the first

national effort to encourage young

Americans to be physically active, with

a strong emphasis on participation in

team sports. Many Americans may be

surprised at the extent and strength of

the evidence linking physical activity to

numerous health improvements. Most

significantly, regular physical activity

greatly reduces the risk of dying from

coronary heart disease, the leading

cause of death in the United States.

Physical activity also reduces the risk of

developing diabetes, hypertension, and

colon cancer; enhances mental health;

fosters healthy muscles, bones and

joints; reduces the risk of obesity; and

helps maintain function and preserve

independence in older adults.

"There are too many sedentary chil-

dren today, as adults we know that

there is a greater likelihood that obesity

beginning even in early childhood will

persist throughout the individual's life,"

said David Messersmith president US

Youth Soccer. "These kids need to be

active and soccer is a great start!"

The average American child spends

several hours each day watching televi-

sion; time that in previous years might

have been devoted to physical pursuits.

Obesity is greater among children and

adolescents who frequently watch tele-