In today’s blog, we’re exploring benefits beyond the game of football. It will come as no surprise that here at Kixx we are big advocates for football as the ‘go-to’ activity for your children. But in truth, there are a host of benefits children can gain from taking part in any physical activity or team sport.
If your loved ones have shown an interest in signing up for football lessons, but you would like to know how it will benefit them off the pitch, then you’ve come to the right place.
Exploring Benefits Beyond The Game: The Impact Of Football On Children’s Development
Physical Fitness And Health
While we are not doctors over here at Kixx, we do know that the NHS recommends that children do two types of physical activity in the week: aerobic exercise and exercises to strengthen their muscles and bones.
They also recommend that children aged 5 to 18 should average 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day over the course of a week and avoid lying down for prolonged periods (other than sleep, of course).
Taking part in weekly football sessions is one way to make sure a child meets the recommended physical exercise recommendation. In turn, this will benefit their cardiovascular, skeletal, and respiratory system, and help their muscles grow.
Physical exercise as a part of their weekly routine, when a child is young, helps to solidify the same habit later on in life.
Social Skills And Teamwork
One of the most valuable aspects of football sessions is the chance for children to experience the joy of working as part of a team and making new friends. At its heart, football is about teamwork. Every child, no matter their skill level, plays an important role in achieving a common goal.
In our Kixx sessions, this teamwork is a big part of what we focus on. Children learn how to collaborate, support each other, and work together, often for the first time. Through this experience, we help children develop key social skills, such as:
- Communication: Football requires both verbal and non-verbal communication. Children learn how to express themselves clearly and understand others, whether it’s their teammates or their coach.
- Cooperation: Working together on the field teaches children to trust and rely on one another. Every success is shared, and children discover the power of cooperation.
At Kixx, we believe these skills are just as important as football techniques, helping children grow both on and off the pitch.
Building Confidence
There are a lot of ways that children grow in confidence when playing football. Learning a new skill takes perseverance and dedication. There’ll be plenty of challenges and things that don’t come naturally, but with that, there are plenty of triumphs too.
Children who stick to practising a new skill, and then eventually nail it, gain a sense of accomplishment. This boosts their confidence, as it proves to themselves that they can do anything they set their minds to.
Sessions at Kixx tend to focus more on practising drills, skills and learning through fun, but we also do game simulation tasks and end-of-session matches, children learn how to handle the success and failure that comes with the game of football. This builds resilience, which is something they carry with them beyond the game.
Responsibility
While we aim to make our sessions as fun and light-hearted as possible, attending football lessons each week requires dedication and responsibility.
At Kixx, being part of #TeamOrange highlights the importance of showing up, practising regularly, and working together. Improvement in football, like in anything, takes effort and persistence.
We believe that by committing to their weekly football sessions, children are learning valuable lessons about responsibility and consistency that will serve them well beyond the pitch. They develop a strong work ethic, understanding that improvement comes from hard work and commitment.
Developing Leadership And Decision-Making Skills
In the game of football, you *quite literally* need to think on your feet! Deciding where to pass the ball to next or whether to take a shot at the goal requires spur-of-the-moment decision-making and self-assurance.
A benefit children can take beyond football is the ability to problem-solve. Whilst in play, they must assess their situation and make a fast decision. Those decisions will then shape the games’ outcomes. It’s a valuable lesson to learn at a young age; our choices lead to outcomes!
There are also plenty of opportunities at football lessons to take on leadership roles, whether that be as a team captain if you’re playing for a team or leading by example at our academies by helping other children learn a task by showing them.
Exploring The Benefits Beyond The Game With Kixx
From exploring the benefits beyond the game, we’re sure you can agree with us; that there is a lot children can take away from football lessons.
At Kixx, we offer football lessons all year round, for children aged between 18 months and 11 years old. Our priority in every session is to deliver high-energy, fun, creative, and age-appropriate physical activity through football. It’s our goal to positively impact every child’s life at every opportunity.
We have academies dotted all around the UK. You can find your nearest academy through our website.
If you would like to know more about what we do in our sessions or what we stand for, please feel free to reach out to us. Our team is happy to answer any questions and assist you with registering. We look forward to welcoming you to #TeamOrange.
