Did you know that kids can play in organized soccer as young as 2.5? Just because it starts at 2 ½, though, doesn’t mean that’s when every child starts playing – you can join in on the fun anytime between ages 2.5 – 18. Whether you’re 2.5, 10, or 16, when you sign up to play soccer, you are signing up for so much more.
As a new mom to a 1-year old, I often catch myself thinking about what traits I want my daughter to have as she grows up. I, like all of you, think about a long and seemingly endless list: we want our children to be confident, have good social skills, be healthy & active, cope with failure, be accountable, be motivated, be disciplined, have respect for themselves & others and so on and so forth. Honestly, as a new parent, this is often overwhelming and daunting to think about, especially when I wonder “how am I supposed to help her have all of these traits?”. The good news - it’s not just up to me or any of us.
Soccer, for me, is one place I know I’ll turn to when my daughter is of age to help foster positive development in her. I started playing recreation soccer when I was 8 at NCFC Youth (formerly Capital Area Soccer League), and I stuck with the sport for the next two decades as a player, coach, and now full-time professional. As a product of the game, I know that laundry list of good traits I want for my daughter can be learned and/or reinforced through soccer and the people (teammates, coaches, referees, opponents) and experiences that come from it. Soccer has shaped me into the person I am today, and I look forward to the day when my daughter gets the chance to participate.
At NCFC Youth, we have made every effort to make sure that all youth in our community have access to the game. We want you to play with your friends and play close to home. We want it to be affordable, and if it’s not we want you to know how to access financial aid so it is affordable. We want you to have great coaches who have the resources to create a positive experience for your family. And, we want you to feel like part of the #NCFCfam – whether that’s pro players surprising you at practice or being a ball kid at pro NCFC or NC Courage game. We want you to learn and grow from the game at every level of play.
 | Whether you are new to soccer or need a more competitive environment, NCFC Youth offers programs for every skill level and age. We hope you will check us out if and/or when your child is ready to play. If you want to sign up for this fall, registration is open now, and you can learn more here: http://bit.ly/NCFCYFall2019 |
Macaroni Kid Downtown-Midtown-North Raleigh is a FREE weekly newsletter and website helping you find family-fun events and information in the Raleigh area. We share local events and activities each week along with useful information about classes, service & product reviews, recipes, crafts, guides and MORE.
