What can Shoot To Score Little Kickers do for your children?

Improve child fitness!! The ultimate and very best justification for partnering with Shoot to Score soccer is your goal to significantly improve the fitness levels of the children in your care.  Shoot To Score Soccer develops vastly improved physical skills guaranteed!

Quicker skill acquisition!! Soccer is the only sport in which a child has to move a ball with their feet while simultaneously maintaining balance and changing direction.  This guarantees every child greater fine and gross motor skill acquisition than alternative sports and general physical education classes.

Tremendous fun!! Because Shoot To Score classes involve stories, songs, balls, and dynamic play children absolutely love every minute.  A happy child who has satisfied their inherent genetic need to move is better able to focus, concentrate on and maximize benefits from other aspects of the school curriculum.

The best preparation for lifelong self-confidence and belief!! Shoot To Score is the prep stage for the “Training Soccer Legends” method of soccer coaching.  This method is a totally new and unique approach to developing the ball wizard that develops tremendous creative skill and the self-concept to dominate opponents and make the big plays that lead to the highest levels of play and a “go for it” mentality towards life.

Wonderful skill!! Each Shoot To Score child has their own ball for 90% of every session.  This guarantees an incredible number of touches and an early familiarity and mastery of the ball that is unparalleled at the younger ages.

Benefits for schools

Every child can enjoy thus boosting your school enrollment!! Soccer’s popularity within the suburban household has exploded over the last few years.  Being a part of the local soccer league has become a staple of every childhood regardless of gender.  By offering Shoot to Score classes at your school you have guaranteed that every child will want to participate unlike many dance and karate classes which tend to discourage half the school population due to gender stereotypes.  With most kids participating in soccer at some point, by offering Shoot to Score classes you'll have a guaranteed hit among your parents and prospective families.

Earn extra money while doing less work!! Shoot to Score offers 5% back to the school.  Many schools use this extra money for supplies and/or supplies to place in the teacher resource room.  Shoot to Score is responsible for all the work and sees itself as a compliment to the school rather than “another drain on the school’s resources.”

Build staff loyalty!! All staff kids enjoy Shoot to Score class for free. Staff kids attending class for free is just another perk keeping your staff happy with their job.

Why do parents love Shoot To Score?

Save time and money!!  With the classes offered at the school during the day while you’re at work you won’t have to make extra trips to find and attend soccer or sports program elsewhere.  It saves time and the added cost for gas plus car wear and tear.

Increases family togetherness and bonding!!  Because there’s one less after school sports practice to transport the kids to the family will be able to spend more time together.

Head start to a specific sporting goal!!  Soccer is perhaps the only recognized high school varsity sport that a 2-6 year old can develop skills for and play in a similar fashion to older players while truly enjoying and benefiting from the experience at such an early age.  Therefore, parents are legitimately providing their children with a “head start” towards a viable and legitimate specific sporting goal by involving them in Shoot To Score classes.

School Director FAQ

What is Shoot to Score Little Kickers?

Shoot to Score classes are age specific, fun soccer fitness classes that utilize common children’s games, stories and songs to teach soccer skills and to improve fitness.

Where are Shoot to Score classes held and what time are they?

Shoot to Score classes are held at daycares, preschools, churches and mother’s day out facilities. The times vary depending on what best works for each individual location’s schedule. Many of our classes are offered in the morning, post nap, or as an after school program.

What do you do when it rains or is too hot or too cold for soccer class?

Shoot To Score classes are designed to be offered both indoors and out. We only need a medium to large classroom to perform a great class and all of our balls are “indoor-friendly.” If, for whatever reason, a class does need to be rescheduled we do so at the convenience of the school.

How much is the tuition for Shoot to Score class and how do parents pay?

We see ourselves as experts in soccer and not experts in preschools. Therefore, we do not have a set price and ask the school director to set the price that they see as fair and agreeable for their parents. Additionally, we collect payment from parents in whatever way the school director prefers. Most of our schools as us to take care of all of the administration which is something that we are more than happy to do. Some schools prefer to take care of the administration, as they like to know who is to be in class. We accept checks, money orders, credit cards and payments online.

What does the tuition cover?

There are 3 different options for tuition-

1- Year round /monthly– The monthly tuition covers a weekly half hour class, coached by a Shoot to Score staff coach. A Shoot to Score class will be held each and every single week at your child’s school at the designated time and payments are made on a monthly basis.

2- 6-week program - The 6 week tuition covers a weekly half hour class, coached by a Shoot to Score staff coach. A Shoot to Score class will be held each and every single week at your child’s school at the designated time for 6 weeks and payments are made prior to the class starting.

3- Pre school sponsored program – The school pays for the tuition and decides on the length of the program.

Why is each class only 30 minutes in length?

While they are a lot of fun, Shoot to Score sessions are also mentally and physically demanding. After 30 minutes of Little Kickers young children will have experienced close to optimal levels of exercise and physical stress. As fatigue begins to set in, attention begins to wander and the fun of exercise diminishes. Our goal is to finish classes while fun and enjoyment levels are still very high. This keeps your child motivated to come back for more and maintains enthusiasm for the games and skills we perform in class. Subconsciously, it leaves your child with a positive impression of exercise and soccer for greater skill acquisition and long-term fitness benefits.

All Shoot to Score coaches are professionally trained, background certified soccer coaches. All Shoot to Score coaches are specifically chosen for their ability to work with young children and trained to teach Shoot to Score classes.

Will my school have the same coach every week?

A specific Shoot to Score coach will be assigned to each school and will be the primary coach for that school or location. There may occasionally be a different coach teaching class; however we understand how important it is for your children to build relationships with a coach in order to feel comfortable.

How long do parents sign up for?

Shoot to Score classes are designed to grow with kid’s competency and skill level and is intended to be a year round program. However there are no specific time requirements. Parents may sign up for one month at a time or for longer if chosen. The Shoot to Score program is totally flexible. Kids can come and go on a month-by-month basis. As with all technical skills whether it’s golf, brain surgery, or even soccer, the more consistent a kid’s participation, the greater the results will be now and in the future.

Can the children or the school try a class and see if they like it before signing up?

Absolutely! Please, if there is some uneasiness about whether or a child would enjoy and benefit from Shoot to Score classes, invite them to a trial. If for any reason the child does not like it, they pay nothing.

Do you provide progress reports?

Yes!! Coaches place progress reports in the child’s cubby on a regular basis. This allows parents the opportunity to ask their kids about Shoot To Score and what it does for kids.

Why should I partner with Shoot to Score in addition to the other enrichment programs offered?

We believe that there should be as many enrichment programs offered as it gives parents choice and increases the likelihood of parent satisfaction. However, if you are trying to decide between Shoot to Score and another program we believe that the reasons listed below are good ones for why you should choose Shoot to Score.

Do you offer summer soccer camps or other types of summer soccer programs?

Yes. We offer our Shoot to Score classes year round. We also offer summer camps that are tailored to fit the needs of our partner schools.

Do the kids ever play real soccer games?

Children enrolled in Shoot to Score classes do not play in regular soccer games. However, Shoot to Score provides information on local league play for all children ages 3 to 6. Teams are formed from a nucleus of children who are enrolled at the same school or are close by one another. Our objective is to inform parents of neighborhood teams that will play together in local leagues and form the basis of larger teams as they get older and continue their soccer education.

Why is soccer the best enrichment program option?

Soccer has become a sport played by much of suburban America.  A good majority of the kids at your school will play recreational soccer at some point in their youth.  With soccer becoming a staple of the suburban family’s diet, why not add it to your schools list of program options for parents.  Parents will appreciate the specialty soccer class that encourages kids to enjoy the sport in friendly atmosphere. 

Participants ages 6-11

Basketball 11,014
Soccer 8,646
Baseball 4,400
Softball 4,243
Volleyball 3,767
Football (Tackle) 2,740
Ice Hockey 508

(Soccer Industry of America)

Youth Soccer Keeps On Growing and Growing...

According to soccernova.com:

At the non-professional level, soccer is doing as well as ever, with fields flooded on Saturday mornings with minivans, orange slices and 5-year-olds chasing balls like swarms of honey-hungry bees. The US is already a significant soccer country. According to the Soccer Industry Council of America, more than 17 million Americans play soccer and the number is growing strongly (compared to over 2.9 million active players in England). Soccer is the # 1 youth participation sport in the US with over 3.6 million under 19s registered to play, a number which has been expanding at over 8% per annum since 1990. According to the Soccer Industry Council of America, 18.2 million Americans played organized soccer in 1999, with 13.8 million under 18. Also, high school participation increased by 65 percent between 1987-99, the council said. Among youth 12-17, soccer participation rose 20% to 6 million (from 5 million). While other team sports like softball (-12%); baseball (-7%); volleyball (-3%) and basketball (-2%) experienced losses. SICA reports 41% of all soccer households have incomes $75,000 and above.
www.soccernova.com

Balance, control, and coordination are the three key developmental elements children need.  Soccer is the best vehicle for achieving significant improvement in these three areas.  Soccer demands that kids develop the ability to move both their body and a ball with their feet.  This skill is not something that is easy and takes a supreme amount of eye-foot coordination. 

Eye-foot coordination, as a skill, increases peripheral vision.  Peripheral vision is necessary in all sports thus working to develop this essential ability is beneficial to everyone.  Soccer fits this bill perfectly as eye-foot coordination will make larger improvements in the area of peripheral vision.  These well known athletes spent portions of their youth, training soccer:  Steve Nash NBA, Tim Duncan NBA, Patrick Ewing NBA, Christian Okoye NFL, Morten Anderson NFL, and Bjorn Borg Tennis star.

Soccer also has a unique ability to improve foot dexterity, as most traditional sports do not.  The increase in foot dexterity will help children move along in time to their preferred sport.  Additionally, all kids as young as two have the ability to kick and ball and find it particularly enjoyable.  As you look at options for enrichment programs to be offered to kids, a soccer based program undoubtedly is one that should be offered alongside the other enrichment programs. 

Why is Shoot to Score perfect for your school?

“Shoot To Score” Sources of Motivation

1. Enjoyment and play: This is the primary impetus to activity of a non-survival nature and must be the major emphasis of any pre-school fitness program. John Huizinga (1949) defined play as, “Free activity standing quite consciously outside ordinary life as being non-serious but at the same time absorbing the child intensely and utterly. It is an activity connected with no material interest and no profit can be gained from it”.

Enjoyment is central to the concept of play and must be seen as one of the major priorities of the proficient pre-school teacher. As a motivational factor there is possibly none greater than the enjoyment provided by the satisfaction of the play characteristic. Towards this end the Shoot To Score session for players between the ages of 3 & 6 should include soccer related games, stories, songs and nursery rhymes of a fun nature. The emphasis of these fun elements should be primarily on amusement and pleasure. Should the young child be feeling any pressure from specific skill demands the fun game will help him relax and motivate him towards a more conducive attitude. The adept pre-school teacher will structure pre-school activity sessions for maximum enjoyment on every occasion, thereby ensuring that the young child acquires and retains the skill benefit but learns that the outcome of the activity is not as severe as feared. The “Shoot To Score” approach focuses on the two most fun skills of all team sports, i.e. dribbling and shooting. Because of this the motivation of participating children is increased exponentially.

“It is not enough to make someone learn, you must make them want to learn! “

Author Unknown

With the “Shoot To Score” method it can be legitimately reasoned that players develop much more specific and beneficial levels of fitness, while enjoying the motivational benefits provided by working in the vastly more enjoyable situations that comprise the fun core of this philosophy. Therefore, it can be seen that by encouraging play and enjoyment the skilled pre-school teacher reduces the negatives involved with fear or dislike of practice content and maximizes enjoyment based incentive, making it possible for greater intrinsic learning to occur.

“Why we play as children is not because it is our work or because it is how we learn, though both statements are true; we play because we are wired for joy, it is imperative as human beings.”
John Thorn

The Shoot To Score philosophy is the passionate, fun-filled experience that advances creative skill acquisition and provides the motivational and neuromuscular base that maximizes early physical potential. The most successful soccer country in world history is Brazil. A young Brazilian sociologist, Gilberto Freyre, published a book in 1933 that championed playfulness and mischief as national Brazilian characteristics. In soccer terms the Brazilian took an orderly British game and turned it into a “dance of irrational surprises”. In 1938 he wrote, “Our style of playing football contrasts with the Europeans because of a combination of qualities of surprise, malice, astuteness and agility, and at the same time playfulness, brilliance and individual spontaneity…Our passes…our dummies, our flourishes with the ball, the touch of dance and subversiveness that marks the Brazilian style…seem to show psychologists and sociologists in a very interesting way the roguery and the flamboyance of the Brazilian that today is in every true affirmation of what is Brazil.”

“Surprise, astuteness, agility, playfulness, flamboyance, brilliance, a touch of dance and individual spontaneity” are all essential components of the “Shoot To Score” curriculum.

The following table suggests appropriate fun/learning ratios:

· 3, 4 & 5 year olds - 90% fun and 10% pure technical learning

· 6 & 7 year olds - 70% fun with skill conditions and 30% pure learning

· 8 & 9 year olds - 50 % fun with skill conditions and 50% pure learning

· 10 & 11 year olds - 40% fun with skill conditions and 60% pure learning

· 12& 13 year olds - 30% fun with skill conditions and 70% pure learning

· 14 & 15 year olds - 20% fun with skill conditions and 80 % pure learning

· 16 and above – 10% fun with skill conditions and 90% pure learning/competition

“If we enjoy what we do, we will be successful. If we do not enjoy what we do, we will not be successful. Our success in any occupation depends upon enjoyment. Loving our work makes the difference. He who finds joy in his work, has found success at last”.

Author unknown

2. Movement: This is perhaps the single major component of a young person’s existence therefore it holds a leading position in the ladder of pre-school teaching priorities. Although the majority of motivating factors influencing an individual to participate are learned, one of the foremost conditions that drives a person to physical activity and which directs his interests to the acquisition of physical skill is unlearned, i.e. the need for a certain amount of muscular exercise. The human being derives pleasure from muscular activity because the young body reacts favorably to dynamic exercise. This kinesthetic sensation is a muscular force that has been called muscular sensuousness. The goal here is the immediate one of enjoying movement for movement’s sake. Therefore, simple participation in movement activity provides intrinsic motivation and what the individual does or learns is a by-product of the desire to engage in the activity for its movement satisfaction and rewards.

The “Shoot To Score” coaching philosophy satisfies this need for activity by keeping the pre-school class as dynamic as possible. In this phase optimum use of movement can be achieved by keeping any story, song, nursery rhyme or fun game demonstration and verbal instruction brief, before allowing the players to join in and attempt the highlighted physical skill component. Once the children are actively participating the coach should deal with individual technical refinement on a one-to-one basis so that the rest of the group can maximize the motivational benefits of a dynamic practice.