Smarty Sponsor: SoccerTots

By Rachel H

If you have never heard of Soccer Tots, you are in for a treat! This is such a wonderful program. SoccerTots is a child development program for kids ages 18 months to 6 years old. It is a child physical development program that uses a variety of fun games to delight and engage kids in physical activity. Classes are professionally designed to develop motor skills, promote physical fitness and create self confidence. Soccer Tots stresses a non-competitive environment and promotes fun above all else. The kids have no idea that they are actually developing skills during this time when they are having so much fun! Instructor to student ration is kept small to maximize individual development.

The best part is that no matter where you may live in the Triad, they have a location that will be convenient for you! Classes are held at Proehlific Park, The Winston Salem Soccerplex and The Greensboro Sportsplex. Even better, they offer free trial classes. So instead of signing up your child and then having him cry on the sideline all season after you already paid the bill, you can test things out and see if he really likes it!

SoccerTots has pro-rated fees, sibling discounts, and your child can start anytime. Classes are based on availability and are offered at various times; mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends. Classes are starting after Labor Day, but there is no deadline to register. If you sign up late, they will just pro-rate the cost. You can also inquire about setting up your own class for groups. What more could a busy family ask for?

For your 5 and 6 year-olds, there will be a Soccertots league for the 5 and 6 year-olds this winter at all three locations on Saturday mornings. It will include 20 minutes of fun games and then 20 minutes of a soccer game. It is a little different from the Soccertots classes.

The SoccerTots Curriculum is designed to first introduce the fun, which gives kid the motivation, then add challenges. For example, teaching kids to dribble a ball from one hoop to the other as fast as they can is a great exercise to learn ball control. Simply instructing them to do it results in an unmotivated, distracted effort. However, this curriculum, first introduces a game with a fun objective and then the ball is incorporated after the kids know the game and understand the fun. SoccerTots has found that to optimize skill-building, the indirect approach works much faster and better than the traditional direct approach for older kids and adults.

Here are some things that are taught in classes:
• Leadership and self-esteem
• Aerobic and non-aerobic activity
• Agility
• Foot eye coordination
• Soccer concepts and technique
• Motor skills
• Strength building
• Proper stretching
• Educational themes
• Non-competitive atmosphere
• Fun, Fun, Fun

Nothing proves the success of a program more than a mother’s approval. This quote sums it all up, “We can see the progression of skills by doing various exercises – not just kicking the ball around. It is great to see how the children advance a little bit but not too much too fast. The class is well organized and keeps it fun. We have been very impressed with how the classes are taught and really enjoy coming every week."

If you like what you have read, be sure to check out www.soccertots.net for class schedules and to register. You can also call 336-375-7728. Classes are starting after Labor Day, but there is no deadline to register. If you sign up late, they will just pro-rate the cost. Bryn Heinicke is the new director, who is always available to answer questions that parents have and wants to make the child’s experience the best possible. You can reach Bryn at 336-375-7728 or by email at bryn.heinicke@gmail.com . One mother told her that of all the different activities her 3 year old son has done, Soccertots is what he asked his mom to do again. Kids know what they like!

SoccerTots also offers birthday parties and you can read more about these on our TSP Birthday Party Directory, which will be up next week. Soccer parties are held at all locations. You can call Bryn for the different packages offered and to set those up.

SoccerTots Camps are also offered in the summertime, so keep this in mind next year!

TSP is thrilled to introduce the SoccerTots program to our readers and we hope that you will call for a free trial class and sign your little one up this season. Soccer is the perfect game for developing young bodies for any athletic endeavor!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM