Soccer in diapers: Too soon?

It was time for soccer practice. Moms and dads laced cleats, adjusted shinguards and grabbed water bottles. Make that sippy cups. These athletes are toddlers — some as young as 18 months old.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, the kids were participating in Soccer Tots, believed to be the only soccer program in Omaha catering to children that young. It encourages kids to learn how to pass, shoot and move the ball, but most of all, it stresses trying.

Longtime soccer coach Andy Benkis started the program last fall. It's low-key — the kids don't play actual games.

But some child development experts think toddlers are too young for organized sports.

“It's totally unnecessary for a kid to do a soccer class at 18 months,” said Claire Lerner, director of parenting resources at Zero to Three, a national nonprofit organization that promotes the healthy development of infants and toddlers. She advocates more free-style play.

Doctors and others are increasingly concerned that American children are too fat. This month, first lady Michelle Obama started her “Let's Move” initiative to combat childhood obesity.

Since 1980, the incidence of childhood obesity has tripled. About 32 percent of the country's children and adolescents are obese or overweight, according to government statistics. Twenty percent of children ages 6 to 11 and 18 percent of those from 12 to 19 are obese. That increases their risk of numerous health problems and makes them more likely to become obese adults.

In addition, many parents believe they must put their kids in club sports programs when they're young to give them an edge for high school teams and college scholarships.

Given those factors, many parents may be confused about what is right when it comes to exercise and their young children.

Benkis said his program is a way for kids to have fun, expend energy, develop motor skills and cultivate a lifelong interest in sports and aerobic activity through learning soccer techniques.

Soccer Tots conducts a class once a week at the University of Nebraska's sports dome. Nearly 20 toddlers participated in the first session. That number doubled for the second session. The program's third session starts March 7. Benkis expects to see the same growth in attendance.

Two-year-old Mya Lnenicka of Omaha is an enthusiastic participant.

On a recent Sunday, she grabbed a blue soccer ball and ran toward her “team.” The bashful, brown-eyed, 3-foot girl practiced kicking the ball into a netted goal. Though they're sometimes divided into groups, the toddlers don't compete and don't keep score.

That Sunday, “Coach Greg” introduced himself to the tots and their parents, then led the 20 children in songs and wiggle dances. The class was dialed up a notch when the kids went to one end of the arena and dribbled their soccer balls across a section of the field in a game called “Monkey Cage.” An imaginary gorilla chases them and they get to throw soccer balls at him for revenge.

The kids don't know it, but they're working on their overhead throwing — a soccer technique.

Some kids' eyes wander, but most are on Coach Greg. Halfway through practice, the kids get a water break. Parents hand out sippy cups, change diapers and wipe runny noses.

When they regroup, the coach demonstrates how he wants them to pick up miniature orange cones with their feet.

Mya kicked her cone. She wobbled on her left foot, then on her right. She finally bent down and slid the cone on her foot, then grinned and placed it on her head like a party hat.

“It makes me happy when she accomplishes something,” mom Jamie said. “It's just that look she has on her face.”

Soccer Tots has taught Mya to share and take turns, her mom said. She's also becoming independent, although she needs help dribbling.

“Some people say tots are too young for soccer. They're not,” Jamie said. “It's not hard-core. It's just us spending time with our kids.”

Phone calls and a Web search indicated that no other Omaha or Council Bluffs soccer league had programs for toddlers. A few leagues have tried working with 3-year-olds but have stopped. The YMCA, however, still takes children as young as 3.

But kids don't need organization to be active, and being active is the most important thing, said Lerner, the parenting resource expert. If parents, coaches and teams push a child too hard too young, the child could hate the sport or have lower self-esteem, some believe.

“There are many ways for kids to get those skills, coordination and balance. Go to a playground and play with a ball,” she said. “Moving around and exploring your body is critical in all areas of a person's development. It builds strong bodies, makes kids confident about their social abilities. The question is how do you encourage it and which activities do you try.”

Lerner said 18-month-olds aren't logical thinkers and can't understand the rules of the game.

That doesn't matter, Benkis said.

“We don't expect them to know the rules,” he said. “We're teaching them basic skills.”

He said the program helps toddlers improve dexterity and social, emotional and creative skills. Sports-related benefits include teamwork, coordination, adult interaction and good sportsmanship.

Regardless of the program or the debate over early organized sports, parents are wise to spend time in exercise with their children, an Omaha doctor said.

Many of us grew up and didn't have these types of leagues, “and we turned out all right,” said Dr. David Finken, a University of Nebraska Medical Center pediatrician.

“Kids just want your time and attention,” he said. “That's what really motivates them. Get down and interact with them.”

Contact the writer:

444-1075, j.loza@owh.com

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