Kids everywhere fall in love with soccer through pickup games. Here's how to give your child that gift.
I didn’t learn to love football from a great coach or a fancy training program. I fell in love with it the same way kids in every country outside the USA do: through pickup soccer.
Visit any country that regularly produces the best players in the world and you’ll see pickup games everywhere. Literally everywhere. The youngest kids play on the streets and in playgrounds. Young men and adults play on “fields” in every neighborhood. I put fields in quotes because what counts as a field in most places wouldn’t count as one in the USA.
Pickup is where young players develop their love, creativity and passion for the game. They learn the rules and tactics without realizing they’re learning. And it’s in pickup that truly talented players prove themselves and first get noticed by their community.
If you’re a parent or coach of kids who are into the game, one of the best gifts you can give them is regular pickup.
Find a game
Look for pickup games in your area and take your kids.
Ask your coach
If you can’t find pickup near you, ask your coach to organize one. Coaches who truly care about player development understand how important pickup is. They’ll gladly invite players, find space and set up small fields. The key: the coach shouldn’t coach during pickup. Just organize, and enjoy watching.
Or organize it yourself
Keep it simple and informal. Invite a few of your child’s teammates to a nearby park. Help set up the field, then let the kids know it’s their time. They pick the teams, and they referee each other.
Then get out of the way
While they play, don’t step in. Unless someone is seriously hurt or something truly out of line happens, stay back. Let them figure out how to play, how to settle disagreements, which moves work and which need more practice.
Pickup is a cornerstone of youth soccer. We can all do our part to make sure more kids start their journey by playing pickup and letting their imagination for the game run wild.