Win a soccer game by more than five points and you lose

[Gant Grimes]

We start here with U5 3v3-no goalie. As you grow older, you add players and the fields and goals get larger. We don't have goalies until U7 5v5. Smaller sides are much better for skill development IMO.

[Shane Skowron]

What they need is more birthday party and less physics class.

[Aaron C Bennett]

Originally Posted by Derek Weaver

Maybe it's soccer that's the problem, not the kids losing.

I think teaching young kids touch/flag rugby is a much better way to up general athleticism, foster a competitive spirit and let them see that fitness can be fun. I also think it fits more with the American sports mentality of old. The old adage is, "Rugby is a hooligan's sport played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentleman's sport played by hooligans." I think the sense of fair play and general sportsmanship that is promoted in rugby is possibly more important to the little tykes than the actual athletic skills.

[Grissim Connery]

Originally Posted by Aaron C Bennett

I think teaching young kids touch/flag rugby is a much better way to up general athleticism, foster a competitive spirit and let them see that fitness can be fun. I also think it fits more with the American sports mentality of old. The old adage is, "Rugby is a hooligan's sport played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentleman's sport played by hooligans." I think the sense of fair play and general sportsmanship that is promoted in rugby is possibly more important to the little tykes than the actual athletic skills.

i don't know actual rugby rules, but as a really young kid, football rules were really confusing to me. soccer was easier to comprehend

ex) soccer
coach: kick the ball into the goal
me: aight

[Aaron C Bennett]

While not quite that simple, the rules for touch rugby are fairly simple.
- You can't throw the ball forward
- If you are tagged, you have to stop
- you score by putting the ball down in the tryzone
- If you go out of bounds, the other team gets the ball
There are no scrums, lineouts, mauls, rucks, kicking, etc. It's actually simpler than the vast majority of games played in any given gym class in America. If you'd like to take a look at it, here's the link for gym teachers who want to incorporate it into their curriculum:
http://www.vyra.org/wp-content/uploa...esentation.pdf
More info:
http://www.rookierugbyclub.com/home
http://rugby.viadesto.com/goto/Rookie_Rugby_Start