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Dick Wilson former executive director of AYSO In Life Lessons from Soccer , nothing is left to chance....You will learn Dr. Fortanasce´s keys to making your child a success. You will learn not only about your child, but also about yourself and how to be the parent who makes a difference....Read on and learn the life lessons that will make your experience in soccer all you hoped it would be. Informationen zum Autor Vincent Fortanasce, MD , a nationally acclaimed psychiatrist, neurologist, and bioethicist, practices at Los Angeles County Hospital, USC. A former Olympic athlete and an experienced soccer and Little League coach, he lives in Pasadena, California. Klappentext Parent-tested and AYSO-approved, this book is filled with advice and anecdotes for soccer parents who want their children to know that soccer isn't just about winning, but also about life's long-term goals. Leseprobe Chapter One: Dreams The 1st Life Lesson: A Child Without a Dream Is Like a Boat Without a Sail Seven-year-old Kathy beamed a smile that could have brightened the rainiest of days. "Mom, Mom!" she cried out excitedly. Her mother was pouring milk into a mug with a picture of Madonna on the side. "What is it?" she asked. "I know what I want to be when I grow up! I want to be like Mia Hamm!" Her mother sighed. "She's not another rock star, is she?" "No, Mom, she's the greatest soccer player ever! I'm gonna be like her, you watch." Her words were spoken with the absolute certainty that only fantasy-laden children can muster. "Can I get a soccer ball and a poster of her maybe? I'll clean my room and vacuum forever. I promise, I promise." Kathy's mom, a corporate lawyer, sighed again and, in the same tone a jury foreman might use to declare a defendant guilty, said, "No. Stop filling your head with childish dreams. You've never even played soccer before, how can you be the greatest player? Eat breakfast, finish your homework, and get ready for school." Suddenly a chill wind swept the sunshine from Kathy's face and clouds covered the twinkle in her eyes. "Don't you realize it's only study and hard work that will help you make something of your life? It's a degree you need, not a poster!" With a few simple words, both Kathy and her dream had been crushed. Dreams Dreams are an inspiration to children. Yes, they are childhood dreams -- to be a professional soccer player, a firefighter, a rock star, or an actress -- but children see these people on TV and it's exciting to them. It's what they talk about at school. Most important, dreams provide motivation, purpose, and direction for a child, no matter how unlikely the dreams are. Nurture the dreams and they will bring spirit, determination, and pleasure to your child. After all, success ultimately is determined by the joy in life. Those childhood dreams will change with age, just as eight-year-old boys hate girls and then grow to love them at eighteen. Today's Dream May Be Tomorrow's Reality Sam wanted to be a soccer player like the great Brazilian player Pelé. But Sam was the smallest in his class, slow, and not very skillful with a soccer ball. However, his parents never wavered. They brought him to every North American Soccer League game, especially when the New York Cosmos and Pelé were playing. They helped Sam pin a giant poster of Pelé on his bedroom wall and Sam worked hard to play as well as he could. Ten years later, Sam's dream changed. He wanted to be a doctor. He went after that dream with the same zeal that he had pursued his dream of being a soccer player. He graduated medical school near the top of his class. His parents taught him as a child to follow his dream. They thought he could do whatever he set his mind to do. And, as a result, so did Sam. Too many parents stamp out childhood dreams with adult realiti...
