To Play Well, You Need the Right Equipment

Being a soccer coach is a great way to be involved with the children in your community. Whether you are a volunteer or work for a league, you have the chance to help kids reach their full potential in their favorite sport. Coaching kids requires you to always be at the top of your game, and you'll find that using innovative equipment and coaching techniques will help keep them interested in developing their skills. As you start setting up for the season, consider these four benefits of using a light-up soccer ball to ignite your team's passion for doing their best.

Get Kids Motivated to Practice

After a long day at school or doing other activities, you may find that your team shows up already worn out. While this can make it hard to get them to listen to your coaching, it doesn't have to be this way. Pulling out a light-up ball is that unexpected touch that gets kids to pay attention. They'll have so much fun playing with the glowing ball that it won't even feel like work to them anymore.

Tap Into the Players' Sensory Needs

You may have children with special needs on your team. Children with high sensory needs may show signs that they need more input, such as by wandering off during the practice session. A ball that lights up in a cool color can provide the visual stimulation that they need to pay attention. You'll also find that children with visual impairments find the glowing ball easier to spot in the field.

Extend the Length of Your Practice Sessions

Many kid's soccer practices take place in the evening after school. While this allows more people to participate, you may run into the common problem of it getting dark before you finish your practice session. Instead of cutting the practices short, you can just pull out your light-up ball. Consider using glow necklaces to help the kids identify their teammates during scrimmages, and you can throw some LED lights around the goals. Playing in the dark also adds an element of fun that turns practice sessions into a special event.

Improve Relationships Among Teammates

Building strong relationships among the members of your team helps them with skills such as passing the ball to each other. For this reason, coaches often host parties to help the kids on their team bond. Consider starting or ending the season with a glow party that includes playing a game of light-up soccer. Your team will love having the chance to run around the park after dark, and you'll see them begin to form friendships that enhance their soccer experience.

To learn more about light-up soccer balls, contact a sporting goods store.