The soccer unit At John Lyman School usually starts in the beginning of the school year.  We focus on the fundamentals of soccer while working on developing our physical fitness levels.  Each student is encouraged to work at their own pace.  The skills that are developed are dribbling, kicking with all parts of the foot, passing, and learning about being a goalie.  At every grade level new rules are added each year so before they leave John Lyman school every student should have a good idea about the rules of soccer.  
 
Soccer is a worldwide sport.  It is very popular in so many different countries.  Every four years there is a huge event called the World Cup.  Throughout the four years leading up to the World Cup, teams from all across the world must qualify to participate in the world cup.  Once the teams have made it to the World Cup they will all play in a round robin event with the top two teams in each division making it to the next round. Teams move on from round to round eventually crowing a winner.  The United States has never won the World Cup but they have made it to the next round several times. So far only seven nations have won the world cup.  Brazil has won the tournament 5 times, Italy has four wins with the most recent being in 2006, Germany has three titles, Uruguay and Argentina twice, and England and France have won it once.  In 1991, FIFA (Federation International de Football Association) organized a women’s World Cup.  The United States and Germany have both won the championship twice while Norway has won it one time.  Germany has won it the last two times.  
 
Here are some things you can do at home to become a better soccer player.
 
1.  Dribble the ball around the outside of the house.
2.  Pass the ball against a wall.
3.  Throw the ball off your roof and then head the ball back up.
4.  Practice a two hand throw across your yard.
5.  Juggle the ball with your head, knees, and feet.  Count your record.
6.  When dribbling, try to use all parts of your feet and pull the ball back in all directions.  
7.  With a friend, try to dribble past one another.
8.  Throw the ball off your roof and then control it with your body and don’t let the ball get away from you when it comes down.