Soccer Shots offers this guide to watching the Women’s World Cup with your kids. The next U.S. game is 7 p.m. Tuesday against Nigeria.
Abby Wambach #20 shakes hands with Alex Morgan #13 of the United States in the second half against Sweden in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 match at Winnipeg Stadium on Friday in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Look for Sportsmanship: Watch for players helping each other up from the ground, shaking hands, etc.
Teamwork: Players making passes, working together to stop the other team.
Encouragement: Players cheering for each other, giving high fives.
Determination: A team that continues to try hard even when the other team is winning.
Courage: A brave play or trying something even though it might not work.
Leadership: A captain or other teammate who helps others.
Ways to keep kids engaged:
Count the number of high-fives given in a game.
Count the number of passes in a row.
Find the bravest play of the game.
During halftime you can:
Play Don’t Touch the Maple Trees, in honor of the site of this World Cup:
Set up four cones of four plastic bottles (maple trees). Try to dribble the boll around the trees and not touch the sticky trees. If they do touch the tree, they can clean it up by doing three toe-touches on top of the ball, alternating feet.
For Round 2: Try to go faster.
For Round 3: Pretend your ball is a pancake and try to knock off the trees with the pancake to get the most syrup.
