This week, our Play Smart, Live Strong lesson focused on Persistence and the soccer skill of Juggling!
Players learned that juggling takes patience and practice. The ball won’t always go where you want it to, and that’s part of learning! Every attempt, even when the ball drops, is an opportunity to improve their balance, footwork, coordination, and touch.
The same mindset applies to everyday life. Making healthy choices and staying away from alcohol and marijuana takes commitment, especially when faced with challenges and peer pressure. Just like developing a new soccer skill, building healthy habits happens one decision at a time.
Through discussion and hands-on training, players were reminded that continuing to practice, learning from their mistakes, and never giving up are part of being a great athlete!
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The Play Smart, Live Strong initiative by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association empowers our youth to make healthy choices on and off the field. Together with the Saipan Soccer School, we are using the power of soccer to promote substance-free lifestyles and reduce the risk factors related to underage drinking and marijuana use.
Every week we will share about our practical lessons, group discussion highlights, and soccer skills we learned to support our players as they Play Smart, Live Strong!
