TopTekkers is proven to make anyone a better soccer player, but young players using the app need to make it part of their routine.
Perhaps Greek philosopher Aristotle put it most succinctly when he said: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.”
In this article, we take a look at the research and advice surrounding positive habit-forming, and how it can be applied to TopTekkers and soccer.
How long does it take to form a habit?
A study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, shows that at least 2 months (or about 66 days, on average) is the time it takes to successfully form a new habit.
The Importance of starting healthy habits at an early age
The earlier we introduce healthy habits, the more likely these habits will stick for years to come.
It can be easier and more constructive to start young when teaching good habits, especially considering that children develop habits by age nine(link to research: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01926187.2014.935684#.VO-XOXzF_Td). Both bad and healthy habits can be hard to break.
Healthy habits like TopTekkers are best cemented in your child’s early years - the sooner you start, the sooner it becomes second nature, and the sooner your child will improve as a soccer player.
How do we encourage TopTekkers to become a habit?
On TopTekkers, Head of Women’s Elite Performance at the Irish FA Alfie Wylie said: “Make it a habit every day, celebrate the small wins, and celebrate yourself.”
TopTekkers is designed to be fun, and our research shows that children agree - 91% of children enjoy using the app - but is that enough to form a habit that leads to the long-term usage required to get the most out of it:
- Be consistent
A TopTekkers schedule would be useful - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons for example? Cement the task as part of your child’s routine alongside school, healthy eating habits, household chores, etc - whatever suits you and your child. - Take advantage of their enthusiasm
You’re using TopTekkers because your child loves soccer, right? Lots of children love to see their progress represented in the app’s trophies and leaderboards. Celebrate positive results and trophies while offering encouragement when it’s not quite going right. - Teach them to do it right
Children get the most out of TopTekkers - and ultimately, soccer - if they are practising the skills correctly. Every challenge in TopTekkers comes with an easy-to-understand tutorial video that’s great for kids, but also really useful for parents who aren’t trained in soccer themselves. Parents should use these tutorial videos to help rectify anywhere their child is going wrong when practising techniques. - Be patient
TopTekkers won’t become a habit overnight. Like learning a new language or any new skill, the first few weeks are key to making the behaviours required to get the most out of TopTekkers habitual. Keeping up the consistency until your child regularly starts to see positive results that they are achieving themselves, is key to becoming a better soccer player.
The parent plays a vital role in the progression of their child’s soccer development, but TopTekkers is the app that shows you how to channel your time and effort when it comes to helping your child become a better soccer player.
What happens when the habits become embedded?
Research into 1,000 users of TopTekkers showed that, when the players behaviour started to become habitual (typically between 6-8 weeks) we saw that the scores that players recorded became more consistent. This is perhaps the best indicator of their improvement. As the saying goes, ‘Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong’.
Find out how with a free trial today, www.toptekkers.club
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