Why Learning to Move Comes Before Learning to Play

When most parents sign their kids up for soccer, the first thing they picture is a ball — a field full of players chasing, passing, and scoring goals.
But before the passes, before the goals, there’s something far more important every young athlete needs to learn first: how to move.

The Foundation: Physical Literacy

Physical literacy is the ability to move your body with control, balance, and confidence. It’s jumping, running, stopping, turning, skipping — all the things we often take for granted but form the foundation of every sport.
When kids learn these movements early, they don’t just become “better athletes” — they become more confident human beings.

It’s amazing to watch what happens when a child finally realizes,“I can do this.”
They start to take more risks, explore their limits, and enjoy the game more because they’re not worried about keeping up. They’re free to play.

Soccer as the Classroom

Soccer happens to be one of the best classrooms for developing movement.
Each session naturally includes running, changing direction, balance, coordination, and reaction — all disguised as play. That’s why, at Ottawa Blizzards, we focus heavily on movement first, soccer second.

When a player learns how to move well, everything else becomes easier — their passes become sharper, their first touches smoother, and their understanding of the game deeper. They feel stronger, faster, and more capable.

Confidence Beyond the Field

The best part? Those lessons don’t stay on the field.
A child who grows in confidence through movement starts walking taller in the classroom, at home, and in life. They learn the value of practice, patience, and discipline — without even realizing it.

And that’s the magic of sport when it’s done right: it develops the body and the mind together.
It builds character just as much as coordination.

The Blizzard Way

At Ottawa Blizzards, our coaches don’t just teach drills — we build movement foundations that empower kids to express themselves through sport. Whether a player dreams of playing competitively or just wants to have fun with friends, we make sure every child learns how to move with confidence.

Because before you can play well, you have to feel capable of playing at all.

At Ottawa Blizzards, we believe movement is the first step to mastery — and confidence is the key to lifelong love for the game.
👉 Explore our youth programs here.