There are a lot of parents who believe that their child is the next best pro-footballer. A great many of these children may have natural talent but remember that encouraging training and exercise is going to be just as important as natural flair. The flame of talent is very likely to go out if not fuelled correctly. So if you want to help your child and give him a chance of becoming a football star then there are a number of things that you can do.

1.The first thing that you are going to need to do is encourage them to play football on a regular basis. This starts simply by going out and having a kick around on a Saturday morning. A parent is the first and most important role model in a child's life and seeing you running around with a ball and having fun will create a lasting impression. It is important to make it fun, though. Shouting at your kid when he misses a goal isn't going to help him develop a healthy interest in the game. Support and encouragement will help to develop a love of the game.

2.Encourage exercise off the pitch. This may be more difficult to fit into a busy lifestyle. But if you want your child to be a good sportsman, you are going to have to get off that couch and go to the gym yourself, so that at the very least you can keep up with your child on the pitch. You also need to encourage other sports like running or swimming. Football uses such a vast number of skills that you are going to need your child to be a good sporting all-rounder. Encourage all sports in equal measures.

3.Try and get your child into some extra football clubs in the area. There are usually junior football teams in every village, town and city. Not only will this get the child even more involved with the game, but it will also allow him to make friends outside of school. This wider network of friends, and the socialising skills it encourages, will be invaluable. Make sure that the child sees the whole thing as fun. Stress that although winning may be important, so is the taking part.

4.Buy your child a decent football kit and decent boots. Fashion is very important to children, so buying your child a Prostar football kit is going to encourage your child to play football because they will feel comfortable and stylish both on and off the pitch. Apart from the fashion and confidence boost that a new football kit can give a child, there is also a safety issue involved with buying your child a decent kit. Nothing will put a child off more than ill-fitting football boots that cause blisters.

By following these steps, you can start to encourage your child to develop his or her potential. Encourage your child to play football as much as possible, in school, out of school, and with you in the evenings. Encourage all sports so that he can become a good all-rounder and develop the necessary skills and physical ability. Make sure that he/she has a decent kit, that it's safe and that the boots don't hurt.

Once you've done all of these things, you can teach him the subtleties of the game by watching matches on TV, and further encourage his footballing enthusiasm by buying posters for his wall or taking him to professional matches at his favourite club. Immerse your child in the beautiful game, and they may just become a major part of it in years to come.