Soccer players of all abilities and all ages from across the metro St. Louis area will unite to kick off the St. Louis soccer season and attempt to break a world record at the first-ever Great St. Louis Soccer Dribble.

Players of all ages are invited to participate as the group attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the most people dribbling soccer balls at the same time. Mayor Francis Slay is the Honorary Chairman of the event.

Soccer players from across the metro St. Louis area will unite to kick off the St. Louis soccer season and attempt to break a world record at the first-ever Great St. Louis Soccer Dribble. Players of all ages are invited to participate as the group attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the most people dribbling soccer balls at the same time. Mayor Francis Slay is the Honorary Chairman of the event and will serve as MC.

When I was a kid, I was, shall we say, sports challenged. You name the sport, I was bad at it. Soccer was about the only one I felt remotely confident playing. It’s a straightforward game — get the ball into the opponent’s goal. And it didn’t require the ability to keep the ball in the air or get it through a hoop.

Perhaps that’s why soccer is considered the world’s sport. People around the globe love to play soccer.

Seven years ago, soccer enthusiasts Tom Michler, Tim Tettambel, and Tom McCarthy started New Dimensions, a non-profit organization to help kids play. Many of the kids who participate are refugees from other countries, but everyone is welcome. The organization is 100 percent volunteer and participation is free or low-cost.

I’ve always thought myself to be a pretty mellow sports fan. I love watching sports, I just don’t love it. Going to Busch Stadium for me is really an excuse to eat hot dogs and get a tan. I think the last time I really got passionate – and by passionate, I mean jumping on a table and knocking over a round of beers – over a game was the Illinois-Arizona Elite 8 matchup in 2005.

But when it’s your own kid, you become a fanatic.

As I sat in my lawn chair during my 4-year-old’s first soccer game, I knew I had to keep my emotions in check. While I cheered MJ and her teammates on, I eventually had to clamp my hand over my mouth to stop myself from playing sideline coach or admonishing the referee for failing to eject the dirty-playin’ preschooler who tripped my kid.

To ensure I remain the supportive – not obnoxious – parent in the stands, I turned to Dr. David Shields via e-mail to get his insights on what makes a good sports parent. Shields is an expert in healthy competition – he’s an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, author of True Competition: A Guide to Pursuing Excellence in Sports & Society and founder of TrueCompetition.Org, a nonprofit dedicated to providing the insights, skills and approaches necessary to reclaim competition as a place of excellence, ethics and enjoyment.

If putting on a fresh soccer jersey and cleaning the mud off their cleats is your kids' idea of dressing up, then you probably know that the World Cup is quickly approaching: The first game is tomorrow, June 11. Celebrate these action-packed games by taking your little David Beckhams to the Downtown St. Louis Watch Party.

The festivities kick off on Old Post Office Plaza with a free showing of “The Game of Their Lives” at 9 p.m. tomorrow. Filmed in St. Louis, this movie tells the heroic story of the 1950 USA soccer team’s shocking upset over top-seeded England. Food and beverages will be available, but coolers and glass containers are not permitted.

Two weeks ago, I interviewed Tina Ellertson of Saint Louis Athletica for my series on mom athletes. I found her to be everything we hope our professional athletes are – she was motivating, warm and funny.

Are your kids crazy about soccer? Keep them inspired at a women’s professional soccer game with the St. Louis Athletica. The season kicks off April 11 with a game against the FC Gold Pride at the St. Louis Soccer Park in Fenton.