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Choosing a Sport For Your Child

If you are a parent who wants to get your child involved in sports, its important to pick an activity that is a good match for your child. Here are some tips to help you pick a sport that fits your child’s interests and abilities:

  • Start by exposing your child to various sports. You can do this at first by watching different sports on TV. If your child thinks a certain  sports seem interesting, take note of things like whether your child prefers team sports (basketball, soccer) or individual sports (golf, gymnastics).
  • When it comes to selecting a sport, body type matters. A petite body type is ideal for gymnastics, while a tall frame is better for basketball.
  • Once you have narrowed down to two or three sports that your child enjoys, enroll them in lessons or a league so that they can get experience at those sports. Keep it to one sport per season and see which one they have the best aptitude at and enjoy the most.
  • Of course, before you sign up your child for lessons in a sport, take them to the doctor for a thorough physical. Let the doctor know what sport(s) your child will be participating in.
  • Think outside of the box when it comes to selecting  a sport for your child. Activities such as fencing and martial arts count as sports, so don’t lock your child into traditional sports like baseball or soccer.
  • Don’t pressure your child to take up a sport just because you played it when you were their age. Maybe you were great at basketball, but your child does not have the body type or interest to excel at that sport, and would rather play another one instead.
Filed Under: Sports, Training Tagged With: , ,

Benefits of Sports for Kids

Participation in sports is beneficial for kids in several ways. Young people who play a sport tend to better academically; participation in sports also improves social skills. This is in addition to the physical benefits of playing a sport. Some kids will want to be a part of a competitive league; but if not, a city league or church-based group can provide opportunities for your child and the benefits are much the same:

  • First and foremost, sports are fun! It’s helpful for kids to engage in an activity with youth who have similar interests.
  • For girls in particular, playing a sport results in a better body image and high self-esteem. Staying active reduces the chance of becoming overweight.
  • Studies have shown that girls who play a sport are less likely to get pregnant as teens, and boys and girls who play sports are not as likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
  • Engaging in physical activity is an excellent way for kids to combat stress and ward off depression. Exercise releases endorphins that improve mood.
  • Playing sports fosters discipline in youth. It teaches them the importance of setting goals and then putting in the practice required to reach those goals.
  • Kids who play sports can apply that discipline to their studies — playing sports increases a child’s chance of graduating from high school.
  • Playing sports creates good sports. Kids learn that you can’t win them all and they learn how to maintain a positive attitude, even in defeat.
  • Kids who play sports are more likely to remain active as adults. Physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight throughout life.
  • Playing sports helps a child to develop coordination and they also learn how to think strategically. Strategic thinking is a skill that can be helpful on or off the court.
  • By participating in a sport, kids learn the importance of teamwork and develop leadership skills.
Filed Under: Coaching, Sports Tagged With: , ,

Sports Camps for Kids

Sports camps are a way for kids to receive in-depth instruction in a team or individual sport. While some kids may participate in a sports camp strictly for recreation, others may enroll in a sports camp as a way to further their training in a particular sport.

Sports camps are available for team sports like football and soccer, as well as for individual sports such as tennis and gymnastics. Some sports camps are day camps, where kids attend for several hours each day, just as they would attend school during the academic year. Other sports camps are residential, meaning that children stay in a dorm for the duration of the camp. At a residential sports camp, there will be adult supervision 24/7. Some sports camps may last a week or two, others may extend for several weeks during the summer months.

Many sports camps will offer online registration, parents can simply fill out a form and submit payment to secure their child’s place in a sports camp. Sports camps will typically offer sessions for different age groups or experience levels. In some sports, such as gymnastics or tennis, an “elite” session may be offered — these sessions are geared towards young athletes who are highly talented and might qualify for professional or Olympic-level competition.

Representatives from college athletic departments sometimes attend sports camps in order to scout out talent. If a child makes an impression on a college scout, this may lead to an athletic scholarship once the child finishes high school.

Filed Under: Coaching, Sports Tagged With: , ,

Backstroke, Going Through the Motions

Backstroke

Image via Wikipedia

Backstroke is one of the easiest competitive swimming stoke because the head is never fully submerged. The swimmer can breathe throughout the whole event therefore conserving their energy. At the beginning of the event the swimmer starts in the water at the block. There is a poll across the front of the block to hold on to. The swimmer will hold onto the poll and bring their head to almost touch the poll while there feet are flat against the side of the pool. When pushing off the swimmer will let go of the poll and put their arms so there head is in between their biceps and kick off with there legs.

During this stroke the swimmer is lying on the back while performing swift movements with the legs and arms. The swimmer will be kicking the legs back and forth at different times so that the legs are kicking perfectly opposite each other. This kick is known as the flutter kick due to the way it looks when it is being performed correctly. This kick allows the swimmer to move through the water more swiftly and more quickly. If the kick was performed in the wrong way it would result in the body dragging through the water and the swimmer to slow down.

With the swimmers arms they are performing a sort of windmill motion but the arms are moving opposite of each other. While the arms are doing this, the hands are flat palmed and the fingers are held tightly together. When the swimmer does this it allows them to move more quickly through the water. This movement allows the hand to move more water, which allows the body to move through the water.

Filed Under: Coaching, Sports Tagged With: , ,
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