Things To Consider In Picking A Sport
There are three things parents can do to make their child's introduction to youth sports a positive experience:
- Don't support
programs that encourage lots of competition for youngsters. Look
instead for programs that are committed to teaching children skills
they can use. It's easy to put together programs that match up teams of
children and have them play competitive games against each other, such
as in soccer or baseball. It is much harder to take a group of
ten-year-olds and teach them how to play soccer or baseball well. Yes,
part of the learning should involve playing games . But do the kids really need to keep score to learn?
- Look
for sports activities that your child will enjoy. Parents often tend to
put children in what I call the "Big 3" sports (soccer, baseball,
basketball) because there are lots of youth programs out there in those
sports. But your child might enjoy a less well-known sport such as
kayaking, table tennis, archery, judo, or rugby. Yes, you have to
search a bit harder to find alternative sports programs. But there are
lots of them out there.
- Consider
whether your under-12 child needs to participate in competitive sports
at all. What do you hope they get out of playing? Fitness, fun, and
perseverance are answers I often hear from parents. Perhaps your child
can meet these needs in other ways. How about your family going for
long walks or runs together in the early morning or evenings? Why not
learn how to bicycle together? Would you take classes with your child
in rock climbing, swimming, or rowing? Such family-focused physical
activities help children stay fit while having fun, and have the added
benefit of giving the whole family an activity they can enjoy and share
together.
Competitive sports programs are a
big part of the growing-up experience for many children. But as
parents, we should not accept current sports programs as being "best"
for our children without examining the effect they have on our lives.
There is lots of room for improvement.
Teaser title:
What to Look For in A Picking A Sport
Teaser text:
There are :(1) look for a program that emphasizes skill development over winning; (2) look for sports activities your child will enjoy; and (3) ask whether your under-12 child needs to participate in competitive sports at all.