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IF VIDEO GAMES ARE your children’s idea of healthy physical activity, you may be contemplating pulling them away from the TV or computer and enrolling them in sports. At the same time, you’re probably contemplating whether your kids are mature enough to participate in sports and how to choose the best sport to match their abilities and personalities.
There’s no question that playing sports is good for kids. Studies have shown that kids who play sports do better in school and have better social skills than their non-participating peers. Kids in sports are also less likely to start smoking or abuse drugs or alcohol.
Plus, kids who play sports learn valuable life lessons, such as the importance of teamwork, fair play, and good sportsmanship. The feedback young players get from their coaches and teammates helps boost self-esteem, confidence, and communication skills. Of course, there are myriad physical health benefits to be gained from training for and participating in sports, as well.
But all of these benefits aside, kids who get involved in sports simply have a heck of a lot of fun if they choose the right activity. So how can parents make sure they’re getting their kids off on the right foot in sports?
Don’t rush it
Anyone who has ever watched a preschool T-ball game knows that not all kids are ready to begin team sports at the same age. Little Amelia may be able to whack the ball out of the park and round the bases like a pro while Tommy spends most of the game sitting cross-legged in the outfield, picking blades of grass, staring at the sky, or watching butterflies.
The fact is, most kids aren’t truly ready for competitive sports—i.e., understanding the rules and having the necessary physical skills and attention span—until around the age of six or seven. Prior to that, the focus of team sports should be on having fun together, being active, and introducing some basic skills—not necessarily on competition and scoring points. Push too hard before your child is emotionally and physically ready for athletics, and you risk turning him or her off to sports permanently
Get involved
You don’t necessarily need to take on a job as assistant coach, but taking an active interest in your child’s team will help him or her get the most out of the sports experience. However, some important “do’s” and “don’ts” come into play here: Do:
• Attend your child’s games and learn about the sport.
• Offer emotional support and positive feedback.
• Teach your child how to manage the disappointment of loss or an unfair call.
• Model good sportsmanship whether winning or losing.
• Maintain realistic expectations of your child’s performance.
Don’t:
• Deride your child for mistakes.
• Behave in an angry, disrespectful, or confrontational manner toward coaches, officials, other parents, or other players.
• Continually second guess or criticize the coaching staff.
• Expect your child to love the sport that you love or excelled at in your youth.
• Emphasize winning over teamwork, continual improvement, and good sportsmanship.
Find a sport that fits
When helping your child choose a sport, consider his or her temperament and natural inclinations. Some kids just naturally lean toward team sports, such as football, basketball, hockey, soccer, or baseball, while others tend to prefer sports that require more individual effort, such as tennis, swimming, gymnastics, archery, or martial arts. However, not all kids will gravitate immediately toward one sport. It may take several years of trying different sports for your child to settle on one he or she really feels comfortable with. And that’s okay because each try will provide valuable lessons and insights. In addition to finding a sport that fits, it’s important to make sure your child is being appropriately matched against other kids of similar size (primarily a concern for contact sports) and skill level. Competing against better, stronger players can help kids hone their skills—but not when they’re grossly overmatched. On the other hand, if your child’s skills far exceed those of the other players, he or she will quickly become bored.
Keep sports in perspective Though playing sports offers many benefits, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s only one part of the fabric of a child’s life—along with schoolwork, friendships, family time, and, other interests. Remember, only a small percentage of young athletes will earn athletic scholarships in college and an even smaller percentage will ever go on to play professionally. Above all, playing sports should be fun (which is why we call it “playing” sports rather than “working” sports), and the only way to ensure that it stays that way for kids is to avoid pressuring them and to keep the role of sports in perspective. ✲
