Your child should be coached by an experienced coach. A coach who can recognize teaching opportunities and convey lessons in a positive, encouraging way is ideal. Participating in the rightyouth sport programs is crucial to your child’s enjoyment. You could endanger your child’s enthusiasm for playing sports if you choose the wrong league or program.
You must find the youth sport program that is most suitable for your child’s interests and age. You can provide your child the best possible sports experience by giving him or her a variety of opportunities.
Start with
The emphasis for children aged five to eight, who are starting organized sports for the first-time, is on having fun and basic skill instruction. At this level, the emphasis is on having fun and following simple rules. In a few years, your child will be able to www.sbowin.com participate more fully in the adult version and learn additional team concepts and skills. At this level, competition is also introduced. These age groups require youth sports programs that are both developmental and participation-based. These principles should be emphasized in your child’s youth sport leagues.
You may notice your child excelling in one or more of the sports as he or she grows older. The next step is to decide whether or not your child should be placed in a competitive, more advanced league. Your child may have the opportunity to play with other children. Your child may be able to start specializing in a particular sport. Consider the pros and cons of each option when making these decisions. Playing with more experienced players can help your child improve their skills. You can put your child at risk if you push too fast.
Avoid specialization-Take a look at multiple sports
Too early specialization can lead to burnout, injury, and loss in cross-sport benefits. Several studies (most recently a 2011 study conducted by Loyola University Medical Center) have found a higher incident of injury associated with early specialization. Children who are not yet puberty may be unable to specialize in one sport due to physical maturation. A gymnast success rate for a six-foot tall girl is low.
You should balance the risks with your child’s growth and choose youth sports programs that best suit your child’s personality and abilities. Your child should be challenged but also able to have fun with the experience.
If your child is interested in participating in travel teams, it is important to find a program that offers good instruction. If a league is dominated by competitive games and little practice, it will not offer the coaching opportunities that coaches need to help their players.
Remember that talented and competitive athletes still enjoy participating in leagues that emphasize participation. These leagues offer a way to have fun with your friends and play in a more casual environment. These leagues also provide opportunities for better athletes to exercise and develop leadership skills. You could do worse for your child’s happiness than to be a part of an instructional league.
Offer opportunities for self-directed play
Finally, give your child the opportunity to play with other children in pickup games. Unstructured, unsupervised play can complement organized sports and provide your child with many other important benefits. For more information on the importance of self-directed sport play, see my Ezine article The Role Organized Sports Play in Your Child’s Live.