Finding the Right Sport for Your Child

  Major sports franchises and traditions in our community are a major influence on Kansas Citian—even children are introduced at a very young age to football, baseball, soccer, basketball and more. We dress our infants in Kansas City Chiefs onesies and Kansas City Royals booties, and so it begins!

     As your children grow and learn, they will give you cues about which sports most attract their attention. Then, it’s up to you to help nurture a healthy, balanced sports life that will keep your growing athlete in the game for years—even a lifetime. Choosing a sport for your child is an important decision for any parent. Some children are more inclined to team sports, and others prefer individual sports. Some body types are better suited to some sports than others. And while some children will be more interested in low-impact sports, others will be anxious for a more physically demanding sports opportunity.

     The ideal way to discover what makes your kids’ adrenalin start to rush is to expose them to a wide variety of sports experiences. Watching sports on TV is a good introduction, and talking to them about what they do or don’t like makes the most of viewings. Watch how they react—maybe they will talk about the players or the strategies. They might even tell others about the experience. Kids may gravitate toward friends that play a particular sport. Watch and listen to pick up clues.

     Some kids may shine in a team sport, such as football, baseball or basketball where they play a role on a team. Others will prefer being on a team where their own skills matter most, such as swimming, playing tennis or golf. Or they may simply enjoy individual sports like cycling, gymnastics or running track. Watch them as they participate and zero in on a sport that will work best for each of your children.

     Remember to match the sport to your child’s body type, too. We know if players who are 4-foot-2 aren’t the naturally the greatest at basketball. But pint-sized players may be great at soccer, zipping around the other players. A short, stocky child may be better suited for football, as opposed to the tall lanky kids who play basketball. Once you have narrowed down to a few the sports your kids seem to like, try them out. It’s fine to play soccer in the spring, football in the fall and volleyball in the winter. As children begin to identify favorites, you can drop the others if needed.

     Try to teach children the fundamentals one on one. Play catch and having them field pop flies and grounders in the backyard. Or, set up cones and practice dribbling a soccer ball in and out of them. This quality time learning and playing together is what kids will remember always. If their sport involves skills you don’t have, try mastering those techniques together.

     A sports physical is always a good idea. Discuss the sports plan with the doctor and talk about the physical demands. Children can be injured in sports if they are not quite ready physically or have a limitation they didn’t know about.

     Playing a sport requires responsibility and self-discipline, for both you and your children. When my son played on a traveling baseball team, we emptied his gym bag at least once a week. This helped keep track of gloves, baseballs and his treasured bat. We also took advantage of the routine to remind him to at least throw those sweaty clothes in the washer, too!

     Most coaches require players to keep their grades up and will remind them to stay on top of school work. Because regular sports practice schedules demand time, it’s a must for families to set aside a certain time each day to do homework. Sports can definitely be a great way to teach that personal responsibility and priority-setting that will benefit kids in all areas of their lives.

     On the idea of playing more than one sport, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that children in the United States face a higher risk of overuse injuries when they specialize in a single sport. Young athletes should take off three months each year in one-month increments from their main sports to try other sports. For example, if your son is on a traveling baseball team, make sure he also swims, runs track, shoots some hoops and lifts weights.

     If your daughter does competitive dance, make sure she is enjoying her life. Introduce singing to the mix to use a different part of her brain. Many young people who dance are also in theater, a great way to meet people and grow their personality.

     Members of the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) believe children benefit from competing in more than one sport. Diversifying helps them mentally, physically, socially and athletically. Cross-training introduces skills that can be used in any athletic endeavor. Multi-sport athletes meet a variety of other children who have other interests, something great for socialization. Playing a variety of sports works various muscle groups, which improves overall fitness and helps prevent injury. Children who have a positive experience playing several sports reap many awards.

     We all know that sports teach our children important life lessons, values, compassion and good ethics. That relationship between sports skills and life skills provides our young athletes with fundamentals they need to succeed both on and off the playing field.

Tips to think about:

• If your child is sedentary, start with small things. Getting a skateboard, a bicycle or a trampoline can be a good way to transition a more sedentary child away from books or video games into a more active lifestyle.
• Consider some less popular sports. Organized sports can include things beyond the traditional football, softball, baseball, soccer and basketball. You and your child might want to think about martial arts, cycling, volleyball, cross country, track and field, golf, fencing, lacrosse or ballroom dance. All of these count as sports and will help your child learn important skills.
• Don't try to project your own interests or your past on your child. Even if you were a star pitcher in your youth, baseball or softball may not be for your child. Participating in sports is more important than which sport they choose. Pushing your child into a sport just because you excelled will usually backfire.

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: Healthline.com, LiveAbout.com, HuffPost.com