Is Your Child Ready for Team Sports?

Elementary School-AgeToddler & Preschool
Written By Guest User

Physical activity is extremely important for children as they are constantly growing and developing physically, mentally, and socially.  Knowing which activities are appropriate varies from child to child, but ultimately this discussion should start with medical advice from your child’s physician or healthcare provider. Understanding where your child is developmentally will help you make informed decisions about when your child is ready to start playing sports.Physical/Developmental Factors:Has your child been to a checkup recently?During a checkup you can expect to learn your child’s height and weight which will help determine if your child meets the requirements necessary to ensure the safety of the athletes. A checkup will also help you gain a better understanding of the developmental milestones that are appropriate for your child and what to practice at home. Expect to do this every year, since team sports usually require a sports physical each season before your child participates.How developed are your child’s motor skills?During early childhood (3-5 years) children can run, jump and throw, but balance is something that they are still working on. Early teens (13-15 years) tend to have highly developed motor skills and can jump higher, run faster and control their movements. Knowing where your child lies on this spectrum can help you make decision about which sports they are ready for. For example, beginning soccer might be great for your three year old, but beginning t-ball might be best around age 5.Can your child focus on a single task for 1-2 hours?Team sports may be difficult for younger children who are still developing their attention spans and memory skills. Children this age tend to learn best from copying others rather than memory. Older children who can focus for longer periods of time can use their memory skills to memorize plays, develop strategies, and recognize patterns. All of these skills are important for team sports.Emotional Factors:How does your child handle difficult or stressful situations?Team sports can be great opportunities to build positive self-esteem and self-assurance.  Getting the ball in the basketball hoop for the first time or scoring a goal is rewarding and will give your child the confidence to keep playing.  Many sports focus on participation, where everyone is celebrated for trying their best. Sports that involve winning and losing can be exciting and stressful at the same time, so helping your child practice coping skills will better prepare them for team sports.Does your child show an interest in sports?Motivation is important for children who want to play team sports. You can start introducing your children to different sports by taking them to local games or sporting events in your community. Children may also be influenced by the sports that their friends and classmates are involved in, so talk with other parents about which sports their children enjoy. One of the best ways to introduce your children to sports is to practice kicking, throwing and running with them at home or at the park.Social Factors:Has your child been exposed to team-building activities? Do they work well with others?Team sports are a great way to teach children socialization skills before they enter school. Children are able to practice patience, cooperation and compassion for others. Sports require that children learn how to share and work together to reach a common goal, whether that be winning a game or running a relay race. This experience will better prepare children for social situations in school and other group activities.Are there opportunities for team sports in your local community?Start getting your child involved in team sports by looking for opportunities in your neighborhood. Nonprofits, churches, schools and community organizations often have sports programs for children year around.A few local community organizations include:

Below is a developmental chart that may be helpful in tracking which sports and activities your child is ready for:

 

 Early childhood: 3 to 5 years old Middle childhood: 6 to 9 years old Late childhood: 10 to 12 years old Early teens: 13 to 15 years old

Motor skills: (movement)

 Can run, jump, throwSome balance Basic skills (running, jumping, throwing) are getting betterBalance is improvingStarting to learn harder skills (for example throwing for distance) Getting better at harder skills (such as kicking a ball into a net)Learning some complicated skills (such as hitting a baseball) Growth spurts; body becomes less flexiblePuberty occurs at different times

Vision:

 Not matureHard to follow direction and speed of moving objects Getting better at judging speed of moving objects but still has trouble judging direction of moving objects Fully developed (as good as that of an adult) Fully developed

Learning:

 Very short attention spanLearn best by copying others Short attention spanfind it hard to remember a lot of details and make fast decisions Better attentionBetter able to remember Better attention spanRemembers plays and strategy

Skills to focus on:

Learn basic skillsHaving fun playing and trying different things is more important than competing Practice basic skills and learn harder skills Practice skillsLearn tactics and game strategy Individual strengths

Suggested activities:

 Running, tumbling, throwing, catching, riding a tricycle Entry-level soccer and baseball, swimming, running, gymnastics, skating, dance, racquet sports such as tennis, riding a bicycle, noncontact martial arts Entry-level football, basketball and ice hockey Early-maturing boys: track and field, basketball, ice hockeyLate-maturing girls: gymnastics, skating

                    This article and associated materials were adapted from a Pediatrics & Child Health article which was provided by the Pulsus Group Inc.

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