More and more young children are deciding or being forced to do one sport exclusively all year round - the intensity and high level training and competition/games will make them much better competitors and lead to an increased chance at them making the big time, right? Wrong! On the surface they will improve their skills but very rarely do you see children carry on in the long term with this approach to sport.
Kids particularly through their childhood and early teens need variety as one sport doesn't provide for development of all of the components of fitness and worst of all it can lead to decline in enjoyment, over training and burn out.
Comprehensive studies have shown that very few children that are "superstars" in their youth go onto greatness in their adult years.
You would be struggling to find a popular sport that encompasses the 4 main components of fitness - strength, speed, stamina and flexibility, then add in the other 5 - power, agility, balance, co-ordination and muscular endurance.
If I was to select the perfect blend of sports for kids to experience to cover all the bases I would choose: • Track and Field - to learn the mechanics of running, jumping and throwing correctly and ultimately how to run fast, • Karate, Gymnastics or one of the martial arts - essential for learning body awareness, balance, co-ordination, discipline and flexibility.
• Soccer or Football - fantastic for evasion, change of direction, use of both side of the body, teamwork, body contact, finding and creating space, being accountable for an opponent, and • Swimming or Rowing - allowing the lower body a rest from constant impact activities and developing upper body strength, mobility and endurance.
Giving children variety allows for the highest retention and success rate in them continuing sport into their adult years and then instilling the same principles in their own children.
Kids particularly through their childhood and early teens need variety as one sport doesn't provide for development of all of the components of fitness and worst of all it can lead to decline in enjoyment, over training and burn out.
Comprehensive studies have shown that very few children that are "superstars" in their youth go onto greatness in their adult years.
You would be struggling to find a popular sport that encompasses the 4 main components of fitness - strength, speed, stamina and flexibility, then add in the other 5 - power, agility, balance, co-ordination and muscular endurance.
If I was to select the perfect blend of sports for kids to experience to cover all the bases I would choose: • Track and Field - to learn the mechanics of running, jumping and throwing correctly and ultimately how to run fast, • Karate, Gymnastics or one of the martial arts - essential for learning body awareness, balance, co-ordination, discipline and flexibility.
• Soccer or Football - fantastic for evasion, change of direction, use of both side of the body, teamwork, body contact, finding and creating space, being accountable for an opponent, and • Swimming or Rowing - allowing the lower body a rest from constant impact activities and developing upper body strength, mobility and endurance.
Giving children variety allows for the highest retention and success rate in them continuing sport into their adult years and then instilling the same principles in their own children.