Team Sports For Kids

Information on Team Sports For Kids

Are team sports for your kids?

What's fun about activities for kids like team sports is that team members help each other to perform at their best. Not only will kids have fun while playing the games, they will also get to have fun with their friends. It is all about sharing experience, fun and difficult moments: you support the others when they are not performing well, and they do the same for you. You win as team, and loose as a team. It is a great training for their future work life where they are mostly likely to be part of a team too. Winning is important, but what's more important is that your kids learn to work together and have fun. Being part of a team will have a great impact in your kid's life that can help them succeed with friends, in school, and in their lives.

What is so great in being part of a team? Here are some benefits and reasons why kids need to play kids activities such as team sports:

• Cooperation and Respect
  Each team member must have a shared objective and must cooperate in order to reach that objective. Team sports teach kids to respect each other and listen to others' opinions that can contribute to the team's strategy.
• Confidence
  Learning a new skill or talent improves confidence and self-esteem in a person. Encouragement and support from parents, coaches, and teammates will help kids feel better. Shy kids are encouraged to engage in team sports because it is a good way to make them come out of their comfort zone.
• Fun and Education
  Joining team sports is not only a good way to learn positive attitudes and skills, but also to make new friends and have fun.
• Good Sportsmanship
  Playing games and sports teach kids how to play fair and accept loss. It is important for them to learn how to deal with losing at an early age as it will also help them to handle well the bigger problems they will face when they get older.
• Collective Achievement
  Winning on your own feels good, but it's even better if you share the victory, right? Collective achievement is more fulfilling because aside from winning the game, kids were also able to help their teammates in bringing out the best in each other.

In choosing a sport for your kid, it is important to consider some factors like their personality and interests. Your kids can start getting involved in sports at age 4, but the National Junior Sport Policy recommends that kids should only start playing team sports at age 8, the age when they are emotionally and physically ready. That's their recommendation but it's obviously not a general rule. It depends on your child's maturity (physical and mental), as many kids perform really well really young. Still, young kids can learn sports skills by practising in your backyard some basic abilities like throwing, catching, and running.

At around 8 to 10 years old, you can let your kids join different team sports clubs and see what they will enjoy most. At around 11 to 12 years old, that's the time when most kids are already developing skills and interests in a particular sport. Aggressive children can participate in close-contact team sports like rugby, football (AFL), soccer and basketball. Those who are less assertive might enjoy sports that will give them more space like baseball.

There are kids who might not enjoy team sports. It is important for parents to know why their kids are hesitant. They may not be that confident enough of their skills or maybe they just enjoy individual sports more than team sports. To help them be more confident, you can go watch a game together and show them how much fun the players are having. You can also help them practise. If they prefer individual sports, they can engage in sports such as swimming, gymnastics, skateboarding, running, and martial arts.

Some kids may not be into sports. You can still keep them active and fit by introducing free play to them. Free play is a physical activity where kids can still play games but with no rules. Free play includes activities like riding bikes, playing tag, jumping rope, and shooting hoops.

For kids to enjoy playing team sports even more they should be aware of the safety rules and they should follow them accordingly. Make them wear the proper safety equipment like helmet, knee pads, and shin guards. They should also have the appropriate sportswear. For basketball and football, the suggested outfit is the jersey. You can buy jerseys and other sports equipment for kids at a sports store near you. For more tips about sports and other activities for kids, you can browse our ActiveActivities Directory .

Make sure that your kids have an active lifestyle by participating in physical activities like sports. Make them join sports clubs and buy them some sports equipment that you can set up in your house for them to practise. Let them have fun and make new friends by joining team sports!