Ball Sports For Kids
Are your kids sporty? Introduce them to ball sports!
Sports are important to keep your kids active and physically fit. That?s why schools have physical education classes where kids are required to participate in different sports. The most popular sports among them are ball sports. Even infants are naturally attracted to balls; that why most day care centres and play areas have pools with tiny colourful balls in them. The most common ball sports are football or soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and handball. Bring out the athletes in your kids. They might develop a passion for any of the ball sports someday!
Here are some popular Australian sports:
- Aussie Rules - Football - AFL
In Australia, football is more commonly called Aussie rules football. Sometimes it is also called AFL, based on the professional football league called the Australian Football League. This outdoor sport is first played in Melbourne in 1859. In 2006, over 600,000 people in Australia are registered participants of Australian football and now it is played in more than 30 countries all over the world. - Australian Handball
Another popular ball sports in Australia is the Australian handball. It is first played in Melbourne in 1847. This sport is nationally run by the Australian handball Council that is formed in 1928. Some popular Australian handball players are Tim Tucker, John Hughes, and Geoff Walsh. - Netball
Netball developed from the early versions of basketball and began in England in the 1890s. As of 2011, the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) has more than 60 national teams with aournd 560,000 registered players. - Rugby
There are two types of rugby: rugby union and rugby league. They are two of the dominant winter sports in Australia. Rugby union was first played in July 1839 in Sydney. There are a total of approximately 87,000 rugby union players in 770 clubs. Rugby league was first played in 1907, also in Sydney. It is the most watched sport on Australian television. There are about 470,000 registered rugby league players.
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Are ball sports for your kids?
A perfect way to teach kids different active skills and encourage exercise is through kids activities like ball sports. Not only they teach kids basic ball skills like throwing, dribbling, bouncing, and aiming, it also helps develop their cognitive skills. The other benefits are as follows:
- Balance and Coordination
All sports require coordination of all the body parts, especially hand-eye coordination. Kids will be taught different motor skills like running, leaping, and other physical activities that can help improve their balance. - Socialisation
Many ball sports are team sports. This will teach kids the value and teamwork, competitiveness, and respect for others, especially the opponent. - Posture
Learning the different positions in ball sports and exercising regularly help improve posture. A kid who stands and sits up straight will grow up with stronger backbones. Kids with good posture also look more pleasant and presentable. - Confidence
Attending balls sports lessons and courses helps boost self-confidence. They will get to interact with other kids, get hands-on help from their instructor, and discover new skills. This new sport that they have learned might develop into a talent that they can be proud of when they grow up. - Health Benefits
As they grow up, some kids become less active. Playing sport games will form good habits in them as well as positive attitude and physical fitness. Being physically active also means having a healthy heart, mind, and body. It will also make them more flexible.
Which of the ball sports is suitable for your kid? Depending on their interests and development stage, here is a ball sports list where you might find the suitable one for your kid.
- AFL
Football, more widely known in Australia as AFL, is suitable for boys and girls aged between 5 and 12 years. It encourages players to be physically fit, have good ball skills, have good vision, and be able to play outdoors in different kinds of weather conditions. - Basketball
Basketball is the most common ball sport that kids like to play. This can be considered both as outdoor and indoor sports. It is a fast-paced game that the whole family can enjoy. Set up a hoop in your backyard and divide the family into 2 groups. This sport can help develop presence of mind and speed in movement. - Rugby
Rugby is somehow similar to football but the difference is that this is a full-contact sport. If your kids like rough activities for kids, then they will surely enjoy rugby. Kids starting 4 years old will learn quick thinking, precise aiming, and safe tackles as well as guidelines on how to fall properly. - Volleyball
Volleyball used to be considered as ball sports for girls; but now it is also enjoyed by boys. Preschool sport classes teach volleyball to kids to improve not only their arms? strength but their legs? as well. - Netball
The rules of netball for kids are similar to those for adults, with a few modifications like the length of each quarter, goal height, and ball size. There are different versions of netball for different age groups. Fun Net is netball for kids from 5 to 7 years old. it aims to improve netball skills through games and activities. For kids 8 to 11 years old, Netta is the netball game for them. it aims to develop passing and catching skills. Another version of netball is High Five Netball, played only by girls aged 9 to 11 years old. - Soccer
Soccer is more advisable for kids who like to run around the field. This non-contact outdoor sport helps develop concentration and teamwork. Kids starting from 2 years old can learn to play this sport.
Although ball sports and other sport games teach kids independence and maturity, it is still important to have an adult supervise them all the time. Familiarize them with safety measures and how to properly use sports equipment. Make sure that they are wearing the appropriate clothing and safety gears like knee pads and helmets for sports like rugby and football. You can browse our ActiveActivities Directory for more tips on ball sports and other kids activities.
Ball sports can be a fun activity that will keep your kids busy and active. It can be considered as just a leisure activity, a hobby, or a way for them to learn something new. But who knows, your kids might love it and persevere to be really good at it. In the future they might be joining multi-sports events like the Olympics. Start now by playing kids games that involve passing balls like relay races. Buy them a basketball or a soccer ball and practise and play with them in your backyard!