What is the right age to start sports?

You may wonder and sometimes ask if your child is ready to start sports. First focus on development instead of competition. There is a difference between “playing sports” and “being competitive.” If you’re talking about just playing sports, there is no age that is too early as long as he/she is physically able to do so. On the other hand, however, the latter requires maturity.

A child is ready to start sport only if he has all it takes to meet the demands of that sport. A child is also more likely to succeed at a game he enjoys when he has skills required by the competition.

Necessary physical skills your child needs before he can play organized sports

Before your child can engage in any form of organized sport where he has to compete with others, he has to know specific necessary skills.

Some are normal processes that children go through, and they include learning skills like running, throwing, and jumping. They learn and master this in tiny bits, and different children learn at their own pace. However, by the time your child is 3-5 years old, he would have learned some of these essential skills.

Is starting at a very young age best?

If you’ve ever heard the saying, “the younger, the better,” know it’s false. Just because your kid loves kicking a ball around the yard and enjoys riding bikes in the driveway doesn’t mean he is ready to get involved in any form of organized sport. There are a lot of organized sports that are available for preschool age kids, but it would be much better for a first-grader, for example, to play well with others than engage in them.

There is a chance that since kids develop differently, your kindergarten-age child could be ready to engage in recreational sports. As earlier mentioned, be sure he has all the skills needed to play because it has been observed that if these are in place, he will be more likely to succeed when he is ready.

These are necessary questions you should sincerely ask yourself before you think of starting;

Is my child physically coordinated?
Does he have the attention span for an entire game of basketball or soccer?
Does he share easily with others?

If the answer to all these questions is “yes,” then that’s good news. Your child is ready to showcase himself on that field or court.

Know that he doesn’t have to get everything once or twice

There is saying that goes thus;” practice makes perfect.” You might have to let go of this thought if you are interested in prepping your child for sports. The fact is, at age four or so, your child, if he is a preschooler won’t have mastered the art of jumping, throwing, catching or taking turns.

So chances are if you sign him or her up for something like saying tennis or basketball, he may only end up frustrated if he has difficulty understanding the basic rules of the game or lack sills needed to play.

It could make him no longer interested in sports at all. This is why it is also advisable to wait until the appropriate age cause it has its benefits. As time goes on and he gets older, he’ll surely get better.

Let your child know the game is not about winning

If your child is just not ready for competitive sports, it doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy sports. There are a lot of activities that 2-5-year-olds can benefit from as they emphasize fun, cooperation, and necessary skills.

After looking for a program that encourages enjoyment more than winning, let your child know it’s more than just winning. He needs to catch some fun. At this point, you are not pressuring him to be a superstar, but you are exposing your little player to the world of sports.

So when then can my child get involved in organized sports?

From ages 6 to 9, it is expected that most children would have the necessary motor skills for simple, organized sports. There’s a “but” though. They might not have the hand-eye coordination to perform complex motor skills. They might not also be ready to grasp and remember concepts like team works and strategies.

At this level, some sports that can be introduced to them are running, swimming, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, martial arts, and tennis. These can be played at a fundamental level as they focus on necessary motor skills. Other sports that require complex skills like detailed strategies and teamwork, such as football, hockey, basketball, or even volleyball, might not be what that child of yours needs now. The only way they can engage in these sports is if they are modified for younger players.

Sporting Rules Should Reflect The Skill and Age of Participants.

The rules of these games should be flexible and be focused more on learning new skills than on winning too. Also, the equipment and regulations for the sport should be acceptable and appropriate for small children. For instance, the game should run for a shorter time, the balls used should be smaller, even the fields should as well be more modest. Positions could also be changed at intervals.

From about 10 to 12 years old, your young child is already mature and ready to take on complex sports as he would have learned specific motor skills and cognitive abilities required by such games. Sports at this level shouldn’t be focused on the competition too, but on skill development, fun, and participation.

Sports Skills Differences after Puberty

This is also the age most children undergo puberty, and so, there may be physical differences between children of the same period, especially boys. This can make all the difference in the sport that is best for your child. For boys that mature later than others, they should be encouraged to play competitions where there isn’t much emphasis on physical size. These include martial arts, wrestling, swimming, racquet sports, and individual track events.

Bear in mind that growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and the ability to perform a particular skill. So it can be pretty frustrating if this is seen as a lack of talent or effort on the part of the child.

Other Guidelines for you

You must inspire your young child to engage in activities that promote physical fitness. Let your child learn a skill.
Rather than focus on competition and winning, let the focus be on programs that encourage variety, success, personal development. This will help your child stay interested and keep him playing.
Check the rules. Also, check to make sure the equipment is right for your child’s age.
Prioritize your child’s safety. Be sure everything is appropriate, ranging from the setting to the equipment to the protective gear.
Let your child be involved in more than one sport right from the start. Early specialization in one sport could lead to overuse injury, mental stress, and burn out.
Wait till your child is ready before he or she engages in competitive sports. He should not base his self worth on the outcome of a game.
This is the last on the list but very important. Ensure you find an excellent sports program for your child. Get feedback from other children and parents in the plans. Make background inquiries before enrolling your child there. One good sign of a proper program is children having fun.