Sports for Kids Guide for Parents

For years, sports have been a vital rite of passage for many kids. In the past, children and their families signed up for a litany of popular sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, dance and more.

Today, with more distractions and diversions than ever before, it is getting harder and harder for responsible parents to guide their children into sports. In the minds of some kids, every game is missed screen time. Their friends are playing video games rather than practicing sports. Wasting another afternoon on the couch seems more fun than getting sweaty and dirty on the gym floor.

The USASF has been helping connect kids and families with local sports and gyms for years. We’ve assembled a guide full of helpful information that parents, and families can use to connect kids with sports and make the most of every activity.

Use the checklists below as a guide for helping your kids become sports all-stars!

Many parents know the benefits of sports, and it’s easy to assume that kids see them as well. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. With kids, the benefits may not be so obvious. There may also be stigmas or misconceptions around sports, or a certain sport.

Take the time to explain and discuss the benefits with children. Have an open and honest discussion and let them tell you their concerns. In our experience, when kids start playing sports, they will quickly see benefits, including:

Healthy lifestyles: Frequent exercise helps improve health. Exercise improves heart health, helping pump blood more efficiently and improving overall fitness. Better muscle tone, improved flexibility, and physical confidence are all benefits that help kids feel and live better.
Reduced stress: Frequent physical activity will reduce stress and release chemicals and hormones that promote happiness and relaxation. After physical activity, kids sleep better at night. A good night’s sleep means better focus the next day.
Improved mental health and confidence: Setting goals, learning new skills and playing together with friends are all factors that improve happiness for kids. Learning sport techniques, enhancing muscle memory, and simple practice all strengthen the mind. The little achievements and successes kids see in sports quickly become a springboard to new projects and activities.
Learning leadership skills: With the confidence that comes with sports, kids learn leadership skills. Children on a team learn how to work together, to be a good teammate, and to lead when the opportunity arises. No matter if the team is winning or losing, kids have the chance to learn and work together.
Building stronger friendships: Sports bring different groups together, different communities, ethnicities, backgrounds and more. The opportunities to interact and work with others teaches kindness and acceptance. The opportunity to make new friends is rewarding for kids in sports.
Learning social skills: For kids, the only way to learn social skills is practice and observation. The opportunity to practice in a safe setting isn’t easy for some children to find. Sports provide that safe setting, where kids can interact and observe others their own age.

What to Look for in Sports Activities for Kids

The world has changed. There have never been more options and activities out there for kids. Making sense of those options can be difficult, even frustrating, for parents.

Having a set of guidelines for evaluating an activity and preparing kids for playing a sport can help. This can eliminate many of the unfortunate problems and challenges that can happen when starting a new sport. Here are a few tips you can use for evaluating sport activities and programs for kids:

Safety: Start by identifying any potential risk factors. There is nothing worse than getting started with a sport only to learn it may be too dangerous. Ask about the steps the program or coach has taken to prevent and mitigate sport injuries. You can learn more about sports and safety in the section below.
Requirements: Most sports will have minimum requirements. This could be a financial requirement for participation, an attendance or travel requirement, or an equipment requirement for participation. Some sports or sports leagues even have an age or residence requirement. Review the requirements before you start, so there are no surprises if the child decides to play.
Engagement: Take a close look at the level of engagement that is expected in the sport, and make sure that it matches what you are looking for. Some sports are highly competitive, and any success will require a lot of practice, time and effort. It may be the case that not everyone will have a chance to compete. Other sports are more pick up and play, with a much lower threshold for participation and a focus on fun.
Fun: While we put this last on the list, the fun factor may be the most important criteria for kids. Is it fun? Is the experience rewarding enough that the child will find the time spent practicing and playing worthwhile? Is going to practice painful, or is it an event that you and the child look forward to? These are all questions to ask before signing up for a team. The answers may not be apparent at first, but it’s important to keep fun in mind as you evaluate your options.

SPORTS FOR KIDS: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Make the Most of Opportunities in Sports

The Benefits of Sports for Kids

What to Look for in Sports Activities for Kids

Learn more: We can help you find the right sport for every child with our guide, The Best Sport for Kids of Every Age.

Bonds for Life: Making Friends in All Star

A Parent's Guide to Sports Activities for Kids

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