Youth sports offer a host of emotional and physical benefits, from helping
kids stay active to building self-esteem and learning to work with others.
But knowing which sport is best for your child often depends on your
youngster’s personality, as well as the time and money you’re willing to
invest in a particular activity.
Determine readiness.
Before the age of six or seven, many kids are still
developing gross motor skills like running, kicking, jumping and catching.
They’re also still learning social skills like sharing, taking turns and
losing/winning games gracefully. Rather than having them play organized
sports in their early years, experts recommend they explore different
activities, like kicking a ball around, playing at the playground and
taking swim or gymnastic lessons.
Aim for fun.
Many parents naturally gravitate toward introducing their kids
to the sports they enjoyed as children. While this is a good place to
start, your child may not end up sharing your enthusiasm and you may go
through several sports before you find one that’s the right fit for your
child.
“We really need to look at what our kids do to have fun. If they’re having
fun, they’ll stay in the sport longer. They won’t burn out,” says Randy
Goldstein, D.O., a board certified pediatrician who specializes in youth
sports medicine. “If they’re having fun, they’re more likely to make goals
that are to their highest potential.”
Pros of team sports.
Any sport your child participates in should help them
develop strength, balance and coordination, and provide them with an
opportunity to push themselves in a healthy, positive environment.
“In a team sport, the kids have to work together towards a common goal and
take instruction from a coach who isn’t necessarily a parent,” Goldstein
says. “This is important to learning how to be around future teachers,
future bosses and future leaders.”
Meredith Dickinson says her son Tyler, 14, who plays football, baseball and
basketball, thrives in a team atmosphere. He is motivated to improve by
playing alongside more talented teammates.
“He works hard to be better. He may not be the best on the field, but he
works hard to support his teammates,” Dickinson says.
Every child progresses at their own speed. Encourage your young
athlete toward his personal goals with positive, calm support. And
celebrate his personal accomplishments along the way.
“Watch for individual progress, not what your child’s teammates are doing.
Your child may seem behind or ahead of the others. This can change like the
weather,” Goldstein says. “It takes one or two seasons to judge improvement
and success – not one or two competitions.”
The downside? Much like individual sports, team sports like baseball and
soccer have become more year round in nature. Although this approach can
help the team and individual players grow stronger and more skilled over
time, families may find that the sport is more of a time and money
commitment than they’d bargained for.
Pros of individual sports.
Much of the success in individual sports like
tennis, dance, swimming and gymnastics depends on the motivation of the
particular athlete. Athletes who excel at individual sports find
satisfaction in pushing themselves to achieve a personal goal rather than
relying on the team to help them get there.
Dickinson says this is true for her daughter Lauren, 11, who swims.
“Swimming is a good fit for her because it is her and the clock,” Dickinson
says. “She doesn’t want to have the win or loss depend on teammates.”
While your child might prefer an individual sport, that doesn’t mean they
have to sacrifice the support of a team.
“Even individual sports have the camaraderie or the partnership of a team,”
Goldstein says, who works with premier-level gymnasts. “They travel
together and learn to become partners and accomplish individual goals, but
as a team.”
The downside? Not all kids feel drawn to the spotlight during a performance
or sporting event. And some kids may put undue pressure on themselves to
reach personal goals, causing the negatives to outweigh the positives. Some
parents also find it difficult watching their youngsters navigate the
pressures of a sport on their own.
“As a parent, it’s tough to watch your nine-year-old play in her first
tennis tournament where she’s responsible for scoring, pace of the game,
calling shots and settling disputes,” says Jackie Kindred. “A great
experience for her, but unnerving for a parent.”
Kindred’s daughter Rose, now 12, has since turned her attention to club
volleyball, but she feels that both team and individual sports have
benefited her daughter’s personal growth.
“As a parent, I’m glad she did both. It’s impossible for me to say one is
better than another. It depends on the kids, the coaches and the sport,”
Kindred says. “But I do think the exposure to both is crucial.”
Is Your Child Ready for Organized Sports?
Consult with your pediatrician before enrolling your child in a sport and
discuss questions like:
Is your child ready and able to …
- Listen to adults other than you?
- Play with others, and when necessary, wait in line to take their turn?
- Be away from you?
- Understand how to play safely with the equipment involved in the
chosen sport? - Physically play the sport? (physical readiness includes balance,
body awareness and awareness of the space around them to
learn beginning sports skills such as running, jumping, safe
landing and change-in-direction techniques.)
Source: Dr. Randy Goldstein
Benefits of Organized Sports for Kids
- Enhance critical thinking/problem-solving skills
- Increase social interaction/cooperation with peers
- Improve concentration, attention and behavior
- Reduce incidence of depression and anxiety
- Foster self-esteem, goal-setting and leadership skills
- Develop habits that will make them more likely to be active adults
Source: The Aspen Institute Project Play
Quiz: What is the top team sport for children ages 6 to 17?
- Basketball
- Outdoor soccer
- Baseball
- Court volleyball
- Touch football
Answer: A. Basketball, followed by baseball, outdoor soccer, touch football
and court volleyball
Source: NYU Child Study Center
Originally published: 08-01-17
Updated: 09-29-22
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