The benefits of participating in sports can span from increased self-esteem to physical fitness to learning life skills like cooperation, perseverance and dealing with disappointment. Taking the following steps will help you and your child get the most out of the experience:
1. Find out the Local Options
Talk to other parents, the park district, and look on the internet for age appropriate options in your area.
2. Talk to Your Child about their Interests
It probably surprises many of you that the most important question is not listed first. This experience is all about your child having a good time and gaining some experience. However, the reality is that as parents we need to make sure that we don’t offer the world without being able to follow through. When asked the open-ended question: “What sport would you like to play?” my friend’s son replied “fencing.” That surprising answer sent her wildly researching the possibility (which didn’t exist within 3 hours of her home).
3. What is the Financial Commitment?
Almost all sports involve a fee. Be sure to probe to find out what is included in the fee and if there are any hidden costs (uniform, equipment, snack fees…etc).
4. Prepare for the time commitment?
It is important to know what you are getting into. How many practices per week? What time are the practices? When are the games? This sometimes requires adjusting your work schedule, planning ahead with your spouse, and coordinating rides with a neighbor if possible. Also keep in mind that your child will want to practice with you and s/he will also probably need to debrief about some of the new experiences.
5. Investigate the Level of Competition
We want these first experiences to be positive ones. Talk to other parents involved to find out about the level of competition. Yelling coaches and pressure to win are not characteristics of a positive first experience for most kids.
6. Be prepared for a Buffet Experience
It is unlikely that your child will find the perfect fit with the first sport s/he tries. It is very normal. In fact, it is beneficial for kids to try different activities to develop different skills and work with different people.
7. Mention it to your Doctor
It is always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting any sport.
8. Discuss Responsibilities with your Child
To prepare your child for the new responsibilities s/he is taking on, it would be appropriate to talk about the expectations: attend all of the practices and games, treat all involved with respect even when something doesn’t seem fair, talk to you about any concerns that come up…etc.
9. Monitor your Behavior
Often we do really well with number eight and then find ourselves caught up in the moment criticizing our child for errors, focusing too much on victory, and disagreeing with the coach. Unfortunately, our kids often pick up our actions instead of listening to our words.
Although there is a lot to think about and plan for, participating in sports can be a wonderful experience and definitely worth some effort. Let the games begin!
Sherrie Hardy has over 35 years of experience as a classroom teacher, school director, and perceptual-motor specialist. She holds a teaching credential, a reading and adult education credential, a Masters in Marital and Family Therapy, and a Masters in Interactive Metronome Certification (MIMC). She is the mother of two daughters who struggled early on in school and later became successful women.
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