Is Your Child Ready for Team Sports?

Soccer is starting next week, T-ball & baseball/softball are starting soon after.  How do you know when your child is ready to be on a team?  What are the advantages between a team sport and an individual sport for children.  The answers vary.  Not everyone will be ready to be on a team at any certain age.  Even though many sports clubs offer teams for children as young as 4 or 5, some children may not have the maturity to play team sports safely at that age. In order to play team sports safely (and have fun doing it) children need to be old enough to do the following:
   •listen attentively
   •follow directions
   •play cooperatively with other children
   •control emotional impulses, especially anger
   •have the coordination, strength and endurance to keep up with the other players

Team sports differ from individual sports in several ways.  The main differences is team or group sports are conducted in group settings.  Individual sports occur in groups but are taught individually.  Not every child is ready for a team sport.

If you decide your child has the maturity to try a team sport, ask friends and co-workers for recommendations about specific teams or leagues that emphasize fun and safety over winning every game. Attend a few games of the team or league you're considering to see how parents and coaches act on the sidelines -- and steer clear of those who berate players or seem to push them too hard.

Parents often struggle with this question: "Did I start my child too early in this sport?" or "Did I wait too long for this activity?" I know of a woman who was told to provide private ballet lessons for her 5-year-old daughter before she could join an ongoing ballet class (not in Corvallis) with other 5 year olds who started at an earlier age.

When Randy and I were growing up here in Oregon, nobody played on teams until they were at least 12. Plenty of kids joined junior high teams having never played anywhere but in P.E. class in gradeschool and junior high.  

Talk to coaches to find out what team, league and/or sport is the best fit for your child.  Make sure the children are allowed some creativity, the ability to learn at their own pace and that the coach is able to discover each child's own learning stlyle.  Parents and coaches that correct every skill a child demonstrates might not understand the psychological and development milestones of that age.  That can hinder the positive experience your child may be missing.  Most importantly, it may not be any fun for them causing them to  burn out quickly.  Remember, if your child doesn’t excel at a particular sport, don’t push them. They will most likely find some physical activity they like to do, even if it is just riding their bicycle (wearing a helmet, of course) around the neighborhood.

Participating in a sport is a great way for your child to build self-esteem, get some exercise and learn teamwork. While the AAP suggests not enrolling your child into competitive team sports until they are six years old, there are non-competitive leagues and low-key teams at local recreation facilities that can teach your child the basic rules of the sports. Let your child take the lead: If your child at age 5 has a burning desire to; play softball, do gymnastics, join a swim team or soccer team, try to find one that is non-competitive, teaches listening and social skills, but most importantly is FUN!