Q: What’s the best way to encourage children to take up sport?
That's a hard question, because there is no one 'best way' to encourage children to take up sport, but there are many things which play a huge part in how to encourage a child to take up any given sport.
Some of which includes leading the way yourself to set a good example, making it fun, make it a challenge and showing them the rewards, but there are a few key factors that need to be taken into consideration when trying to help a child take up any given sport. I have tried to break it down into some key elements that I found helped me as a child enjoy sport, and continue to enjoy my sport at my current age of 26.
1) Children's minds are like sponges, so the key is to show them what's involved in a particular sport and show them the way.
Set a good example, show them how to do the particular sport, and help them if they are struggling. The more effort put in, the better the result.
2) By Setting a good example, you will help them progress, and once they achieve that slightest bit of success or joy, they will generally continue. If a child is having a hard time, and for one split second everything clicks, and they kick or hit the ball right, it will fill them with confidence and give them the urge to continue. If there chin drops and they become not interested, its very hard to get there confidence back. This is where you need to really encourage them and show them it CAN be done.
3) Once this example is set, there are also a few more points that need to be focussed on to maintain there interest. Positivity and support go a huge way in gaining and maintaining interest in anything in life, and sport is no difference. Once a child has chosen a sport, full support as a Parent, Teacher or Brother or Sister is needed for that sport to be kept up.
4) Once a sport is taken up, try and get them to use one of the stars of there chosen sport as a role model. Kids will generally do this anyway, but it gives them someone to follow and look up to for inspiration. By doing this, it also shows them that no matter what sport you compete in, you cannot win or perform at your best all the time. This is especially important as it will keep the motivation going and keep the interest up if they are having a bit of a difficult time. Just like in life, there are ups and downs, and by having a role model to follow they will see this. As a Parent its important to point out that if they are having a bad run, and discuss with them the reasons why it is happening.Be sure to assure them that they are doing everything they can to get back on track, and stay positive!
5) To keep a child keen on a sport, it really comes down to THEIR enjoyment! If they like it, they will continue, just like most people when it comes to anything in life.
You should talk to them about what you have seen develop within themselves. Things such as the skills they have learnt and how they help in everyday life, increased fitness that comes with participating in sport, and the thrill you see on there face when they are out there on the field.
6) Pressure from parents -
I have found pressure from Parents really hinders the enjoyment of sport, hence if a parent is pressuring a child to do a certain sport, the chances of that child wanting to continue that sport will be slim. The less pressure placed by parents on a child- the more likely they are to have fun and find a sport that they want to do, not what you want them to do.
I believe that once these basics are established, then its all about enjoyment! Hopefully the child is having fun, having success and getting a real buzz out of it!
I have included a few examples that help me to explain my points -
A good example of all of the above, particularly point 2, is when I was growing up.
My Dad would grab a cricket bat and send me up to the end of the yard and bowl a few to me.
My brother would usually then join in and we would have a knock about in the backyard, it was great fun. He would set the example, and ensure we had a basic and sound knowledge of what we had to do in terms of technique, so not only did we have fun, we had a bit of success, which also meant we where less likely to drop the bat and ball and head inside to watch the TV!
If we missed the ball or bowled it wide, we where not put down, Dad would explain why that happened and show us how to correct it.
The fact that he never said 'that was crap' or anything like that really helped in keeping us interested. He was always positive, and supporting. He still is! even though I am 26 now!
Also experiencing some success early on when trying to encourage children to take up sport it vital. I remember some kids in our junior cricket team that would get dis-couraged very quickly if they did not experience any success, wether it was on field or during practice, or at lunch having some fun.
Our coach would give our team drills, like throwing a ball at half pace, instead of bowling a cricket ball in the practice nets, to allow them to get a feel for hitting the ball. Some of these kids where not the most gifted, but after some practice and encouragement from everyone on our team, they experienced success, and their confidence and enthusiasm grew.
Their success made them to want to play, the more they played, the more they improved and the confidence grew. Its a cycle that keeps the interest going, and they really enjoyed it.
Happiness, as a child, breeds enthusiasm. If you are enthusiastic about something, you don't need any convincing to keep going with it
So if you want to encourage a child to take up sport, there is no right or wrong answer, but a combination of the above factors that will help encouraging children to take up sport that little bit easier.
p.s - sorry if this is a bit long, but my motto is if you are going to do it, then do it properly!
thanks for reading my reply.
Regards, Chris Edwards
chris_edwards_1980
email chris@colorondemand.com.au