PARENTING TEST IN KIDS’ EXCITEMENT
AT A TIME WHEN CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS GRIPPING THE NATION, HOW MUCH SPORT IS TOO MUCH?
BEING a parent, being a coach or being a child is hard work.
As a parent, what is too much? At what age does a child do sport every day of the week? As a coach, how much do you give a young developing athlete to do in a session?
I am lucky enough to speak from experience as an athlete, a parent and a coach.
As a kid, I trained three times a week and that was from the age of 12 to 16.
That meant I had the other afternoons to ‘be a kid’, to do schoolwork or just do nothing.
There is something to be said about having unstructured play, being able to explore other activities, being creative, socialising, climbing trees, playing hopscotch, skipping and just running around.
I was lucky enough to have parents who let me enjoy my ability to run and jump and throw and play many different sports in my own time.
It was something I did with my children. Both did many different sports and both have ended up doing activities far away from my passion.
In saying this, how important is cross training as a concept? I must admit I have never been a fan of the term cross training or the concept. There is a place and a time for this.
Should young athletes cross train, or should they just play sport at a young age to experience teamwork, different skills and to eventually find an activity that fits them?
I have had the parent who comes to me to tell me what is best for their child. They want their child to be faster for soccer or rugby, or to just get better performances.
When I then ask what the child is doing, the inevitable answer for some is that the child is spending every afternoon doing some form of physical sport. Is this too much? In my opinion, yes.
In their adolescent years, a child grows — everyone knows that. But bones grow and muscles need to catch up. Coordination goes and the child sometimes looks ungainly and has to learn to do certain activities again.
How often are we seeing children wearing moonboots? All too often! It is all about doing activity in moderation and in a gradual build up as they get older.
To answer my question — is cross training healthy? Yes, when used correctly. It is a wonderful training tool to use to maintain fitness while recovering from injury. The pool is terrific — running in the deep water keeps athletes fit while they are unable to run.
So, how can you help your child train and progress safely?
The Gold Coast Academy offers a wonderful learning opportunity for the developing athlete. The Future Stars program will teach the child what is progression, how to improve their weaknesses and maintain their strengths, and learn more about their own physical and mental capabilities.
Parents are encouraged to attend some sessions. Applications are open until May 4 at goldsport.com.au or phone 0403 676 897.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT ... UNSTRUCTURED PLAY