Drug war’s ripple effect

The heavily pronounced government war on drugs should have a ripple effect on grassroots sports development. With parents nationwide realizing that they have a greater responsibility to keep their children out of trouble, there will be an increased need for other diversions for children aside from the ubiquitous computer games that the nation’s kids have such easy access to. Vigilance and consistency aside, parents are looking more and more to sports to provide a wholesome, healthy choice for their children to pour themselves into. The good news is that there is a wide variety of options for parents, depending on where they live.

One of the most frequent questions this writer is asked is when is it the right age for a child to get into sports? Though there are varying beliefs on what is age-appropriate, there are certain parameters we can follow. For example, academic learning is not really enforced until six years old. In other countries, it is actually late six to early seven years, after the physiological changes which we’ll go into detail later. At that time, a child’s limbs elongate, the jaw becomes more prominent, hips emerge, and the baby fat in places like the back of the hand disappear. Most parents do not notice these changes since they see their children every day. Moreover, those who follow the beliefs of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner don’t think children should study football until they are about twelve years old. Early education also provides some guidance. The thinking is that using the feet may ground the children early.

In many European countries, infants as young as six month old are tossed into swimming pools to teach them how to float and swim, which is why parents are generally not allowed to watch the lessons. In China, there is a tradition of starting children in sports very early, since the government has a stronger hold on the populace due to communism. We’ve all seen documentaries and news items on progeny as young as three years old crying out in pain as they are bent into all sorts of contortions by gymnastics coaches. They are made to understand that pain and suffering is necessary for them to achieve what the authorities require of them. In the US, easier variations of mainstream sports are widespread, like teeball and pitch and putt golf. A few years ago, a controversial television series promoted full-contact American football games among kids as young as nine.

There are several benefits to having children get into a sporting lifestyle early on. Firstly, it provides the stability of a routine, gives children a sense of security. Secondly, it helps improve cardiovascular development, makes sleep easier, and improves appetite. In addition, it instills determination, patience and a sense of self-worth as the child becomes more and more competent in the sport. This is one reason why swimming is a good first sport for children three years old and up. It is easy to understand, and the child is basically competing against himself or herself. Most of all, swimming strengthens the lungs and helps young children overcome breathing issues and asthma. The main challenge is for instructors to be patient and playful with their students. Personal attention also adds to the child’s self-esteem, so training centers like the Bert Lozada Swim School (BLSS) have great track records. The Lozadas have been at it for 60 years.

If you really like basketball, children are usually taught the sport beginning at age five, already beginning at a slightly later age might also be more beneficial, as the kid may have a longer attention span. Coach Eric Altamirano’s “Coach E” camps are one of the pioneers of the small class, usually one coach for every five students. There are ways you can tell if the coaches know what they are doing. Kids should train with the children size 5 ball or smaller, instead of the regular adult size 7 ball. Adult-sized balls are too heavy for most children, and it is discouraging when they can’t even heave it close to the basket. Also, a bigger ball increases the chance of jamming the fingers when doing dribbling drills. But let’s remember that not everyone has the physical attributes or desire to become a basketball player. As a recreational sport, though, basketball is tough to beat.

Martial arts are also a good first sport, because many have formal traditions of respect for one’s superiors and classmates. Many even teach bowing in respect to the training area. Aikido in particular, teaches one to avoid conflict as much as possible, and does not promote sparring. In terms of eye-hand coordination, discipline and developing muscle tone, karate and taekwondo each have their own strengths. Arnis is also more widespread than most people realize, though one must look at the qualifications of the instructors. What is important is that contact is not pushed early on, or the child might develop a trauma from being hurt, even if they are sparring with children their own age. If your child does get into martial arts, insist on all the proper safety equipment, headgear, body vests and groin guards are mandatory, while arm guards and shin guards are optional to the participant.

Soccer is one of the most-played beginner’s sports in the Philippines, the US and throughout the world. It involves a lot of running and coordination, and scoring is not as emphasized as it is in other sports. All you really need is open space and a ball. Any safe wide area will suffice. It is generally recommended for slightly older children who have more developed footwork and are less likely to trip themselves up. In the Visayas, children playing soccer barefoot is more common, as spikes are quite expensive. But having no spikes is not a problem for most children who don’t mind getting their feet dirty. However, all that running does wonders for one’s lung capacity.

For lower-impact sports, riding a bicycle, wall climbing and aquatic sports would be the best, particularly for smaller kids. Training wheels make bikes easy to ride, while wall climbing is good in any kind of weather, and primarily uses one’s body weight or build strength and balance. Aquatic sports build strength and lung power. Another alternative, if there is a venue nearby, would be indoor versions of football and other sports, to lessen exposure to the sun. Racquet sports have a tendency to put pressure on the joints, so it is not recommended for younger children.

What is most important of all for our kids is that they enjoy and learn at their own pace. Beyond that, let’s not impose our own dreams in our unsuspecting children.