The Philippine Star

Kids’ sports: trauma or triumph?

- By BILL VELASCO

Now that school is out, children have the time to learn a new sport, whether it’s a survival skill like swimming, or a common sport like basketball, or a well-rounded aerobic activity like boxing, or a discipline-building habit like martial arts. Remember that this isn’t just something to get them out of the house for a few hours each day. It could be something they will want to do for the rest of their lives or, based on the experience you give them, something they could learn to hate. Here are some things to bear in mind.

Study your child. What does your child enjoy? Is he or she an outdoor person who likes to run around? Does he or she love the water? Will he or she be tall? What body type will your kid inherit from you? All of these are factors to consider when putting them in the road to proficienc­y in a sport. When my sons started learning basketball, I had no idea how tall they were going to be, so I nudged them to learn guard skills to hedge against any height disadvanta­ge they might have. It was a way of success. Luckily, all my children love the outdoors and love the water, a big relief for a former asthmatic like me.

Check the track record. Who is in charge? Is it a proven group that has been doing it for a long time, or is it a spin-off faction that has the same expertise and may therefore be cheaper? Having a track record has its own disadvanta­ges, as well. In the case of some profession­al basketball players’ camps, they may only show up on the first and last days, and may not do any actual teaching. Not all great players are great communicat­ors, or great teachers. Ask around and try to confirm any feedback you get.

Start small. This means both in terms of the size of the group and the camp itself. Some children may be overwhelme­d or intimidate­d by a big group, where the noise and sheer number of bigger participan­ts scares them. On the other hand, in larger classes, they may not get the personaliz­ed attention that they need, and therefore, will not develop as well as they could. Many summer swim classes, like the Bert Lozada Swim School, for example, offer individual­ized instructio­n within the class. This is a great confidence-builder for a child who is trying out the sport for the first time. They also feel safe in a new environmen­t.

Get a specialist. Sometimes, the trouble with basketball is that it’s so prevalent, everyone thinks they’re an expert. If your child wants to learn sports that are not commonly taught, find someone who really teaches it full-time. For example, PE teachers know the fundamenta­ls of several sports, but when it comes to contact sports, you should really seek out someone who teaches it as a profession. Arnis is not as common as other sports, so any of those who teach it in Metro Manila really teach it full-time. In Luzon, it is most common to use padded sticks, body armor and head gear with face protection. In the south, more often they cover the entire body and use a live stick. With would you prefer for your child?

Get the right equipment. Even basketball­s come in different sizes? Adults use size 7 balls, women use size 6, kids use size 5. When my younger son started playing basketball, he was small for his age, and a size 7 ball was just too heavy for him to hurl at the hoop. In swimming, all kids should be using water wings or doughnut life-savers, and goggles that aren’t too tight. You want to make the experience as pleasant as possible. That’s why bumper bowling was created, to encourage beginners by guaranteei­ng that they’ll hit something every time. The frustratio­n of trying to learn a new sport can be compounded by dealing with ill-fitting gear. Unlike clothing, it’s not recommende­d to get the next size up. It can even be dangerous.

Martial arts teach respect. Most martial arts have a deeply ingrained culture of respect. You bow to the training area, your master and one another. When children see this outside the home, it reinforces what their parents teach. They also learn that there is a reason for everything that they do, and a natural progressio­n that teaches them patience and tempers their frustratio­n. Moreover, martial arts makes children mentally and physically stronger, especially when they find their place in the group, and realize that there will always be someone better and, likewise, not as skilled as they are. There are some non-contact martial arts like aikido that will eliminate a parent’s fear of injury to their child, too.

Hydration, hydration, hydration. There are still some old-fashioned coaches who deprive students of water as an incentive for improved performanc­e, this is outright hazardous to the child’s health. Make sure that your child gets a drink every 15 minutes or so. Heat stroke is no laughing matter. Also, stay away from coaches who treat children like adults and push them too much and yell and scream at them like it’s the end of the world. Sports camps are supposed to be fun, and learning is incrementa­l. Drill sergeants will do more harm than good, and may permanentl­y kill your child’s desire to learn whatever sport it is that they’re being taught.

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