Thanks for this. I think another reason kids start sports is that it’s important to one of both of their parents that they do. I guess that’d be called perceived value by family culture (and local social culture) and they start earlier than ever in many cases. In my work as a movement therapist, often working with children and teens, fundamental movement patterns have not yet been integrated by normal free play before kids start drilling repetitive moves in sports practice. My wish for future athletes is that they get lots of free play, even on a sports field with a wide variety of moves during the early years so that, when they reach 12 or 13 they can wholeheartedly and whole-bodily meet the thrill and demands of athletics. Then sports are truly healthy. Thanks for your advocacy for healthy play and athletics. Your voice is very important.
thank you so much for sharing Valerie. Very true. Physical literacy is at an all time low. Families are turning to youth sport for some help, and the youth sport organizations have not adjusted to fill this void.
Kids can not jump, run, change direction, stop/start, hop, roll today. That was always covered through physical education in schools and that is no longer happening.
Youth sport is a great opportunity to integrate these movement skills into their love of the sport, but it is not working well. Early specialization and over emphasis on winning are preventing kids from truely developing until, as you say, their bodies can meet the demands of the sport.
That is why we want these conversations, to share the HOW and WHY so youth sport can fill this void.
Again, thanks for your comments! Appreciate them a lot!
Thanks for this. I think another reason kids start sports is that it’s important to one of both of their parents that they do. I guess that’d be called perceived value by family culture (and local social culture) and they start earlier than ever in many cases. In my work as a movement therapist, often working with children and teens, fundamental movement patterns have not yet been integrated by normal free play before kids start drilling repetitive moves in sports practice. My wish for future athletes is that they get lots of free play, even on a sports field with a wide variety of moves during the early years so that, when they reach 12 or 13 they can wholeheartedly and whole-bodily meet the thrill and demands of athletics. Then sports are truly healthy. Thanks for your advocacy for healthy play and athletics. Your voice is very important.
thank you so much for sharing Valerie. Very true. Physical literacy is at an all time low. Families are turning to youth sport for some help, and the youth sport organizations have not adjusted to fill this void.
Kids can not jump, run, change direction, stop/start, hop, roll today. That was always covered through physical education in schools and that is no longer happening.
Youth sport is a great opportunity to integrate these movement skills into their love of the sport, but it is not working well. Early specialization and over emphasis on winning are preventing kids from truely developing until, as you say, their bodies can meet the demands of the sport.
That is why we want these conversations, to share the HOW and WHY so youth sport can fill this void.
Again, thanks for your comments! Appreciate them a lot!