Why sport is good for kids

Playing organised sports can be good for kids and teens in many ways.

For example, depending on age and interests, it can help kids and teens to:

• develop physical fitness, self-esteem and confidence
• improve movement and coordination skills
• learn to listen and follow instructions
• learn about teamwork, cooperation, leadership and other life skills
• learn about fair play and being a good sport
• build resilience in childhood and resilience in the pre-teen and teenage years
• make new friends outside of school.

Sport can teach your child that trying their best is more important than winning or losing. That’s because your child can control the effort they put into sport, but they can’t control the result. The effort, not the result, is what makes sport a success or failure.

How to get your child into sport

Your child is likely to try a sport if it suits their interests, preferences and strengths. And playing with friends is often important for enjoyment.

Encourage your child to try different sports

Your child will probably enjoy sports or activities that suit their abilities and strengths. The best way to find these activities is by giving your child opportunities to try plenty of different sports and to be involved in more than one sport across a year.

Trying a variety of sports will give you and your child a good sense of what they enjoy and what makes them feel good about themselves. It will also help to prevent injuries from overusing the same body part in the one sport.

Some local sports clubs offer ‘come and try’ sessions, or short skills programs, so your child can have a go at different sports without having to pay a lot of money.

Build your child’s skills

You can help your child build skills by giving them plenty of opportunities to practise. For example, you could get your younger child to hit, throw, catch or kick different sorts of balls as far as they can. As your child gets older and stronger, they can work on accuracy by aiming at a target. Your child might also enjoy practising sport-specific skills with you or their friends.

You could also help your child set small, reachable goals, like running to catch up with another player or dancing for one song longer.

Building skills will build your child’s confidence.

Help your child manage emotions

Worries about not being good enough or not being as good as others can hold some kids back from starting or enjoying sport. You can help with this by encouraging your child to focus on what they’re doing well rather than comparing themselves to others.

You might also need to help your child manage the emotions that can come with sport. For example, children often feel strong emotions like excitement or nervousness before a game or disappointment if they lose. You can help your child with these emotions by focusing on positive things like playing with teammates and meeting new people, rather than winning and losing.

Consider club or team environments

Many kids prefer relaxed, supportive and less competitive coaches, clubs or sports. Other kids like competitive environments, particularly as they get older.

Talking with other parents, team coaches or club members is one of the best ways to find out about a club or team environment. The most important thing is to look for an environment that welcomes your child’s efforts.

Children can feel out of place if they’re bigger or smaller than other children, or if they’re less muscular or less skilled. It might help to let your child know that children of all shapes and sizes can enjoy sport.

Why modified sports can be good when your child is young

Many popular sports in Australia have modified versions for children.

These modifications emphasise participation and skill development, rather than results. They can give children a pathway into adult sport through simpler, easier and safer versions of the game. And they can be a good way for younger children to try new sports. Modifications can reduce the risk of injury too.

Modifications often include smaller courts or fields, smaller teams, modified equipment, different rules or options to group children by size rather than age.

Popular modified sports in Australia include tee ball, Cricket Blast, Aussie Hoops basketball, NetSetGO netball, Try Rugby Kids Pathway and Auskick football.

Some organised sports also shift the focus away from competition. For example, they might use participation certificates rather than end-of-season trophies, avoid rankings, and ask coaches and umpires to take a positive approach.

Children with disability can do many physical activities and sports. Many sports have been modified so that children with disability can fully participate and be included.

How to handle changes in sport as your child gets older

As children get older, the emphasis in sport shifts to a more adult, winning-focused style. Some children enjoy the competition. Other children might prefer other styles of physical activity.

If your child isn’t enjoying sport anymore, you can help them think about ways to stay involved – for example, changing to a different team, coach, sport or physical activity. This might mean they can still get the physical and social benefits of sport without the focus on competition and the pressure to win.

Why it’s important to be positive and encouraging at your child’s sport

By talking and behaving in positive and encouraging ways at sport, you help to create a good experience for your child and their teammates. This is key to your child’s enjoyment.

For example, think about how your child and their friends might feel if you shout something like ‘How could you miss that?’ or ‘Can’t you run faster?’ Compare those feelings to how your child might feel if you say, ‘Great shot – better luck next time!’ or ‘Keep going – you’re almost there’.

Your tone and body language can have a big influence too. If your child thinks you’re angry with them for missing a shot, it can take the fun out of sport. It can also affect your child’s self-esteem, if it makes them think they’re not good at sport.

But if you look and sound like you’re feeling positive and having fun, this can help your child feel the same way. At the end of the match, you can tell your child how much fun you had watching them play.

Other people’s behaviour can affect your child’s enjoyment of sport. If your child sees any negative or abusive behaviour on the sidelines, it’s important to talk with your child about it afterwards. Check in with how your child is feeling, and explain why that behaviour isn’t OK.

Why it’s important to be a good sporting role model for your child

You are your child’s most important role model. This means you have a powerful influence on your child’s feelings about sport.

Keep it positive

Whether you’re watching sport with your child, watching your child play, or playing yourself, it can help to be aware of your comments. Criticising or abusing a team, umpire or anyone else can send a negative message to your child.

Praise effort

It’s also good to point out and praise athletes and teams who don’t come first. You can talk to your child about how hard the athlete or team tried, despite the result. You might like to give examples of athletes you admire who don’t always win but who are known as good sports.

Focus on fun

When your child comes home after playing sport, ask your child whether they had fun rather than asking whether they won or lost. Focus on enjoyment, participation, effort and being a good sport.

Get involved

Getting involved in your child’s sport shows you support them. It also shows your child that one of the best things about sport is being part of a community. There are many ways you can get involved – for example, coaching or managing the team, washing the team shirts, bringing the oranges, working in the club canteen or scoring the game.

Your child loves to please you, make you proud and gain your approval. You can send your child a powerful message about what makes you proud. Will you be proud because your child tried their best or because of the number of goals they scored?

What if your child isn’t into sport?

Not all kids are into sport. That’s OK.

If your child doesn’t want to play sport, there are many other fun ways they can stay physically active. Examples include:

• walking or bushwalking with family and friends
• beach activities like snorkelling or bodyboarding
• youth groups – for example, Scouts or Guides
• land conservation and emergency service groups
• dancing, bike riding, skateboarding or scooting
• yoga, Pilates or tai chi
• gym sessions or other fitness classes.