Small Kids and sports..

[atlnewf]

My son (4yo) is interested in lots of sports. I want to expose him to non-competitive sports but am at a loss. I look at martial arts and see very little aimed at the little guys (Joe Corley being one of the few). I've tried gymnastics (so-so interest). Swimming (pretty good). Most baseball and soccer programs appear to be competitive in set-up (I'm not interested in Saturday games at this point, just an intro to the sport.) I've got him in an intro to basketball class through the county, but there's SO many kids in the class that it's not really effective (he loses interest and thinks he's "losing" at the game).

Any suggestions, ideas, for other sports and what to look for?

Ashley

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm not really sure what you mean by non-competitive. Most league programs for a 4 year old offer games where they don't keep score or the score is meaningless and everybody gets a trophy at the end of the season. I can assure you however that the concept of losing is much more upsetting to many parents than it is to a 4 year old kid.

I have a feeling that you are going to have a hard time avoiding Saturdays. Most kids sports programs are volunteer operated, which means the coaches are available during non-working hours which pretty much translates into Saturdays.

You might want to check with your local park district and YMCA to see what kind of afternoon classes they offer that you could sign him up for.

 

[atlnewf]

The local soccer academy has a program for his age. They 'practice' one day during the week, then have a 'game' on Saturday morning. I'd rather just have the practice (that's just me, though).

Ashley

 

[Steve H.]

I'd look into the "game", though -- like TF said, while it might be called a game, it likely has no scores and no winner or loser, thus taking some of the competitiveness out of it.

 

[RaySharpton]

I haven't coached in a long time, and things might have changed; but I think soccer is a great sport for a young person's first team experience.

Every kid loves to kick a ball. And in soccer you kick a ball.

You don't have to put on big shoulder pads and helmets which might intimidate some young chiildren.

You don't have to bounch a ball that's really too big for a small body to dribble at the same time and shoot.

And in baseball or T-ball, the spotlight can be put on one player when he is up to bat a ball or make a play.

What's more natural than kicking a ball. Plus the child is introduced to team play and interacting with other team mates.

The child can learn to play and work with other players without much pressure if any, and then develop other interests in baseball, or basketball, or football, etc..

This is just my personal experience over the years of coaching kids.

Good luck.

And I think that you will enjoy soccer with your child as you get on the field with him and help him play in te game and at practice.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My 4 year old son is playing indoor soccer. He isn't a star by any means, but he is finally getting good at the drills. When the "game" starts (no score) he may not get to the ball (there always seems to be a kid who really knows what he's doing) but he has a ball just running in the right direction.
I find to my chagrin that sports for 4 year olds is getting very competetive. My DH works a lot and has not done a lot of sports with DS. I don't have an athletic bone in my body! Last summer we did 4 year old TBall. He was a VERY young 4, but some of these boys were hitting it past the infield! One parent told me "we can't use a tee at home or he'd be breaking every window, he hits it so hard!" Then I doubt myself because Ryan is lucky if he hits it when it's on the tee! The leagues may try to keep it noncompetetive, but the parents don't. In our town they start softball/baseball in 1st grade, and draft the teams in 2nd grade! And I know in my old hometown they just started football for 3rd and 4th graders, and wrestling starts at age 5.
Robin M.

 

[SuiteDisney]

Competition is a part of sports, there's no getting around it. It does help that at that age, teams usually don't keep score. You should still let him get involved if he's interested or by the time he's older he won't be able to compete with the kids who have been playing for years.