Regular stretching and exercise along with proper nutrition should become routine for children at a very young age. Children who develop good health habits will become less prone to disease and other physical ailments and lead a much more productive life. Good health habits should become a life long priority to be passed down from generation to generation. The amateur-sports.com "Health & Fitness Program" is an easy to read guide for young people to follow that will help them become more physically fit and/or better athletes. Whether they play high school sports or just want to feel and look good, this program, if used properly, will help them build self esteem while teaching them the importance of good health. Read it with your children and refer to it often, you might want to use the program yourself. Parents should also read the "Nutrition" section (below) for healthy tips, recipes and a great substitution chart.
SPORTS & TEAMS
Children should be involved with sports because they want to be, and not because their parents want them to. Many young athletes are forced to play sports and never develop into successful athletes.
Besides being effective, exercises and sports participation MUST hold the interest of the athlete involved. Young athletes loose interest very quickly and must be fully entertained by what ever activity they are involved in. If a child looses interest, he or she will not want to participate.
Many children and young adults drop out of organized sports because some sports lack the much needed fun aspect of their involvement. The same "boring aspect" that applies to exercise, applies to sports as well. Sports MUST be fun or no one will play. If a child enjoys playing a particular sport, he or she will play more often and with more intensity. This combination will result in a more successful athlete.
Music is sometimes effective in keeping the fun element present while exercising and practicing. Riding a stationary bike, treadmill or jogging on a track can be enhanced with the introduction of ones favorite music. Athletes (especially young ones) seem to practice with more endurance and for longer intervals when modern dance music is played through a Walkman or other means.
Competition is also fun for most young athletes as long as it is fair and consistent. When choosing sides for a scrimmage or practice game, the sides should be equally proportioned for maximum fun. Placing all the best athletes on one side and beginners with less expertise on the other, will discourage the beginners from continuing and will be boring and less challenging for the more advanced athletes. If the two sides were equally coordinated, more fun for everyone will result.
When groups of athletes or teams are involved, the role of coaches and parents is very important. A good coach should not only help children develop physically, but, should help them develop emotionally. Coaches need to gain the respect of their athletes to make them participate at their fullest potential. Never should an athlete of any age be treated unfairly or different than the rest and when discipline is necessary, it should be done in private and not embarrassing to the athlete involved.
A good relationship between coaches and parents is also essential for the success of a team. Many parents just drop off their children at practices and games, making the coach feel like a baby-sitter. Parents should get involved in their children’s activities and should volunteer to help the coach in performing team related tacks. Taking attendance, bringing drinking water, carrying equipment, etc., will give parents a sense of involvement. These acts also let children know their parents are concerned about the activities they participate in. Many coaches assign titles to parents, such as, team secretary, equipment manager, etc., to help parents stay involved. These ideas work well when a few simple rules are applied. The first thing for parents to remember is, the coach is the one in charge. He holds the title "coach" for many reasons. Respect his or her position. A coach is like the president of a company and has the final say when it involves the team. If the team is not successful, the coach gets the blame, not the parents.
Opinions are probably welcome, but, like disagreements, they should always be discussed in private and away from the team. When a parent does not agree with a coach's decision, they should ask for an explanation and never involve the athletes. If parents don't respect the coach, the athletes won't either. This will become a negative combination for the team.
Please read the "Injuries and Preventing Them" section for more parent and coach's information.
