How to Help Your Child Choose a Sport

Sports and kids; the two go hand in hand. But when faced with specific sports, how are parents and kids to decide? For example, when school starts back up, it won't be long before there are football games to attend. Then it's basketball in the winter. Springtime gives you soccer, baseball, and swimming. With all the options and only so much time, how do you know what kids sports to sign your child up for?

I guess the first and most important thing you need to find out is if your child is even interested in sports. If basketball aren't, then it's probably best not to force them into doing anything they don't want to do, especially if it's to relive your own past or current interests. The child needs to have an interest to begin with, otherwise, they'll not only resent the sport, but also you for making them play it. I suppose that if your kids aren't interested in sports, you could probably stop reading this article, or better yet, find another one that interests you. But for the parents who have to deal with this conundrum, we shall continue. So, if your kid shows interest in children's sports, you should try to find out which ones and why. Their answers may surprise you. Dependent on the age of your child, options may be slightly limited. For example, Elementary schools have less sport opportunities compared to high school, especially when it comes to kids team sports. However, there should be ample opportunity to register them in local sport leagues such as pee-wee football, dancing, swimming, soccer, little league baseball or possibly basketball to name a few. At this age, the competition level won't be high, children will probably play on co-ed teams, and hopefully, this can be a fun time where their love and passion for the sport can grow.

Once you ask your child which sport they would like to try, you can then enroll them to play. Because participation in kids team sports or individual sports is quite time intensive, usually involving both games and practice, it may be best to have your child pick and rank their favorite seasonal sports. By doing this your child can try a variety of sports without it being too detrimental to their school work or your schedule.

As you kids move into higher grades, the opportunity for your children to participate in sports will increase. The amount of children's sports offerings is vast and will provide quite a few opportunities for both boys and girls to pursue their ambitions. The usual kids sport offerings in high school include but aren't limited to football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, and track and field for boys and basketball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer-leading, tennis, and track and field for girls.

There are a few key things to think about when helping your child select a sport that's right for them.

Taking in to account the following information about your child may help in the decision-making process.

* Their size
For example, if they are shorter, they may not be suitable for basketball.

* Their abilities

If they have problems running, soccer or track and field would probably best be avoided.

* Their interests
If they love spending time running alone or competing against their own personal basketball they may be more suited towards individual sports like tennis.

* Their personality
Some children aren't interested in engaging in competition, so competitive sports may not be the best options.

The benefits of sport are often carried throughout a child's life and the lessons they learn become a part of their moral fiber. Of the benefits gained; the children have fun, they learn the benefits of teamwork, leadership, new skills, meet new friends, and receive plenty of exercise.

Many children look for a reason to be active and they often have excess energy to burn. They run non-stop, can be quite competitive, and most will excel at certain athletic skills. Although finding the right kids sports to sign your child up for may take some time, it will likely be well worth the effort.

Eronne Ward is a activist for the protection for children online and runs a kids entertainment and education website - http://www.cackleberries.com

Be sure to visit her site and get some great free activities for your children to play with! - Free Cut-out Paper Toys

Spud Webb Dunk or How to Dunk a Basketball

Do you remember Spud Webb winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986? Standing at only 5'6"!, Spud beat the defending champion Dominique Wilkins with a variety of nasty dunks - a one-handed 360, a two-handed double pump and a 180 reverse double-pump just to name some.

So, its clear that you dont need to be very tall to dunk. Its all about the vertical jump - your vertical jump! And what matters most: you can train it! You can increase your vertical leap. If you dont agree at this point, you dont need to read any further.

Spud Webb had a 42-inch vertical what is yours? To find out, stand near to a wall and stretch your arm upright over your head. Now, mark the top point of your hand on the wall. Put the hand down and mark your fingers with some chalk or paint. Now, jump as high as you can and touch the wall with your hand. The distance between the two marks is you vertical.

Ok, by now, you know where youre at and where you want to be.

The next step is your overall fitness. Your legs must be strong enough to take basketball a vertical program. You also have to lose the extra pounds (if you have some).

For that, go jogging and use the jump rope 3 times a week (jogging: minimum 45 min. 3 times/ week; jump rope: 100 jumps 3 times a week)

Jumping rope not only gives you explosiveness and calf strength but is also a great way to build stamina, and work on your overall leg strength.
Other, highly effective exercises are calf raises and squats, as they train the most important muscle groups in the jumping process. Do these exercises every now and then (the days you do not run).

Important note: dont exaggerate (max. 1 basketball of 8 reps 2 times/ week)! After 2 or 3 weeks your legs should be prepared for a vertical program.

You can now try exercises like this one:

Stand straight up, and jump as high as you can without bending your knees (they will bend slightly). As soon as you hit the ground, jump back up again. Repeat the motion a number of times. This exercise is very effective at strengthening your lower leg muscles.

personal trainer

Or, you take up a real vertical program. Personally, I can only recommend Go Up Strong http://www.howtodunk.org but you can also try other programs.

When you stick to it and do the exercises seriously, you should be able to dunk in less than 8 weeks. p.s. Did you know Spud Webb once dunked over the 76 (!) former NBA Center Manute Bol?

Guards at Basketball

One basketball the most important part of a basketball team is point guard. Point guard has to have a great view of the game, they always have to know where other players from their team are placed and how they are basketball to move.

Point guards must have some well trained skills. One of the most important skills is ball possession, because point guards are in the game to get the ball from their half to opponents half and when the other team is playing full court press that can be a hard thing to do for a point guard with bad ball possession. Point guards should always know at what tempo their team should be playing and they should never rush to the basket if that is not necessary. Of course point guard should not only know how to handle the ball, point guard should also be able to make a good shot for three points and be able to dribble few players and make a good layup.

One of the things that a lot of people forget is that good play makers are not only good in offence but they are also good in defense. At the end of the game when you look at the statistics, good player will not only be recognized by assists and points but also by stolen balls and turnovers that opposite playmaker did because of the pressure. But guard in defense should not only play individually, he or she should also be able to connect the whole team together to play the defense as one and to maintain the rhythm at which the defense is being played.

All in all to be a good point guard offence and defense should play equally big parts in the game.

Learn about different basketball training and vertical training techniques at Improve vertical.