Athletics and running for 6yr olds?

Question

My niece is 6 and is brilliant and interested in running and athletics. The athletics clubs in her locality (Berkshire, UK) seem to only take kids from 7 and some not until they are 9. Do you know of any mini or infant clubs? There must be other children her age that want to run. I would like to capture her enthusiasm while we can.

Answer 1

I saw some very brilliant books written about developing speed in children. It was recommended to me by one of the most well known coaches in australia. his name is Steve Bennit but i don't think he wrote the book. Ask a clerk at barnes and nobles or another bookstore.

Answer 2

Hi Georgie S, just wanted to add another confirmation here that there is no reason to have your son circumcised. In fact your question reached me by way of a pro-foreskin group, so know that there a number of people out there who care and want to educate people about what a normal, intact male should be. First of all, your son is 6. Most boys that age can't retract their foreskin in the first place and any doctor or other person who tells you you need to pull the skin back is ignorant on the care of an intact penis. Just because he is a doctor, doesn't mean he knows everything. Most boys don't begin to be able to pull their foreskin back until they reach 9 or ten and some even as late as 15 or 16. phimosis is really only a condition after the boys penis has grown and makes getting an erection impossible. Even then there are a number of possible solution like those mentioned here already such as manual stretching, steroid creams and the like. In the rare situation where medical help is needed, pro-foreskin doctors are still going to do what they can to keep your son intact as he was made. There is a simple procedure, much like and epesiotomy for women where a small slit is made and sutured to give the foreskin a little more room to move. In the rare case that circumcision is the only option, even then, only the frenular band is removed, not the entire foreskin like with routine infant circumcision. No documented research, even within the medical community can prove any reason for routine circumcision yet most american doctors are still convinced it is the way to go. Yet there is a whole mess of documented research that suggests that circumcision can do a whole host of harm to a boy, the least of which is infection and stunted penis growth to over aggresive cuts. It may be that the doctor retracted his penis as an infant in which case scarring could be an issue. But as noted here before, that too can be overcome with neosporin or vaseline, or a steroid cream with gradual stretching. In no case is circumcision necessary. Only if the penis is deformed would circumcision be needed. I hope you hear that loud and clear. Get a second, third or even fourth opinion if you need to. You made the right decision to keep your son intact, don't let american ignorance take that from him. My cousin had the same problem as your son, the doctors told his mom the same thing, fortunately he is perfectly happy today with a fully functioning normal penis and is very thankful to have his foreskin still. You know what's right for your son, fight to keep it that way.

Answer 3

I love the words some of you Brits use...Brilliant!

Wish I could help, but since I'm over here in the states, I don't know of any, but you could try to contact UK Athletics or Amatuer Athletics Association of England (AAA). Make Seb work for his money!

I wish the both of you good luck. Keep running!

Answer 4

If you're healthy, run with her!