What’s the best way to encourage children to take up sport?

Question

Yahoo! Answers staff note: This is the real Ernie Els. Look here for more detail: http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-qT1KKPQoRKdVT4lowpJCljbFokkuIzI8?p=1163

Answer 1

Encourage them from the time they are young, start them early. Lead them from the front - don't tell them they should take up sport, spend time with them in playing outdoor games. But, most importantly, don't ever force them into doing anything, else they will take dislike to sporting activities.

While you can start them off with swimming (one of the sporting activities) at a very early age, once they join school, encourage them to participate in school sports. Be there to cheer them when they are participating in any school sport activity and if they don't win any prizes, don't discourage them by critcizing them.

Answer 2

I would suggest that between inclusion in sports that are already an activity within the family., or school. Exposure to other sports that are prevalent and prove to be enjoyable to the child.

Education at an early age of the advantages and variety of sports that are available, and present role models of those different sports to the child so that they appreciate the dedication required and the goals and accolade that can be achieved.
All too many times I have seen parents push their children in a direction of a sport that appeals to themselves, or was a sport they were good at when younger. The problem with that is there are so many variations, and kids have often very different ideas than their parents. How many great sports men and women could have there been only if they had been introduced to a sport they really loved and took to at the right time.. Of course with so many options it can be difficult for parents, or pre school and primary schools, to find the right key for each child. I don't doubt that each child has a particular bias to a type of sport, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will excel at it, for a number of reasons.
Importantly there are two factors here, in the first place they should whatever be allowed the opportunity, and secondly if they do wane and really cease to be serious, they should'nt be pushed into it further, because of a parents wishes, or as I hear often, the parents have spent a lot of money on this sport, so the child must do it. It would be more constructive to assess the positives from the sport that has proved to be unsuccessful, and offer the child alternatives.
It can be costly, if for each sport tried the child is bought every conceviable item concerned with the sport they choose to try. But it doesn't have to be that way. For many sports there are outlets and clubs where by using the venues equipment a "try it and see" can be arranged. If not, many sports can be tried with either cheaper second hand equipment, or through buying the basic requirements of the sport, or even borrowing a friends and joining in. Perhaps these points covered are the main reasons why there are not many more sports achievers, because the overseers whether it be the parents or schools choose not to promote sport as a worthwhile activity because of cost, available facilities, or simply the inteference of all the other facets that encroach on modern day living.
In conclusion, education and awareness is primary to ignite that spark in the children, but in addition, and indeed more importantly, there needs to be an education of the people who are in a position to guide and influence the children in the first place, and continue to maintain a realistic level of encouragement.

Answer 3

Its important that we find something that stimulates the youngster be it an individual event or a team sport and that is likely to come from their background - the school environment and cultural influences. Team sports are also defined by geographical position where certain sports are encouraged more and easier to take part in organised coaching etc. We should never force the child since it could end up that we have made them detest something that they once loved. All we simply want to do is identify the interest then help them and support them in whatever way they can. Not everyone is a Tiger Woods, Venus Wiilams, or Wayne Rooney so we must make sure the child is at a level where they are comfortable as well as at the limit of their ability. Encouragement is the important factor and it must start in the home from parents and brothers and sisters then it moves up a level to the school or local coach who will have more experience and can guide the child to the next phase where a certain level of excellance has been attained and a career is a possibilty. The whole way through the process it is important that the child's wishes are considered as we should not forget that the main point of sport is for enjoyment. I'm quite sure the reason you got into golf was because you enjoyed the game and this is the underlying principle for everyone. When the child has to be forced then everything is lost.

Answer 4

Dear Ernie,

Firstly, congratulations on your birthday today! Hope you have many more and even more Majors!

Secondly, your question. I suppose there is neither a correct nor incorrect answer. Unfortunately, I believe the 'fix' is not one that is quick. My personal opinion is that sport has become a 'click' in which only the talented, well-built etc etc may partake in. I believe this is the fault of the institution starting at primary school level. The sports teachers tend to pick only the strongest and talented kids and they get preferential treatment. The famous "b" or second team always plays in the shadow of others. At primary level, more kids will try out at sports. Talent is not yet as evident and athletic build mostly underdeveloped. However, when the average child gets picked for the b or c team(or not at all), it leaves a scar. Moving over to high school, kids become EXTREMELY self-aware. So, scared of not being in the A team, they rather find something else to do. You see this right through SA schools. Schools with big numbers struggles to push three senior rugby teams into competition and when a 3rd or 4th team can be established, they don't have a league to play in because of lack of opposition.

The stigma: "only the best can play" MUST somehow be done away with. Whe need to put fun back in the game. It is all so serious. Look at high school rugby, the pressure is intense. I've seen 18 year old boys cry when they lose a game. The fun have been taken away. Put fun back so that the lesser talented should not feel ashamed or out of place to partake in the sports activities. School sports have really become a activity for only a select few with talent. Save that for the professional arena after school.

How can this be done in practice? This is indeed a difficult question. I believe that the new SuperSport initiative will do wonders. However, I feel clubs outside school has a great role to play. This is a arena where the peer pressure and clicks of school does not exist. I have seen time and time again that children play their sports (especially cricket) at clubs and at school they wont dare to do so even in breaktime. Clubs should actively try to establish a different (friendly) environment for sports with the main goal being fun. When kids see the fun and not the competition or pressure of A or B teams they will commit easier. With the kind of peer pressure or risk of being humiliated at school, I believe a new environment for sports could further a greater involvement from the kids sitting at home.

thanks for the question and good luck for the first win... its not far away!

regards

Niel Lubbe

Answer 5

Then a divide slowly sets in. Children have to compete for places in school teams and in classes a lot of sports teachers tend to focus on the children who show immediate flare and potential. Consequently the ones who find a sport difficult very often have little time spent with them and are not encouraged enough. They give up at sport because teachers want to work with those who can do it straight away, so they can get a team together quickly to play other schools and win competitions. Some children sense that they are weaker because they can't do it and sport should not just be about competitions and being the best. It should be about keeping healthy and having fun!

Answer 6

Children have to compete for places in school teams and in classes a lot of sports teachers tend to focus on the children who show immediate flare and potential. Consequently the ones who find a sport difficult very often have little time spent with them and are not encouraged enough. They give up at sport because teachers want to work with those who can do it straight away, so they can get a team together quickly to play other schools and win competitions. Some children sense that they are weaker because they can't do it and sport should not just be about competitions and being the best. It should be about keeping healthy and having fun!

Answer 7

In poorer nations, this is not so much a problem but resources are and I can only suggest that sporting institutions set up academies in these nations (some football clubs do this already) to bring on talent and invest something. The other problem is that so many kids are not encouraged to take up sport unless they are a natural at it. I speak from experience because I had little encouragement at school and was always back then physically quite weak. All kids should learn that it is not just the tallest and most mature kid who can be good at sport. Building confidence in children at sport (as well as academics) is important so that it does not stay the preserve of 'jocks'

Answer 8

I myself think this should start very young with parents giving them encouragement firstly , by keeping fit , say running twice a week , skipping ,walking to school or even jogging to school, as soon as a child has any interest in any form of sport parents should support this interest , take the child swimming , ballet , football , give them the taste for all types of sport so they can make their own mind up to what suits them, Then its the schools turn , Sport should be on the curriculum at least 3 times per week , keep fit should be 3 times a week also, every sport should be on offer , this way we will not only have a fit Nation for the future we will have more Sport stars for the future too, maybe more for the Olympics , Also make sport enjoyable and children will want to do more.

Answer 9

If children don't learn the fundamentals of sport, playtime can become devious or disappear prematurely; isn't the forty-five year-old enjoying his own "playtime" on the golf course saturday afternoons? So, how do we introduce children to sport? First, make it available for them to discover; cheap/free access to driving ranges, equipment and golf instruction is a great idea. Likewise, soccer and cricket access/instruction. They could be shown videos (maybe once a week during school) with varying topics on sports stars. These programs could include information such as the fundamentals of the game as well as the benefits that sport has has on that particular sports star's life. Perhaps certain athletes could speak at schools. Non-pro parents could also speak to children about the benefits that sports have had on their lives (obviously,besides income like life lession, etc.). I think the key to all the instruction is to play the game within the allowed parameters. This carries over into there lives in the form of integrity and is the way a program of this sort can have a positive impact on society as a whole.

Answer 10

One way is to join in yourself, without a doubt. But one would need to take into account other scenario's too. Maybe a child is a little overweight/underweight and has trouble keeping up with their friends. So encouraging a healthy diet from a very early age is so very important.
Make sure that the child knows that sport comes in so many varying forms and it makes no difference if they can or cant kick a ball. This may come as a shock to some people but the world does not revolve around football!
As a parent, support the child, no matter how many different things the child wants to try and be there for them no matter what. The sad part is that, in this day and age, even if the child is good at the sport theres always a huge cost for equipment involved.

Answer 11

All too many times I have seen parents push their children in a direction of a sport that appeals to themselves, or was a sport they were good at when younger. The problem with that is there are so many variations, and kids have often very different ideas than their parents. How many great sports men and women could have there been only if they had been introduced to a sport they really loved and took to at the right time.. Of course with so many options it can be difficult for parents, or pre school and primary schools, to find the right key for each child. I don't doubt that each child has a particular bias to a type of sport, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will excel at it, for a number of reasons.