VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 WINTER 2024
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
5 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN HELPING YOUR CHILD CHOOSE A SPORT
BY SARAH AMYOT
Is your child the next Travis Kelce or Sha’Carri Richardson? Here are five factors to consider when helping your child choose a sport:
1. Interest level Some children enjoy watching Navy football with their dads, or going to Mother/Son Night Out at the Bowie Baysox Stadium. On the other hand, some children can’t sit through one quarter of a professional basketball game. Pay attention to the sports your child likes to watch–which ones hold their interest? Perhaps those are the sports your child will be interested in trying. 2. Physical traits Genetics and body composition play a big role in sports. In a group sport, teams require a variety of players – a center in basketball is typically the tallest person on the team, close to 7 ft. in professional leagues, while an offensive lineman in football may be over 300 lbs.! So perhaps consider your child’s physical traits and build when choosing a sport…BUT—don’t let this limit your child! Many athletes have broken barriers through hard work and dedication. 3. Individual vs. Group Does your child play well with others? There’s a big difference between an individual sport like golf versus a team sport like cheerleading. In an individual sport, your child is focused solely on themselves to perfect their craft. In a team sport, your child may feel pressure to perform well because their teammates are relying on them (on the flip side, some kids may feel less pressure being on a team rather than performing as an individual). Which would help your child thrive?
4. Traditional vs. Nontraditional Sports Pickleball, archery, or futsal, anyone? Nontraditional sports are on the rise! When most people think of sports – they think of the sports that are widely seen on TV, such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Widen your options as you explore the sports world. There’s also parkour, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, X games, etc. 5. Cost As you begin to narrow down sport options for your child, do a little bit of research on potential costs related to each sport. Take into consideration equipment, travel, competition fees, lessons, etc. – these can be quite costly. You can also look into grants and scholarships for youth sports. Did you know that the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department has a scholarship fund for kids who do not have the financial means to participate in fee-based recreational programs? Check out their website for more info. Before you have your child’s college scholarship and pro career all mapped out, remember that your child is still a child! It may take several attempts at different sports to find the best fit. Or you may find that your child is more interested in the arts or music, which is also totally fine! Sports at a young age provide your child with friendly competition, fun, and an outlet to be active. Enjoy the process of discovering his or her niche.
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