Many Charlotte Health and Fitness readers are parents. And as CHF Publisher David Klein and parent of student athletes knows all too well, coordinating children and sports is a juggling act. When school starts, school sports can take on a life all their own.

But despite the inconvenience of traveling between games, practice and the expense of such endeavors, dedicated parents labor on, carting kids to everything from soccer to martial arts. Why the fuss? Because most parents know what studies have been telling us for years: In athletes versus non athletes, students who participate in a team or community-based sport reported fewer health issues and fewer discipline referrals, have a better self image and, their grades are typically higher than non athletes.

So for the August issue of CHF, we asked the experts how parents can discover their child’s natural sporting abilities, what parents can do to be supportive, and what they can do to help their child, “Make the Team”.

Recognizing Your Child’s Natural Abilities

Experts say there’s nothing like good old fashioned everyday play to provide early signs of natural abilities. Free play can influence and define a child’s sports abilities. And, free play is the best way to help a child discover not only his or her favored sports, but also provides the creative outlet kids need to associate skill with activity. Director of Athletics for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Vicki Hamilton, who has 30 years of sports and education experience says parents should watch closely for the interest of the child.

“Freestyle playing will lead children towards activities they enjoy, such as little league, cheerleading, or soccer respectively,” she said, adding that neighborhoods that encourage community team sports are excellent places for children to discover their natural abilities. What’s more, children who participate in such activities will be better prepared for school sports. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) shows that play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.

Tools to Help Your Athlete Make the Team

In communities and faith-based organizations, a wide variety of teams and non-competitive sports activities already exist. It’s only natural that a child who is previously involved in community sports is more likely to succeed when they initially try out for a sports team at school. Once you’ve figured out which sports your child naturally enjoys and is good at, they may decide to try out for their school team. George Maoury of Dynamic Sports Performance says parents of athletically inclined kids should not try to live vicariously through their child, but rather be there to offer support.

“So many parents force kids into all sorts of programs which can lead the child to end up resenting the sport,” said Maoury. “If the child is athletically inclined then just be there to take them to practice and games.” Maoury also recommends that kids who may not be athletically inclined but who want to participate in an athletic program get involved in recreational or church sports program. 

The following tips represent what the experts say will help youngsters excel in these respective sports.

Football
Coaches suggest players should specialize their football drills to eliminate weaknesses. If a player already throws a solid, spiraling ball, they should focus on footwork drills that help manage movements. Usually a high school football coach will have weight training sessions going on year round to help players work on improving strength, speed, and size. Participate in speed and agility drills to measure improvements in speed and conditioning such as the 40-yard dash, T-drill and vertical jump. Such drills help players improve skills and during tryouts, as well as provide coaches with a player’s measurable physical attributes. (Credit: HappyNews.com/High School Football)

Soccer
Shielding is an important component of a winning soccer game. One exercise that sharpens shielding skills is to dribble in a small square and have an opponent try to take the ball. The player should use his or her body to shield the ball from the defender, always keeping the ball between the body and the defender. Call out to stop play now and again, and the team who doesn’t have the ball must do push-ups or sprints as a penalty. Another popular soccer drill is to carry the ball into the open space - all the while shielding the ball from the defender, dragging the ball along as the defender pushes against the player. Work on cutting the ball back and forth and practice shielding the ball using all parts of both feet. (Credit: Soccer Tips from the Pros)

Women's Softball and Baseball
The “Colored Ball Drill” consists of hitting or tossing the ball to a fielder in the ready position. The fielder calls the color of the ball as he/she is fielding it. By having the fielder call the color of the ball, the player is sure that he/she is watching the ball fall into the glove. The “Left/Right Drill” involves an outfielder moving back as a coach calls “Left” or “Right”. The outfielder should do this several times to work on turning in both directions, and then throw a fly ball. The “Target Drill” includes a coach hitting or tossing a ball (grounder or fly ball) to an outfielder. The outfielder fields the ball and throws it at a “Target” The target can be a towel on the fence, a pail, a net, with the objective being able to field a ball and quickly throw it to a specific spot. (Credit: Balltips.com)

Cross Country Running
Cross-Country athletes run between two and five miles per day, depending on the coach. Experts say the best way to improve running time is simply to run more. Set up a schedule to run four days a week with at least one longer run of three to five miles. Running longer builds endurance which improves one-mile and shorter distance running times. The “Speed Workout” is a session where the runner runs for eight minutes at an easy pace, then fast and controlled for 45 seconds, then back to easy for 45 seconds. The “Steep Hill Workout” is great for improving running strength, which improves overall running times. (Warm up first and cool down after.) Find a dirt or grass hill and run up it fast using short, quick strides with a high knee lift for 30 seconds. Then slowly walk down the hill and lightly jog for about three minutes. (Credit: KidzWorld.com)

Gymnastics
Checking of body muscle tightness helps in training for sports like gymnastics and dance. Stand on the floor with arms over head. First do this with shoulders pushed out and the muscles in the back as tight as possible. Have someone taller push down on the hands, as if they were trying to push the shoulders away from the ears. For balancing drills, focus on a spot on the floor (or if the child is already a gymnast, on a balance beam). Stare at the spot or a chalk mark on the beam. Kick up into a handstand and have someone hold your feet. Squeezing your midsection, shoulders and legs as tightly as you can, have that person push down gently on your legs. If you are tight enough, you should barely move except for a slight bouncing up and down. Another exercise to strengthen gymnastics skills is the push-up to a hollow position. Squeezing the entire body (shoulders too), have a partner pick up your feet and try to lift you all the way to handstand. (This is great strength for the both of you.) If you are tight enough, you should be lifted all the way to handstand in one smooth movement like a wooden board. (Credit: TulsaGymnastics.com)

Basketball
Basketball shooting drills can help perfect shooting techniques. Begin with the feet shoulder width apart and extend both arms straight over your head. Bend the wrists backward as far as possible and balance the ball on the fingertips of the shooting hand. Place the elbow of the shooting arm a few inches inward toward the face. Shoulders and body should remain facing forward. Slightly rotate the forearm to the outside to gain more comfort and flick your wrist so the ball goes about a foot in the air. Catch the ball with fingertips and repeat the drill. Practice the drill for two minutes at a time and repeat with the opposite hand. Also, remembering “The BEEF” is good way to learn to become a better foul shooter. BEEF stands for...
B-balance-get on the foul line and get your balance.
E-eyes-see the rim.
E-elbow-try to get your elbow under the basketball
F-follow thru-an essential part of all shooting. Make sure you follow thru with a constant, relaxed release.
 (Credit: Basketball.lifetips.com)

What to Do If Your Child Doesn’t Make the Team

With so many choices in school sports, some kids may advance more quickly than others. Vicki Hamilton says it’s a growth process which involves winning and loosing both on and off the field.

“It’s very difficult to have a youngster to try out for the team if they don’t have agility or skills in a particular sport,” said Hamilton. 16,000 students participated in school sports this past year in CMS Schools. But even with 13 sports in 30 middle schools to choose from, some students who want to be on teams just aren’t physically able to do so. Hamilton suggests parents of students who haven’t made it onto school sports teams look into community and church leagues that can lead up to trying out for middle school and high school teams since such programs can help students better their sports skill sets. Hamilton also points out the benefits of non-contact sports such as golf, tennis or fly fishing, sports which students can do on their own. Many of these sports can translate into lifetime hobbies.

The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following advice when a child doesn’t make the team:

• Explain to your child that everyone has different talents and [he or she] might be great at something other than sports.
• Help your child discover what he or she does well and find activities that they can excel in.
• Build on your child’s strengths, no matter what they are in: art, computer technology, singing, chess, crafts, or other areas.
• Before tryouts, find out what skills are needed to make the team. Learn about expectations for attendance at practices and games, equipment parents are expected to buy, required health exams and insurance, and other details. Knowing what is expected can help you determine if the team is a good match for your child’s interests and skills.
• When children do not make a team, they often feel that they let down their parents. This is the time to give your child an extra hug and let him know that he has not let you down. Talk about how you share his sadness but are proud of him for trying and doing his best. Tell him that you love him.

Participating in school sports can give students a sense of belonging and importance and many students cultivate friendships from sports that last throughout their lifetime. Sports have been found to reduce stress and depression, and even discourage cigarette smoking. It has even been suggested that high school sports helps prevent osteoporosis in later life. And, kids who participate in high school sports miss fewer school days.

So embrace your child’s wishes to participate in sports but don’t forget that play time, encouragement and understanding should be part of the journey to “Making the Team”.

Keep It in Perspective
There are only a small number of students who get college athletic scholarships and even fewer who go on to play professional sports. There also are athletes who do not develop their skills until later in life. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team but went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.
Look for activities that your child excels in now and help her develop her unique talents. And remind her that, sports team or not, he or she is always a winner in your family.