At What Age Should My Child Start Playing Sports?

At What Age Should My Child Start Playing Sports?

At Little Boomers, we have programs for a wide range of kids — from 3 to 12 years old. However, what level of sports is safe for children that young? To answer this question, we’ve worked with accredited sports scientists from the University of Technology Sydney to develop programs that tackle the development of children’s fundamental movement skills (FMS).

FMS refers to physical tasks with varying degrees of difficulty. They include things like being able to properly handle a ball (throwing, bouncing, dribbling, etc.), balancing on one foot, and more. Most sports use a variety of these skills in their play, and if practised safely, can be excellent ways of developing children’s early motor capabilities.

What Kind of Programs Are Offered to Young Children?

When raising children, it can be difficult to know when the right time is to get them involved in local sports. Some experts believe that kids shouldn’t start playing sports until they’ve reached the age of 7 or 8, and most parents abide by these sensible standards. After all, most children younger than 6 are incapable of understanding the rules of basketball, let alone playing it.

In most situations, kids are relegated to the playground until their bones have been given more time to develop. However, that doesn’t mean parents have to entirely rule their children out of playing sports until that age.

It’s true that children shouldn’t be playing competitively until they’ve gotten out of their toddler years, and that’s something we believe at Little Boomers. However, you might be a bit confused — why do we offer basketball programs for children as young as 3 years old?

Well, it’s pretty simple. While children will be practising basketball skills such as dribbling, shooting, and passing, they won’t be playing games or doing anything outside of what their bodies can handle. The amount of running and physical activity involved in full — or even half-length games — isn’t something a toddler’s body can safely participate in regularly.

 

Why Should Kids Play Sports To Begin With?

There are plenty of obvious benefits for kids participating in sports at an early age. Kids get to socialise with one another — with clear tasks to perform — where they’re having fun. This is a great way to not only build friendships but also to learn the ins and outs of communication in a healthy environment. Learning to pass to one another helps develop trust and encourage kids to learn the value of teamwork. Plus, kids learn that games are a lot more fun when played with friends!

Another healthy benefit of learning sports early is that kids develop an awareness of self-improvement. They learn that putting time and dedication into developing a skill results in very obvious rewards. Even a toddler can tell when they’re getting good at something like dribbling. They’ll start to learn to control the ball and build confidence while also learning patience — since a lot of skills in basketball are very difficult to master! Still, no matter how long it takes for a child to get good at something, once they see how it feels to get their first basket or dribble while running, they’ll crack a smile a mile wide.

 

So What’s the Right Age?

That is all dependent on the individual abilities of your child. Children develop at different time frames, so the level of movement that your child is capable of might be different from other kids. It’s always recommended that you consult with your physician to determine whether your child is ready for sports. However, by age 5, most children have developed their FMS to the point of being able to handle activities such as climbing jungle gyms, hopping on one leg, throwing and catching balls, and many other complicated physical tasks.

Physical capability isn’t the only thing to take into consideration. Some children aren’t ready to socialise with other kids when they’re aged 3, 4, or 5. It is recommended that kids start engaging in parallel play around these ages, however, since socialising during these years has a key role in the development of healthy social behaviours.

In most cases, the earlier you start socialising with your child, the better. If you’re unsure whether or not your child is ready to start engaging with other kids, talk to them about it or bring them in for a trial run. If worse comes to worst, there’s always next year. However, Little Boomers also proudly offers daycare services for kids aged 2.5-5.

Like most things in life, there’s no real rule of thumb as to when to start your child in sporting programs. However, as long as you give your child seasons to rest and don’t work them too hard, then the consensus is that mild sports participation provides more benefits than anything else for toddlers and children. If your child is ready, then they’re ready.

At Little Boomers Basketball, all of our programs are designed for beginners allowing for an easy transition into a team sports environment where they can feel comfortable.

 

Visit our website to view the range of classes we can offer you!

Is Basketball Safe for My Child?

Is Basketball Safe for My Child?

There are so many benefits to enrolling your child in a kids’ sports program. Playing children’s sports with other kids their age can be fun, fulfilling, and an excellent opportunity to develop positive habits. For the best possible outcome, however, it’s essential to choose safe sports for kids that won’t put them at risk of being injured.

So, is basketball one of those sports? If you’ve only ever watched basketball played by adults or professionals on TV, you may worry that the sport is too physical. The truth is, basketball is a fantastic sport for kids. Children’s basketball is played very differently than when it’s played by adults. Below, we’ll address all the concerns you’ve likely had regarding the safety of children’s basketball, including the equipment used, the level of physical contact, and much more.

Basketball Is a Limited-Contact Sport

Basketball is technically a contact sport, but many people consider it a non-contact or limited-contact sport. The reason for this is that physical contact is largely discouraged by the rules of the game. For example, you’re not allowed to make contact with a shooter as they’re letting go of the ball. You’re also not allowed to charge people while on offence. These rules, by the way, are for a standard game of basketball played by adults.

Children’s basketball naturally has stricter rules surrounding physical contact. Things like tackling and shoving aren’t permitted. Children are also less incentivised to engage in this behaviour due to the atmosphere and environment of children’s basketball, which will be expanded on below. All to say, basketball is barely considered a contact sport when played by adults. The level of physical contact is a far cry from what you’d see in a sport like rugby or football.

Children’s Basketball Is Friendly

One of the reasons why professional basketball can get so physical is that it’s not played for fun. The athletes’ love of the game is certainly one of the reasons they play, but so is fame, glory, money, and security in their career. There are no stakes like this in children’s basketball.

The emphasis of any good children’s basketball program is on fun, friendliness, and being a good sport, not competition. There is never any animosity or competitiveness encouraged between players. Kids who participate in these programs become friends or at least friendly with all their fellow players. The idea of aggressively charging into another player goes against everything a children’s basketball program stands for.

 

Kids Play With Others Their Own Age

There’s really only one thing that could make children’s basketball an unsafe sport. That’s children playing with other kids much older than they are. Kids’ basketball is typically played by children ages 3 to 12. As you can imagine, having a 5-year-old playing alongside a bigger and stronger 11-year-old could lead to injury.

Thankfully, this is something every children’s basketball program is well aware of. That’s why participants are divided by age into groups. At Little Boomers Basketball, we separate children into four groups, including the Preschoolers for ages 3-4, the Mini Boomers for ages 4-5, the Little Boomers for ages 6-8, and the Mighty Boomers for ages 9-12. This makes the game safer and much fairer for everyone.

The Equipment Is Different

Kids play with different equipment than adult players. Their basketballs, for example, tend to be much smaller. This is to prevent injury on the court and to accommodate their smaller hands.

Kids can also wear knee guards, protective eyewear, and a mouthguard to protect their teeth, mouth, and tongue. The height of the rim is also adjusted to suit the height and strength of the children playing, which helps prevent kids from straining themselves beyond their capabilities.

 

The Game Has Evolved

Basketball is a very different game than when it was first invented by James Naismith 130 years ago. The sport has undergone several safety-related changes that have made it more appropriate for children. This includes an adjustment to out-of-bounds rules to further discourage physical contact and a limit on how many players should be on the court playing at one time. These rules remain active in the sport today, making it safer for all players regardless of age.

Little Boomers Basketball Puts Safety First

Since our founding in 2018, we at Little Boomers Basketball have dedicated ourselves to introducing basketball to kids across Australia through our fun grassroots basketball programs. Our programs, run by accredited coaches, are open to children of all skill levels and abilities. With us, kids don’t just learn how to dribble, pass, and shoot. They also learn cooperation and leadership skills, along with how to win and lose graciously.

If you’re interested in joining the Boomers Family or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. You can get in touch with our team by calling 1300 702 719, emailing [email protected], or completing our enquiry form at your next convenience. We hope to hear from you soon.

Is Basketball the Right Sport for My Child?

Is Basketball the Right Sport for My Child?

What sports should my child play? If you have a young child and want to encourage an active lifestyle, you’ve probably asked yourself this question. When determining what sport is best for your child, it’s important to do your research. Not all sports are appropriate for children, particularly high-contact sports or sports with complex rules. Thankfully, basketball IS suitable for children, even younger children ages 3-12. Read on to learn more about what makes basketball such a great choice for your little one.

The History of Basketball

Basketball was invented in Massachusetts in 1891 by Canadian-American professor James Naismith. He sought to create a vigorous indoor game that his students could play during the winter and on cold or rainy days. The sport was originally played with an altered version of the soccer ball until the late 1950s when the orange ball we know today was introduced.

Basketball soon became a feature in YMCAs across the United States and Canada. Naismith himself played a considerable role in establishing basketball in high schools and colleges throughout the US, with the first intercollegiate game happening in 1895. Basketball became widespread in the first decades of the 20th century and is now present in almost every high school in the US and many across Australia.

The Beginnings of Professional Basketball

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed in 1946. The BAA quickly merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). As North America’s professional basketball league, the formation of the NBA led to basketball becoming a major college sport in the 1950s.

It didn’t take long for basketball to reach Australia. In fact, basketball took off in Australia in 1897, just six years after it was invented by Naismith. Oceania’s professional league, the National Basketball League, was formed in 1979. Today, Australia has nine basketball teams in the league, and New Zealand has one.

The Evolution of Basketball

Basketball has naturally undergone several changes in the 130 years since the very first basketball game. The ball has been altered to be more visible and bouncy, with bounce patterns that players can control and predict to some degree. The baskets used to consist of crates with solid bottoms, which players would then have to retrieve after every goal. These were soon swapped out for nets, a far more convenient alternative.

Basketball’s Safety-Related Changes

Many changes to the game have made basketball a safer sport for children and professionals alike. There was some uncertainty during the early years as to how many people should play the game at once. It was eventually determined that two teams of five were the safest and most functional.

Out of bounds rules also underwent a major evolution. Originally, ball possession would be given to the first player to touch the ball once it went out of bounds. This led to considerable physical contact, including shoving, elbowing, diving, and all-out fights. In 1913, the out of bounds rules were updated to what they are today — the team that caused the ball to go out of bounds or touched it last before it went out of bounds loses possession.

 

Is Basketball Appropriate for Children?

Yes! Though basketball can be very physical when played at a high level, this isn’t a concern for children’s basketball. As described above, basketball has only gotten safer over the years. Plus, dividing youth basketball programs by age prevents children from playing with other kids that may be significantly bigger or smaller than them. The kids will also be much more gentle with each other, as they’re playing for fun rather than fame or glory.

Enrol Your Child in a Little Boomers Basketball Program

Looking for sports for kids near you? There’s no better place for children to learn basketball in Australia than with Little Boomers Basketball. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve dedicated ourselves to creating grassroots basketball programs for children of all skill levels and abilities.

Run by accredited and passionate coaches, our programs are safe and supportive environments where kids can learn to play basketball, make new friends, and of course, have fun. That said, there are many other non-basketball-related skills that we pass on to the kids. This includes good sportsmanship, cooperation, being a team player, and leadership skills.

We Put Your Children’s Needs First

To ensure that each child has the best possible experience with us, we divide our participants by age into different programs. There’s the Preschoolers, ages 3-4; the Mini Boomers, ages 4-5; the Little Boomers, ages 6-8; and the Mighty Boomers, ages 9-12.

Interested in joining the Boomers Family? Have any questions about our grassroots basketball programs or how the sport can benefit your child? Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our friendly team by calling 1300 702 719, emailing [email protected], or filling out our enquiry form. We look forward to hearing from you!