Looking for Indoor Youth Sports? Consider Bowling!

During the winter months, kids can get very antsy with little to do outdoors. How can you make sure that your kids are able to stay active when they can't play outside? Bowling is a fun and active indoor sport that your kids can play year round. Just head over to your local bowling alley with entire family and see, amid the wall of bowling trophies, how much fun it can be.

Bowling is not only a fun family activity, it is also a League Sport. You can enroll your children into a Youth Bowling League at your local bowling alley. Just ask at the front desk for information. According to the USBC, Youth Bowling provides a pathway to good health, team camaraderie, and even college scholarship money. Kids who join as Youth Standard Members are then eligible to progress to the Junior Gold Program. The Junior Gold Program is designed to emphasize advanced levels of training, technique, and tournament competition. The Junior Gold Program also feeds into College Bowling, where scholarships and bowling trophies can be awarded. Over 6 million dollars in college scholarships are awarded to Youth Bowlers each year!

Many colleges have bowling teams - over 250. Many of which offer scholarships to talented bowlers. Bowling is a sport that your child can learn and continue to play for a lifetime; with their own children and grandchildren. Whether your child needs a fun activity when the weather is bad or if they want to join a bowling league and a bowling trophy, either way, bowling is a great way to stay fit and have fun in the winter.

Why Play Youth Hockey?

Youth hockey is a fun and exciting game that is really taking hold across the United States. Here are a few reasons why your child would love playing youth hockey. First of all, team sports of any kind are great for building confidence, coordination, and lasting friendships. Youth hockey is a great team sport in that it helps young children to learn focus, following directions, cooperation, and of course, physical fitness. Plus kids love to play on the ice and receiving a hockey trophy. Hockey combines a host of skills, using the hockey stick to hit the puck, skating, and cooperating with your teammates.

What about all of that gear? If your child plays football, then you are already familiar with all of the gear that they need in order to play. However, with football, especially in warmer climates, the kids are carrying all of that heavy gear in sweltering heat. Heat safety is a huge concern for youth football. On the other hand, hockey rinks are cold. Your child might be covered from head to toe, but you do not have to worry about summer temperatures combined with heavy gear. Kids will get hot while playing, but given a chance for a break, they cool off quickly.

How much does it cost? Again, youth hockey does require a lot of gear. If cost is an issue, talk with moms of older kids and see if they are selling used gear. Many hockey leagues host equipment sales for that exact purpose. You may be asked to contribute a fee to help provide hockey trophies to the team. Depending on your local league, you may qualify for financial assistance. Finally, many rinks offer equipment rental so that you do not have to purchase it year after year.  

Hockey is a growing sport and many kids and parents are finding it to be fun and rewarding. Sportsmanship, physical fitness, and friendships are just a few of the benefits. Everyone gets hockey trophy at the end of season. For kids, the focus should be on fun and they will not even realize all of the additional benefits they are getting from joining a Youth Hockey team. 

Youth Soccer Facts

Are you a parent who is interested in enrolling your child in a Youth Soccer program? Many parents want to get their child involved in youth soccer even if they did not have a chance to play team sports as a children. Here is an overview of youth soccer enrollment, equipment, soccer trophies and soccer awards.

Youth Soccer can be a year round sport. Usually youth soccer leagues offer both a Fall and a Spring time program with a break during the cold Winter months. For that reason, it is relatively easy to find a youth soccer league in your area with plenty of room for your child to join, no matter what age group. Youth soccer can start as early as age 3 and go up to age 18 in many leagues. All players are eligible for participation soccer trophies.

If you are planning to enroll your child you will need to bring a soccer ball, shin guards, soccer shoes, and bottled water. Your child may by practicing about two times per week, so be sure that you allot the time necessary to attend soccer practice. Younger children, U-6, or under age 6, do not need cleats. For them, sneakers are usually fine. Your older child's coach will let you know if your child needs to have a pair of cleats. Some leagues charge a fee for the soccer trophy.

PE Funding Cuts? Youth Sports Are An Alternative

Across the country, public school districts are cutting PE funding. Kids need time out of the school day to play and process what they have learned. Physical activity is a fundamental part of learning and of life. However, many school districts are finding it difficult to meet government standards for classroom size and test scores. In order to meet standards while facing budget cuts, many schools are cutting arts and Physical Education programs. If your child has no opportunity to play sports at school, you may consider finding local Youth Sports programs in your community to take the place of school funded activities.

Youth Sports such as youth tennis, youth basketball, youth soccer, and youth football give your child a chance to work with a team and be physically active. Youth sports are great for building your child's self esteem and building friendships. You can get involved in your community Youth Sports programs and meet the parents and coaches who influence your child. Many home-school families get involved in youth sports in order to make friendships and get the kids out of the house.

Often community based youth sports programs are free or offer a sliding scale payment method. When I volunteered as an assistant coach on my son's soccer team, I was able to enroll both of my children in Youth Soccer for free. If cost is a concern, you should talk with the coach. Usually youth sports programs will make an effort to help you to enroll your child if you are not able to afford the enrollment fee. Don't worry if your school cuts PE! Take matters into your own hands and enroll child into your community youth sports teams.

Youth Basketball for Fitness and Fun

Youth Basketball is a great way for kids to stay active and healthy during the colder months of the year. Basketball is a very intense sport. Players are running up and down the court during the course of their on the court time. For this reason, basketball is great for high energy kids. Nothing like a day of running and playing a team sport with friends to wear them out at the end of the day. Basketball is a great way to help your kids develop coordination. It's not all about the basketball trophy! Basketball teaches character development, athleticism, and good sportsmanship. Your child will also learn the basics of the game, defensive, and offensive concepts. 

Youth basketball coaches are trained to teach children the basics of the game along with teamwork and a positive attitude. You can expect your child to learn a whole list of skills when joining a youth basketball team. And of course, all kids love to get that basketball trophy at the end of the season. Your child's youth basketball coach will teach the following skills

• Athleticism
• Ball Handling
• Passing
• Footwork
• Lay Ups
• Shooting
• Basic Offensive Concepts
• Basic Defensive Concepts

Your child can get involved in Youth Basketball and develop a lasting enjoyment of physical activity while making friends and having fun! They will also receive a basketball trophy! Fitness and teamwork are important life skills. Kids who learn early are more likely to become active healthy adults. Get your child off of the couch and involved in youth sports!

Cheerleading Competitions: Cheerleading Trophy

Cheerleading has grown from fun sideline activity into an intense physical sport over the years. Cheerleaders must be in top physical condition and be able to learn organized routines, usually ranging anywhere from one to three minutes. Cheerleading competitions involve strenuous physical activity, coordination, and focus. Tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers and stunts all come together into a winning routine and the cheerleading trophy.

In games, cheerleaders pep up the crowd while on the sidelines. At half time, they get to show off their physical skill in complex routines involving “pyramids”, gymnastics, tumbling, and dance. In competition, the team that can combine cheering, motivation, and technical skill wins the cheerleading trophy.

Often cheer squads face off to show their stuff at cheerleading competitions. The squad that performs the best on all levels, win the cheerleading trophy. The squads are judged on “pep”, technical precision in tumbling, dance routine, and originality of routine. Cheerleaders jump, dance, fly, and seem to defy gravity in the top cheerleading competitions. Cheerleaders are truly athletes with coordination, endurance, and talent!

Football Safety

With so much in the media lately about head injuries in football, it's important to take time out to make sure that your team is playing safely. After all, it's not all about that football trophy. Safety first! Limiting contact during practice can be one way to offset head injuries. Also be sure that your team practices with helmets. Helmets are very important in preventing head injury, however a quick snapping motion of the neck can also cause concussion.

Wearing proper protective gear is essential. If a player complains of any of the following symptoms after a blow to head, they should be sent to a doctor.

•Headache or “pressure” in head
•Nausea or vomiting
•Balance problems or dizziness
•Double or blurry vision
•Sensitivity to light
•Sensitivity to noise
•Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
•Concentration or memory problems
•Confusion
•Does not “feel right” or is “feeling down”

Every player wants a football trophy, but playing safely is the most important thing. Remember to talk with your kids about playing safely, wearing a helmet, and staying hydrated on hot days. Many parents do not realize that kids can get overheated when practicing football in late Summer and early Fall. Always make sure your kids have plenty of water to drink and are able to take reasonable breaks. With a little bit of vigilance from the coach, parents, and the players, your kids can have fun playing football safely.