WHEN SHOULD A CHILD START SPORT?

Your child doesn’t have to show flashes of being the next Nick Naitanui or Ben Simmons at an early age to get started in sports. A child can start participating in sport as early as 5, ages before then are still developing and grasping basic skills.

There is no official age when a child can be physically active however given psychological factors like stress and musculoskeletal injuries according to the Wester Journal of Medicine, kids are more likely to enter competition sports at the age of 8.

How does sport help children?

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, children’s social-emotional well-being can be improved at any stage during childhood. Participating with other children helps them:

• Develop social skills
• Teaches them how to be patient
• Helps build friendships

There are many immediate and long-term benefits for a child that enters the world of Athletics and sport.

How much sport does the average child play?

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day. This is inclusive of the PE sessions at schools. Data from National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 2011-12 indicate that only 23% of children aged 5-14 undertook the recommended activity. Little Athletics Centres are an example of the sport’s ability to champion the importance of getting kids active.

Did you know some of the most well-renowned athletes in athletics didn’t all come from an athletics background?

Peter Bol was already at the age of 16 when he was convinced by one of his teachers at a school carnival to join an athletics club, he thought it was a pretty good deal especially because it meant he’d be fitter for basketball. A success story that now represents the West Aussies on the big stages like the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games for the 400m and 800m events.

No child is too late or too unathletic to enter the sport of Athletics, it just requires effort and participation. Athletics West offers the Coles Little Athletics Australia program through Centres state-wide, which delivers weekly athletics activities for young people aged 5 to 16 years. Little Athletics is a great way to keep fit and builds the foundation skills of running, jumping, and throwing which are also highly transferable to other sports.

To find out about the Little Athletics Program, click HERE

By Paolo Dailo, Athletics West

Posted 18/10/2022