Getting kids off the couch and active is hard enough, but when it’s cold outside during the winter, it can be even more of a challenge. That’s why parents often turn to indoor sports for their kids during the winter–and even in the warmer months. Indoor sports allow children to stay active and have fun at the same time.
Basketball
Basketball, one of the most popular sports in the United States, is offered at the youth recreation level in hundreds of cities across the country. Invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 as a way to get his physical-education students active during the winter, basketball was an indoor sport from the beginning, according to the College of Charleston. From lower levels, in which kids as young as 5 and 6 years old are taught the game, to upper levels of teenagers competing in national tournaments, basketball has something for every skill and age level. Basketball also teaches kids the concept of teamwork, as five players must work together to move the ball around and score points.
Indoor Soccer
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but and indoor soccer is a fun alternative for kids when it’s too cold to play outside. Indoor soccer usually is played on a smaller field, with walls similar to those used in hockey. In fact, many indoor soccer fields are modified hockey rinks. Because of the indoor setting, some rules are slightly modified, such as playing on a smaller field and permitting the ball to bounce the ball off the wall instead of declaring it out of bounds. Indoor soccer usually is played at a faster pace than regular soccer because of the smaller field, each team might have fewer players on the field.
Gymnastics
As a popular Olympic sport, gymnastics piques the interest of young people as a way to learn coordination and tumbling skills. Most female Olympic gymnasts are in their teens, but they have been developing their skills for years. Gymnastics involves performing routines on a mat or with certain pieces of equipment, such as a set of uneven bars, from which gymnasts swing and perform flips. The balance beam requires gymnasts to perform routines while standing on a bar that is only a few inches wide. The floor routine showcases a gymnast’s overall tumbling and acrobatic talents. Classes and instruction are offered at children’s level, where kids are taught basic maneuvers, such as tumbling and small flips, to the advanced level, where teenagers train for official competitions.
About this Author
James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, having written and produced material for the National Institutes of Health, the President’s Cancer Panel, and an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. He is also a former sportswriter, with writing experience in basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other popular sports, and writes relevant sports titles.
