Thinking about getting your child involved in a sport? Don’t know which sport would be a good fit or age appropriate? For that matter, does your child even know about what sports are available to choose from? There are so many different kinds of sports out there that sometimes we get so bogged down with the few sports we are most familiar with that we don’t realize there are other sports out there that a child might enjoy more.
When looking on the web for information to introduce sports to my daughter, I was shocked at how difficult it was to find an introductory guide to sports for early elementary students especially since most sports start by age 5. I wanted to be able to show her pictures about a sport and possibility even a video so she might know what to expect from the sport and possibly peak an interest. In finding very little I began to formulate my own resources. Thus, today I want to share an Ultimate Guide to Sports for Kids. Hopefully it will help you and your family in your sport endeavors just like it has helped mine.
Notes about this guide
Each sport provides an approximate starting age and an inspiring video about the sport as well as possible picture book for further reading. The age provided is by no means set in stone, but rather the earliest recommended starting ages that I could find (as I am by no means a sports guru of any kind). Your child may wish to play basketball but not express an interest until 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th grade and that is okay; I’d still say go for it! This just provides a starting place. Remember, never rush a child into sports. They are meant for fun physical activity—not a life career…well at least not at this age. Have fun!
The Ultimate Guide to
Sports for Kids
Archery
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years
- Book: Young Beginner’s Guide to Shooting and Archery by W.H. “Chip” Gross
- Inspirational Video
Badminton
- Recommended Starting Age: 8 years
- Book: Badminton in Action by Niki Walker
- Inspiration Video
Baseball/Softball/T-ball
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years
- Picture Book: My Baseball Book by Gail Gibbons
- Inspirational Video
Basketball
- Recommended Starting Age: 4 years
- Picture Book: My Basketball Book by Gail Gibbons
- Inspirational Video
Bowing
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Book: Bowling in Action by Niki Walker
- Inspirational Video
Cheerleading
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Louanne the Pig in Making the Team by Nancy Carlson
- Inspirational Video
Flag Football
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Touchdown! by Alyson Heller
- Inspirational Video
Golf
- Recommended Starting Age: 5years
- Picture Book: Consider it Golf by Susan Greene
- Inspirational Video
Gymnastics
- Recommended Starting Age: 1.5 years
- Picture Book: First Day at Gymnastics by Anita Ganeri
- Inspirational Video
Hockey
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Hockey, My Favorite Sport by Jonatha A. Brown
- Inspirational Video
Ice Skating
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years
- Picture Book: Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi
- Inspirational Video
Jump Rope
- Recommended Starting Age: 4 years
- Book: Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes by Joanna Cole
- Inspirational Video
Lacrosse
- Recommended Starting Age: 10 years
- Book: Lacrosse in Action by John Crossingham
- Inspirational Video
Martial Arts
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Little Ben: And His Martial Arts Adventure by Thadeu Alves Vieira
- Inspirational Video
Rock Climbing
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years
- Book: Defying Gravity! Rock Climbing by Christine Dugan
- Inspirational Video
Soccer
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years
- Picture Book: My Soccer Book by Gail Gibbons
- Inspirational Video
Swimming
- Recommended Starting Age: 3 years (although infant classes are often available)
- Picture Book: Swimming Lessons with Stewie the Duck by Kim Leonard
- Inspirational Video
Tackle Football
- Recommended Starting Age: 8 years
- Picture Book: My Football Book by Gail Gibbons
- Inspirational Video
Tennis
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Murphy Bear’s Tennis Lesson by Maura Moynihan
- Inspirational Video.
Track and Field
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Picture Book: Queen of the Track by Heather Lang
- Inspirational Video
Triathalon Training (Running/Cycling/Swimming)
- Recommended Starting Age: 6 years
- Picture Book: My Dad is an Ironman by Ray Hoese
- Inspirational Video
Volleyball
- Recommended Starting Age: 8 years
- Book: Volleyball Dreams by Jake Maddox
- Inspirational Video
Wrestling
- Recommended Starting Age: 5 years
- Book: It’s a Wrestling Mat, Not a Dance Floor by Scott Nickel
- Inspirational Video
Still need other ideas? Check your local community. Some other kid sports range from rowing to skiing, curling, and even cricket depending on your location and country. Wherever you live there are sure to be several different choices that will be something fun for your child and help them keep physically fit at the same time.
Recommendations for Using this Guide
- Do some research of sports offered in your area. You may want to use the Upward Sports or YMCA links provided below to give you a start.
- Share the video clips of the sports available with your child.
- If they express an interest in a few sports, check out the books from the library on those sports.
- After narrowing it down to a few choices, go watch the sport live before signing up. Let them see what the sport will entail.
- Have fun playing in the backyard!
- Sign them up for a sports’ team or some lessons.
Recommended Places to Learn More:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24
