What makes for a quality girls sports program?
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posted by Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls Game On!Sports Girl Talk is designed to become a trusted resource for parents relating to a broad range of information on sports and fitness for girls ranging in age from 4 to 14. Discussion will focus on topics and issues covering general sports, specific sports, fitness, nutrition, medicine, injury prevention, stress, peer groups, and more. We hope to help our readers to stay informed, feel educated, and maybe even derive some comfort from the information and discussion. |
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You have heard me time and time again advocate for the creation of more developmental sports opportunities for girls as young as four-years-old. For various reasons, in stark contrast to opportunities for boys, there is the tendency to avoid the sport specific classes for girls. Just to reiterate a few of those reasons, it can be argued that parents with daughters rank dance, drama and other such creative activities as high if not higher than sports when it comes to choosing extracurriculars. Sports programs therefore argue that registration numbers and cash register suffer, making the offering unattractive. Others argue that girls don’t have the coordination, muscle development, or interest for sports until around 3rd grade. Don’t get me going on that one! (We have five-year-old girls at camp that pick up the fundamentals of different sports so quickly and grow hooked.)
But, if you are fortunate to have sports programs that cater to very young girls in your community, what are the characteristics that make for a quality program? First on my list is a focus on fundamentals through fun. Without building a solid base in the fundamentals, confidence will suffer. Without confidence, there is little chance that your daughter will ever be able to enjoy the sport, even on a recreational level. But if the fun is lacking while developing that base, you also run the risk of losing a potential athlete for life. So while you enjoy observing your daughter as she participates in the program, make sure that the instructor is able to instill a fun learning atmosphere. If not, demand a refund.
Also critical to a quality program is the personality of the instructor. Whether a high school athlete or veteran coach, make sure the teacher can relate to young girls. This typically boils down to communication style and the ability to smile, laugh, and strike that balance between motivating and offering positive reinforcement. I have personally witnessed instructors who intend to motivate but come off so forceful that they to really scare the participant. I have also come across instructors who feel the need to gush with compliments and high fives even when the participant is either unable to succeed and/or completely undeserving due to apathy. While the slightest bit of progress or heartfelt effort certainly qualifies for earning praise, instructors/coaches do need to be careful not to continually award kudos when unwarranted. The key word here is “earn.” So, find instructors who demonstrate good judgment, including the ability to frame the appropriate message and deliver effectively.
Of course I mention the above criteria assuming that the program’s attention to safety is a given. Having the proper equipment and safety procedures in place is always the highest priority.
So I will stop here with the invitation to submit feedback and relate your own personal experiences. Look forward to hearing from you.
View Original Post at gameonsportscamp.wordpress.com
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- Filed Under:
- SportsPLUS, Family/Parenting, Youth, Student-Athlete, Coaching
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