Sports for Young Children in Brisbane

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We have taken the approach that it's good to let your children try a variety of sports until they are old enough to choose which ones they really want to pursue. So far they have tried soccer, tennis, cricket, gymnastics and swimming. See my article on choosing swimming lessons for your child .

Cricket
The Milo in2cricket program is designed to teach children the basics of the game. It is aimed at boys and girls from 5 to 10. Lots of different clubs around the State run the program and can be found via the website above. My son has started at the Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators Club in Deagon and loves it. Here it usually runs on a Friday night. The kids are divided into groups of about 8 children and they rotate between different skills based drills. Participants receive a fantastic pack including a bat, ball, shirt, hat, water bottle and stickers.



The club also provides opportunities for the kids to be involved in special events. There was a coaching clinic run by Brisbane Heat players. They also have the chance to be involved with some of the action at the upcoming Test against South Africa at the Gabba.

Tennis
Hotshots is an introduction to tennis for 3 to 9 year olds run at Club Coops. It goes for half an hour on a Saturday morning and gives kids the chance to develop the basics. The ratio of coaches to participants is about 1:4 so the kids get lots of attention.

Children do have to provide their own racquet. Junior racquets can be purchased from the club for about $25.



Gymnastics
Both kids have had a couple of terms of gymnastics. We went to the YMCA at Enogerra . The gymnastics program runs in line with school terms.

The classes combine free play and structured activities. During free play there is a wide range of equipment such as a rope swing, balance beam, jumping castle and hoola hoops just to name a few. The equipment is rotated each week so there is plenty of variety.

The structured part of the session teaches the children how to focus, listen to and carry out instruction and take turns. It also develops their co-ordination and balance. Parents or carers help out with the younger children but the ones over about 3 do the class by themselves.

Soccer
We started the Little Squirts soccer program when my youngest child was 3. In hindsight he was not quite ready for this as he lost focus during the sessions. Some 3 year olds however would be able to cope, as we know all children are different.

We have also done the small sided football at the same venue, the North Star Club at Zillmere. This has been a much better experience. The Friday night sessions teach basic skills and finish with a game which he found the most enjoyable part.



Think about getting your child or children involved in some type of physical activity. The benefits are wide ranging from the development of various skills to the making of new friends.

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