This issue and the next issue will look at factors to consider when starting a child on the road to athletic success.
Adults play a big part in introducing children to sports.
With this background, almost all children develop a sense of movement, most want to become involved in sports activities, and a few show exceptional athletic ability. It is extremely easy and appropriate for a parent to encourage athletic ability this way in children. This opens the door for serious training, but doesn't force children into a regimented schedule prematurely. Some physical education specialists recommend that we teach young children fundamental movement skills rather than specific sports. Rather than fielding a ground ball, for instance, coaches would learn how to break the activity down into its basic motion components of running, skipping, shuffling, trapping, and throwing.