START SPORTS
WHEN SHOULD KIDS START SPORTS?
It's not easy to determine how early to start children in organized sports. Children of the same age vary considerably in their physical and psychological maturation, and there is no practical method of measuring maturity. Assuming the child has shown interest, five or six is the generally accepted earliest starting age for organized team sports. At the early ages participation should be limited to sports that involve a lot of physical activity and encourage the development of major motor muscles.
Children in grades 1 - 4 can benefit most from games that are modified to meet their needs and abilities. Play and fun are more important to this age group than highly structured sports that emphasize the outcome rather than the process. Parents and coaches are usually the ones concerned about winning and losing. When helping your child select a sport, keep balance in mind. Encourage your children to try many sports and activities when young and not to think of specializing or playing competitively until they reach middle school. Make sure a balance also occurs between adult organized activities and free playtime. Children need time to just be kids and to play with other kids without a set of rules or adult involvement.
The most important decisions to make, are which youth sports organizations and which coaches are best for your child. Make sure that you take the time to find out about the league, its leaders and coaches. Better yet, get involved and volunteer to coach. Participating in sports is a healthy way, both physically and socially, for your children to channel their youthful energy in a positive direction. Make sure your children's first experience encourages them to begin a lifelong interest in physical activities and good health.
There are many other options besides team sports available to a child who wants to participate in sports. Parents should also encourage their children to become involved in individual and lifetime sports such as bowling, golf, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and martial arts. You can find information about these sports by visiting the facilities or through the yellow pages of the phone book.
FINDING YOUTH SPORTS INFORMATION
Parents of young children just starting out in sports often find it difficult to locate sports programs. Rarely can you find listings that contain all of the options that are available in the community. Helping you find youth sports programs is one of the functions of the Kids Sports Network (KSN). You can call (210) 654-4707 and KSN personnel will direct you to available youth sports programs. But where else can you find this kind of information?
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For information on youth sports outside the San Antonio area check the answer on our Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page.
The San Antonio Area Youth Sports Organization page of this website provides information about children’s sports programs in and around San Antonio and Bexar County focusing on non-school sports leagues and events with a special emphasis on team sports. In many cases listed phone numbers contain recorded messages with more information about the program and with directions on how to register or who else to contact. If a number you call is incorrect, or if you simply cannot determine whom to call, contact the Kids Sports Network at (210) 654-4707.
Remember that the registration for many youth sports programs occurs months before actual play begins. For example youth football games start at the beginning of September but registrations may start as early as May or June. If you wait until you see teams practicing, it is often too late to find a place on a team.
Many elementary schools will distribute flyers about youth sports programs. They may also have information relevant to programs near the school. Middle or Intermediate schools are less likely to send flyers home. The number of students is larger and the percentage of students participating in non-school sports tends to drop off during these middle school years.
Community Education departments of school district may also offer classes on some sports, for example cheer, tennis, golf, karate and dance.
Many youth sports organizations now have website or voice mail containing information about their programs. More youth sports organizations now keep a phone number and website even if their volunteer leadership changes.
The telephone directory may have listings for YMCA's, Boys & Girls Clubs and Parks and Recreation facilities as well as some volunteer organizations, Pop Warner, Little League etc. If you call a number listed in the telephone book but no one answers, you may have reached a field number answered only during games. This is happening less frequently as more organizations use answering machines and voice mail.
QUESTIONS PARENTS SHOULD ASK
There are a number of key questions parents should ask about a youth sports program before enrolling their child. You always have the right to ask questions, even when volunteers run the league. The following thoughts and questions can help you evaluate a youth sports program.
Program Organization: Who is in charge of the program? Who can you contact if you have a problem or question? Who sponsors the league (YMCA, private organization, etc.)? Do they have a written set of goals and program guidelines? How much are registration fees? Were does the money go? Do they have a written budget for you to see? Is it a developmental or competitive league? (Programs for kids 12 and under should concentrate on skill development, exercise and fun.) How long is the season? How frequent are practices and games? What kind of equipment is used and who is responsible for providing it?
Safety: Is protective equipment necessary and is it used properly? Is a medical exam required to participate? Is the playing area safe for practices and games? Does the league have injury insurance? Is someone trained in Red Cross or emergency procedures? (Coaches should have some basic first aid training.) Is physical conditioning important for the sport and is it provided?
Psychological and Developmental Factors: Is emphasis placed on enjoyment and participation? Are there separate divisions for different skill levels? Will kids be cut from a team? (Try outs that involve cuts should be permitted only above the age of 12 and then only if the child has the option of playing on a less competitive team.) Are opponents thought of as the enemy? Are game rules adapted to the child's skill development, age and size?
Quality of Adult Leadership: How are coaches selected? What kind of training has the coach received? (He/she should understand the psychology of working with the kids in sports, basic injury prevention and treatment techniques, team and practice organization and how to teach sports fundamentals to kids.) Are referees trained and evaluated? Were background checks conducted on coaches and referees before they were accepted? Measures of Success: How is success measured? (There should be ways other than winning for children to achieve success.) Are all team members rewarded in some way for their success or the progress they have made? How much emphasis is placed on making the all-star team or play-offs or receiving a trophy?
Conclusions: You don't have to ask all of these questions and you may have others that you feel are more important. As your questions are answered you will develop a "feel" for the organization. If you are uncomfortable with what they have told you, look for another organization.
FINANCING YOUR CHILD'S SPORTS EXPENSES
Just like everything else in life, it costs money to operate a youth sports program. Youth leagues usually pay for the use of the playing fields and courts, as well as their upkeep, electricity, water, etc. In addition, referees must be paid, uniforms and equipment purchased, and if the league is affiliated with a national organization, they must pay insurance and other fees to their national office.
Thus, to some extent, all leagues must develop revenue sources. These sources include fund raisers, concession stand sales and registration fees. Fees for an eight to ten week sports league could range from as little as $10 per child to over $100. Most youth leagues have a scholarship policy that permits parents to obtain free or reduced price registration. This is usually based on a written petition from the parents. If you have an honest need for financial support, you should always inquire about scholarships before you decide not to register your child in a sports league. You'd be surprised how often the league will assist.
There are also a number of organizations in San Antonio that charge a lower registration fee because they receive funding support from governmental or private agencies or businesses. For example, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department charges only $5 for many of their youth programs. Other sports programs with low or no fees are the Boys & Girls Clubs, Police Athletic League and the Dreams for Youth programs run by the San Antonio Sports Foundation.
Always ask about fees before you register. You deserve to know what the registration fees are and if there are any hidden costs that will surface later. For example, some leagues charge a low registration fee but require each team to purchase its own uniforms. And finally, remember that it's the leadership of the program and not the registration fees that usually determines the quality of your child's sports experience.
SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH
There are well over 200 organizations, associations, agencies and clubs in and around San Antonio that offer organized sports programs for youth. Programs range in size from a four team softball league operated by a church to the Spurs Youth Basketball League with over 20,000 participants. We list on our web site many of the contact numbers for youth sports in the San Antonio area. Space and time does not NOW permit the identification of the individual clubs operating under the structure of a larger program such as Pop Warner Football, Little League Baseball or Parks & Recreation Centers.
If you are the President or Point of Contact for a San Antonio area youth sports organization, you can help us by providing us with information on your organization. Please visit our Time Out page for more details. The Kids Sports Network constantly updates its information and every attempt is made to ensure its accuracy. Keep in mind that changes may occur, and some programs may not always be offered.
Many of the phone numbers given are those of volunteers. Please be patient if your call is not answered immediately, or if you are advised that the person you called is no longer involved with the program. If, for any reason, you are unable to reach a particular organization, or if you have information about a program not listed, call the Kids Sports Network at (210) 654-4707. They should be able to provide the information you desire.
PREVENTING INJURIES IN YOUTH SPORTS
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that four million children seek emergency room treatment for sports injuries each year and estimates that another eight million are treated for such injuries by family physicians. In previous generations pro and college athletes only suffered many of these injuries; now kids are subjected to overuse injuries. What happened?
Dr. Lyle J. Micheli, Director of Sports Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, answered this question in Newsweek a couple of years ago. "The whole complexion of children's sports has changed," he stated. "Organized sports have replaced free play and the sandlot and have brought on 'overuse' injuries caused by micro trauma to the body's tissues. Growing children are predisposed to overuse injuries because of the softness of their growing bones and the relative tightness of their ligaments, tendons and muscles during growth spurts."
"The fact that most of these injuries are preventable raises troubling questions about children and organized sports. I am especially concerned about the quality of our volunteer coaches who form the backbone of non-school organized sports. Although they are well meaning and committed, most are unaware of the child athlete's vulnerability to injury, especially overuse injury."
"Parents must ensure that their children are enrolled in an organized sports program with a certified coach at the helm and should withhold children from programs where certification is not required. When certification becomes widely mandatory it will be a win, win, win situation. Coaches will win: They'll be better trained and more knowledgeable in fitness principles and injury prevention. Parents will win: They'll know qualified personnel are instructing their children. But the biggest winners will be our kids: They'll be better trained and less likely to be injured."
A number of San Antonio youth sports programs have made certification mandatory for their volunteer coaches through the Kids Sports Network certification program. Effective coaches training programs not only address overuse issues but field, equipment and participation safety as well. Parents can also help by alerting league officials to unsafe conditions and practices that might go unnoticed. Education of parents and coaches will not stop all injuries, but will certainly reduce the numbers considerably. For example, if all baseball and softball programs used the newly developed breakaway bases, the incidence of ankle, foot and knee injuries would be reduced by as much as 90% and save hundreds of millions of dollars in medical costs annually.
COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS
Many of the youth leagues and agencies described on this site have more advanced or competitive programs for athletes with above average skills. Each league manages its competitive programs differently but most have common characteristics that include try outs, extra practices or games, experienced coaches, travel and additional fees. While these programs give the exceptional athlete the opportunity to further develop his/her athletic skills in preparation for school competition, parents need to be prepared for the significantly greater time and money commitments they create. When inquiring about these programs, make sure the league provides an opportunity for the young athlete to return to a regular program if he/she does not make the competitive team.
Steroids: Just the Facts
What are steroids? Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone that are taken to build muscle, enhance performance, and improve appearance. The drug's anabolic or "muscle-building" effects help the body retain protein, a necessary building block for the growth of muscles, bones, and skin. The androgenic or "masculinizing" effects cause the development of a deep voice, facial and body hair, muscle mass, and aggressiveness. Unfortunately, steroid abusers risk a variety of unwanted side effects, some of which are irreversible. Another significant danger includes HIV infection if needles are shared.
Can steroids improve athletic performance?
Although user's report increases in muscle bulk, strength, and endurance, steroids cannot improve agility, athletic skill, and cardiovascular capacity - factors that also affect performance. In addition, there is no conclusive evidence that steroid use decreases recovery time from injuries. In fact, some research asserts that steroid abuse hampers the normal process of wound healing.
Are adolescents at-risk? Teenage and young adult males that participate in athletics are at particular risk for abusing steroids because they believe that steroids can help them enhance their physical performance and their appearance. Ironically, teens are at particular risk of harming their health and permanently changing their appearance in ways they do not expect - acne, stunted growth, female characteristics (in boys), and male characteristics (in girls).
What can parents do? The good news is that youth can be taught to resist social pressures to try drugs, like steroids. Fortunately, public education programs and prevention programs that build resiliency factors and self-esteem in youth can prevent steroid use and experimentation. Parents can help by becoming informed about steroids and by talking to their children about steroid use.
Who should I contact if someone close to me has a problem with steroids?
Contact the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse's toll-free hotline at (800) 832-9623 or your local Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for referral assistance. You may also contact your family physician, hospital, or yellow pages for other intervention and treatment options.
This article is provided by the Kids Sports Network and is condensed from an article by:
