It’s good for children to get involved in sports, as sporting environments can teach them about teamwork, provide physical exercise, and help them grow physically and mentally.
Some of America’s favorite sports have traditionally been basketball, football, soccer, and baseball. But while these sports are certainly valuable, they don’t have the novel luster they once did.
These days, many parents are looking for differentiated and trendy sports that deviate from the norm and give their kids more interesting ways to get all the benefits of sports.
So, what are the most interesting, popular, and valuable up-and-coming sports for young kids?
Top 10 Up-and-Coming Sports for Young Kids
These are some of the best sports to introduce to your child:
- Gaga ball. Gaga ball has been played since the mid-20th century, but it’s only recently seen a mainstream resurgence of popularity. Essentially, it’s a variant of dodgeball that’s played within a specialized gaga ball pit. The game is designed to be less intensive and more inclusive than traditional dodgeball. It’s easy to learn yet difficult to master. It offers opportunities to develop coordination and athleticism. And it’s a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages.
- Water polo. Most of us adults have played water polo at some point, but it’s not exactly the mainstay that baseball is in American culture. Water polo offers many advantages, such as an opportunity to develop potentially lifesaving swimming skills and close coordination with a tightly interdependent team. It also happens to be currently exploding in popularity, so you should have no trouble finding a recreational league near you.
- Pickleball. Pickleball is officially America’s fastest-growing sport, with (now) more than 36 million people playing the sport regularly. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an interesting cross between tennis and squash. It offers children the opportunity to build their agility and stamina, much like tennis, but the sport is more forgiving and more acceptable. Given the demand, hordes of pickleball courts are popping up nationwide, so all you’ll need to get started is a paddle and a ball.
- Skateboarding. Once thought of as a rebellious act on the fringe, skateboarding is now more mainstream, in part because so many parents recognize the benefits of engaging in this exhilarating sport. Requiring athleticism, coordination, and even creativity, kids who skateboard strengthen themselves both physically and mentally. And if you’re worried about falls – that’s actually a benefit of the experience. Skateboarding is a somewhat risky sport that teaches you that it’s not only okay but important to fail; missing a trick over and over again is the only way to eventually land it.
- Rock climbing. Perhaps similarly risky is rock climbing, though if you stick to local rock climbing gyms, the risk is pretty negligible. Rock climbing has increased in popularity over the last several years and now you can find rock climbing gyms in major cities all over the country. This novel sport is great for building upper body strength, but it’s also an exercise in problem solving, since navigating each route requires thoughtful consideration.
- Tae Kwon Do. If you’ve ever thought about getting your kids involved in martial arts, consider the rapidly growing sport of Tae Kwon Do. This sport combines a variety of striking and kicking techniques, and is even a featured sport in the Olympics. In addition to presenting a highly competitive environment, Tae Kwon Do teaches valuable self-defense skills.
- Broomball. Broomball is similar to hockey, but has several advantages over hockey that make it more accessible (and potentially more fun). No ice skates are required. It’s possible to play on an open field (preferably in the snow). And the equipment is much, much less expensive.
- Quidditch. Even if you’re not a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, you might be interested in introducing your child to Quidditch. It offers a creative combination of rules and structures borrowed from other sports, but is light and whimsical enough to entertain even people generally disinterested in sports.
- Parkour. The greatest advantage of parkour is that there’s no one right way to practice it. Sometimes called free running, this sport calls upon participants to push their agility to the limits – and come up with original routes and techniques on the fly.
- Fencing. Fencing was never a mainstream sport in the U.S., but its participation numbers are growing rapidly due to renewed interest in this centuries-old tradition. Despite an association with the upper class, fencing is a sport that’s available to everyone – provided there are enough interested people in your area to support classes and an occasional tournament.
Seeking Novel Sports
Even if none of these sports becomes a new lifelong passion, your young child will find benefits in trying them out and exploring them. Keep an open mind when it comes to new sports and activities, and you’ll eventually find even more unique ways for your child to learn and grow.