How to Keep Sports Skills Sharp During Summer Break

Submitted By: Stewart Wrighter

During the school year, kids get a lot of exposure to organized sports, but once summer arrives, it might be harder to get them to practice. Since there are fewer organized sessions and in some cases, fewer kids around in the neighborhood, their skills might get rusty over the summer months. This is why it is important to plan ahead and make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to practice, even when there are no officially schedule practices with a team. There are plenty of alternative opportunities to stay fresh and keep your skills sharp. In some cases, summer offers a chance to improve greatly and really focus on mechanics or specialized areas of a game. Baseball training aids such as pitching machines give kids a chance to practice right in their own backyards. They are affordable and convenient, offering a chance to play even if nobody else is around.
If you want your child to get summer practice similar to how it is during the rest of the year, consider enrolling them in a summer league. This gives them a chance to stay in the team mentality and not break a rhythm they might have developed over the course of the school year. Playing with different kids might be beneficial as well. If they are playing with kids older or more talented than they are used to, it can challenge them to perform better. If the kids are not as advanced as your son or daughter, it will give him or her, a chance to mentor younger or less experienced children.
Many kids attend camps during the summer months. Sports camps are usually a week or two, but can last as long as the entire summer. A sports camp will immerse your child completely in the sport during their time in attendance. They will study the sport in a classroom setting, have practice time, run drills and train to be better athletes overall.

If camps and leagues are not in the budget at the moment, you can work with your child one on one. Although he may already be at a level beyond your athletic ability, it still gives them a chance to keep their skills sharp and their mind in the game. Working with your child is a great addition to other part-time sessions that expose your child to several aspects of a sport. For instance, if he is in a summer league and plays twice a week, you can add an extra day of practice with him on your own.
Finally, make sure he has enough time and motivation to practice as possible. You can make the practice sessions fun. If they are social, as they are with camps and leagues, encourage him to make friends and enjoy his practice time. Offer a chance to invite a few new friends over to the house for more practice or just to hang out. The more fun a child has while practicing a sport, the more he will develop a passion for it and want to excel.
Published At: Isnare.com