Ground Rules to Get Kids Active

In a state where one in four children is overweight and even more are physically unfit, the pressure to increase activity is on. Exercise plays a role in keeping kids healthy now and in upping the odds of lifelong fitness. It’s also highly correlated with academic success.

Running an effective fitness program in the afterschool hours often means mixing things up a bit from the norm. “Sports classes that are exciting make kids want to be active,” says Gina Schauland, the center director at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara. “Often students just need the incentive to get moving.”

Be safe – physically and emotionally.

While you probably already plan ahead to make sure your equipment and play area are safe, it’s important to remember emotional safety, too. Establish rules against teasing or yelling, and find ways to reward good sports. “Our kids work on cheers ahead of time to learn how to be encouraging,” says Schauland.

It’s also wise to assign teams randomly, rather than a “first to be picked/last to be picked” process. “Also, mix and match teams regularly,” says Cory Wechsler, a training coordinator with Sports 4 Kids in Oakland. “It breaks up competitive dynamics and gets kids to play their hardest with different people.”

Plan to keep it moving.
Once the movement starts, keep it going. Favor games where everyone plays the whole time over those that eliminate anyone who misses a shot or gets tagged – a surefire way to send the kids most in need of exercise to the sidelines too soon.

If you’re working on skill development, do drills in small clusters, rather than having long lines that involve waiting for a turn. “Besides being boring, there’s a lot of lag time in traditional drills,” says Wechsler. “Instead of two lines of ten kids, have five lines of four, and incorporate running into the drill where you can.”

New rules shake it up.
Who says the way adults play is the only way? When running gets boring, switch to skipping or hopping. Vary your equipment: replace a ball with a Frisbee, or a beanbag with a rubber chicken. Just be creative.

A softball inning can be over once everyone on the team has gone to bat, and a game can end before the time on the clock elapses.

Finally, there’s more to life than what’s on the scoreboard. The team that made the most passes, that improved the most, or that showed the best team spirit are winners in their own right and should be told so.

For suggestions of physical fitness activities for kids and step-by-step lesson plans and activity ideas, go to: www.sports4kids.org, www.pecentral.org, or www.afterschoolpa.com.  

For more information about childhood obesity in your community, go to: www.publichealthadvocacy.org.