How to help your kids practice sports at home? Here are 5 ways!
One of the best predictors of how your child will do in their athletic endeavors is how they extend their commitment to home. While there is no substitute for dedicated practices with coaches, there are still a number of ways that your child can improve by practicing at home away from their team. As a parent, it is your duty to help them to facilitate these workouts. Here are five ways that you can help your student-athletes practice their sports at home.
Utilize available technology
In recent years, there has been an explosion in growth in specific sports apps designed to help athletes to hone their skills. This growth has been accelerated even further due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has forced the cancellation of many practices and competitions.
For example, a baseball training app has the ability to transform your child’s swing or pitching mechanics so that they are more accurate. It is easy to engage in this training in your own backyard with this innovative practice solution. You will also receive expert advice on how to tweak your technique from professional baseball coaches.
Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise
Devising an at-home workout plan can go a long way in helping your child to achieve all of their goals. While formal practices are ideal for developing specific skills, your child can use their free time at home to work on their overall cardiovascular fitness levels.
You do not need any special equipment to encourage your child to go for a run. This makes it easy to do at home. The best news is that working on boosting their cardiovascular capacity will provide benefits in competition for virtually every sport. Note that it is important that you design a cardiovascular workout that is appropriate for your child’s age and skill levels. Giving them a routine that is too challenging will make them more likely to get frustrated and give up.
Practice what you preach
When it comes to motivating your kids, it is best to practice what you preach. Modeling healthy behaviors for your child will go a long way in encouraging them to take ownership of their physical health.
You cannot expect your child to be diligent about taking care of their health if you do not practice these same behaviors. For example, your child will be more likely to wake up and go for a run if they see you doing the same thing.
Make it fun
Your kids get enough structured practice time when they are with their team and coaches. Home practices should be viewed as both supplemental and fun. Rather than repeating the same skills that are taught in practice, try switching it up to keep the activity at home fresh and new.
This supplemental exercise should also be fun. It should not be viewed as just another to-do on your child’s schedule. You may also consider providing some rewards for your child to motivate them to keep up with their hard work. Perhaps you want to reward them with dinner and dessert of their choice if they stick to their routine each week? Find out what motivates your child and use that to your advantage.
Provide the right environment
One of the best things that you can do to support your child as they strive to reach all of their athletic goals is to provide the right environment to achieve their objectives. The proper environment will vary greatly depending on factors such as the climate in your area and the sport that they play.
For example, a basketball player would greatly benefit from a sports court in their yard. This court should be covered if you live in a wet climate. In addition to the recommended setting, you also need to ensure that your child is the proper equipment on hand to practice. Keep in mind that this may be different than their usual needs since they do not have other teammates around.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking that your child’s athletic development stops when they leave the practice facility. By instituting a workout routine at home, your child will grow leaps and bounds as they improve their play.