Jonnie Keel

I joined my first-ever sport at the age of seven.

My parents allowed me to play softball with APLL in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This is where my sports journey began. I got the hang of things pretty quickly, so it wasn’t that difficult. I learned new skills and practiced those skills every day. The simple skills I learned from softball have gotten me to where I am today. 

Kids grow up so fast, don’t they? Time flies so fast that there is no time to waste. Young children are so active sometimes it is too much to handle. Maybe parents could put them in some type of club or sports team, but when is the right age? Parents should allow their children to play on a sports team around the age of six or seven because their mental state is ready to learn, sports helps teach them basic skills, and it gives them good benefits.  

The ages six and seven are perfect for kids to join sports teams because of their mental state. Their brains are developing; they developed enough to start learning new skills and following directions. When the children are younger than six, they most likely need more guidance and cannot follow simple instructions. Even though they are too young for organized sports, they should always stay active.

Allowing your child to participate in a sports team at the age of six or seven will allow them to learn basic skills they will need later on in their future. Some may say starting sports at a young age will not teach children basic skills, but sports do teach children basic skills. A sports team will teach them teamwork because they will be working together with their peers, which falls into communication. They will learn sportsmanship. They will be competing against other teams and at the end of most games, they will shake the other team’s hands to show sportsmanship. 

Joining a sports team has so many benefits. Letting children join sports teams keeps them busy. As they get older they will start to learn new things, which could be bad or good. Sports also help them progress, which can soon lead to scholarships for college or even becoming a professional athlete. Even though some kids can learn fast, having the extra years of experience can help them.

Children under the age of six should not join any sports team due to their mental state not being as strong as a six or seven-year-old who is ready to learn. If they do join a sports team at six or seven they will mostly have a stronger mindset when they get older than someone who waited a little longer to start. These kids can take what they have learned from their sports and take it with them to school or even at home. When children turn six or seven, their parents should allow them to participate in a sports team.