5 Olympic Sports That Young Kids Can Train In

Of late, India is placing a lot of emphasis on fostering a sports culture and establishing an atmosphere that is favourable to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. It may have been the case of better late than never as the country grows increasingly conscious of the value of sports and fitness.

There have been numerous incredible moments in India's sports history, from history to now. For instance, winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup, or the first Olympic medal after Independence, at the 1948 London Olympics, to success at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 India’s ace track and field athlete Neeraj Chopra won not only his but the country’s first-ever gold at the Olympic games. Let us not forget Mirabai Chanu’s silver in wrestling and the contributions of many athletes who strive for success in every tournament.

It’s not just the athletes, but the Indian government's approach as well. From having a visionary approach to actual on ground training and nutrition to the athletes, the government has helped in increasing the recognition and value of sports careers in the society.

Thanks to the effort of grassroot level tournaments and the nurturing of young athletes, sports like football, hockey, badminton, and tennis have become popular. Even though cricket has historically been a popular sport in India, it's important not to forget that sports popularity can change over time. Cultural shifts, the performance of national teams, media attention, and personal preferences can often turn the tide. Apart from that, major international events like the Olympics and Wimbledon draw a large audience that too can spark interest in sports other than cricket. As a result, success in these events can also spike popularity and interest in these sports. For instance, Indian sports personalities such as Neeraj Chopra, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, and Sunil Chettri, through their outstanding accomplishments, have contributed to their respective sports and created a huge impact on how India perceives sports today. Neeraj Chopra, through his historic win captured the nation's attention and sparked enthusiasm for javelin, a lesser-known sport in India. Sania's success too has inspired young girls to take up the sport, breaking gender stereotypes and encouraging female participation in sports.

In sports, rapid thinking and quick decisions are frequently required, which means in academics, students can utilise this ability to make effective and appropriate decisions and use critical thinking under pressure, especially during exams. Moreover, parents should treat failures and setbacks faced by their children as positive learnings, which can further build resilience. This ability is very helpful when it comes to studying, completing the syllabus for exams on time, and facing difficulties. Pursuing a sport adds to skills such as goal setting, discipline, focus, and time management are other important benefits that, together, can generate a healthy competitive spirit in teens, which again has magnificent benefits in academics in order to be highly competitively inclined.

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What Can These Olympic Sports Teach Youngsters?

Being raised in the digital age exposes teenagers to more distractions than any generation before them; most of them are fighting hard to grab their attention and trying to divert it to the things that are really important.

It's more important than ever to guide teens in choosing activities that are not only fun but also beneficial for developing their own personalities. One trick that can support this idea is to direct them to choose these Olympic sports as activities to shape their future. The Olympics is a global celebratory athletics event across the globe that is also multi-sport, with more than 200 countries taking part in over 400 events in both the Summer and Winter Games. Some of its sports can be helpful for today’s teens to learn and implement in their lifestyles.

Volleyball

In volleyball, two teams of six players are divided by a net. According to a set of regulations, each side seeks to earn points by grounding (landing) a ball on the opposing team's court. So more precisely, it requires the strength and techniques of hand and hand movement that can boost strength, control, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, agility, and, of course, aerobic fitness. Many teenagers struggle to make friends since they are self-conscious or shy, but volleyball propels you to interact with others and to communicate with them, which makes it a good social sport as well. Moreover, teens get to understand how crucial it is to abide by one another, have faith in one another, and leverage each other's strengths for the sake of the team, which teaches them team spirit.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is one of a demanding sport that requires an enormous amount of perseverance and skill. It includes strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and body control with different body postures. With frequent practice, youngsters can improve their physical coordination and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which prevents heart disease and even age-related problems like bone loss in the long term. Teens who are interested in gymnastics are less startled by unexpected imbalances. This helps develop a strong spatial awareness. It involves intense training that emphasises both the physical and psychological components of sports. Physically, it increases flexibility and strength, and mentally, it helps to develop mental toughness, which is a must in athletics.

The ancient Indian sport "Mallakhamb" is a traditional style of gymnastics that blends yoga, martial arts, and gymnastics. It involves acrobatic and gymnastic movements performed on a wooden pole or rope.

Judo

Judo is a martial art that teaches students how to react quickly to any kind of attack. The training includes throws and grips that may be used to subdue an opponent as well as moves that deflect direct strikes. In simple terms, it can teach youngsters effective self-defence techniques with critical thinking. It requires the individual to be in the present, since being conscious of the very moment allows them to contemplate their actions and reactions against the opponent in the game. It further protects them against modern youth issues such as a lack of concentration and a short attention span caused by excessive screen consumption.

A teenager who is skilled with self-defence techniques can develop the confidence in themselves that comes from believing they will succeed in a particular task or situation and that they are a worthwhile individual.

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Relay-Race

A relay race is a kind of race in which teams of athletes run a certain distance while passing a baton from one team member to the next. In addition to being a well-liked event in track and field athletics, it is also frequently seen in other sports like swimming and skiing. For teens, it is a great sport to develop companionship and strengthen bonds among friends, as it demands effective communication and synchronisation within the group. In order to accomplish that and similar goals, it is helpful to develop better understanding and somehow bring individuals on the same page. It further develops a strong sense of belonging and empathy among each other. Not only as a team, but as an individual too. Each team member is responsible for finishing one segment or leg of the race as quickly as possible before passing the baton to the next runner. Which demands each member to be strong enough to help the team win. This further showcases that teenagers who perform such sports can learn time management and critical thinking for estimations, in a most natural and effective manner.

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is an incredible kind of exercise, as every muscle in the body is used during this full-body exercise. Skateboarding requires regular movement, which contributes to building stamina and endurance. You need to use your legs and core muscles to maintain balance when using a skateboard. As a result, it enhances balance and coordination. It is also a low-impact activity, which is easy on the joints as it doesn't place as much strain on the knees and ankles as other high-impact sports like basketball or football do.

Moreover, the benefits of skateboarding extend beyond physical health to mental well-being. When skateboarding, you need to be aware of your surroundings and ready to respond quickly, which requires a lot of focus and concentration. This can even assist teens with academic performance while enhancing cognitive function.

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