+44 07513 522 896
info@ptcsports.co.uk
+44 07513 522 896
info@ptcsports.co.uk
Sports for Kids Who Don’t Like Balls: 5 Activities They’ll Actually Love
When you think of sport, what’s the very first one that pops into your head?
We asked our members, and the most common responses were: football, cricket, basketball, netball, rugby, tennis, and rounders.
Every single sport that comes to people’s minds first has the core focus of using a ball! It’s no coincidence these are also the most commonly known sports played in schools, but what if your child isn’t interested in sports with balls?
We see many parents struggling with how to direct their children if they have no interest in playing with a ball. At PTC Sports, we believe that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and we should nurture a child’s natural talents and interests. However we know many of you are stuck with knowing how to engage your child in physical activity that does not involve balls, as these are the dominant activities available.
Here are our top five tried and tested sports to help find their spark for ball-free movement!
Gymnastics
Starting off strong with gymnastics. This timeless, functional and traditional sport remains popular due to its fantastic all-round benefits. Gymnastics develops balance and coordination skills, problem-solving, strength, flexibility and mobility. At PTC Sports, we love teaching gymnastics as it contains such functional movements and core skills that are transferable into the majority of other sports. Because of this, it’s a great place to start when introducing your child to sport.
Athletics
Athletics is a passion of ours, with a diverse range of inclusive activities that requires little to no equipment, which means children can continue their training at home and on the go. Athletics for children typically includes;
Athletics provides children with core fundamental fitness skills and develops stamina, strength, resilience, agility and discipline, to mention a few.
Parkour
We predict Parkour as one of the next biggest upcoming fitness trends for kids! If you’ve not heard of Parkour, it essentially is finding the fastest and most efficient way to run from A to B whilst tackling obstacles. If your child loves Ninja Warrior UK, they will love Parkour!
Benefits include whole physical development as they climb, run and jump through a range of motions and hurdles. Parkour develops spatial awareness, agility, and critical thinking skills as they learn and adapt to challenges. It’s a high-energy burner and also a useful way to teach our children how to move safely and efficiently, so it’s a double win for us parents.
Climbing
We are all born with the desire to climb, that is, before we become adults and the fear of dizzying heights takes over! Climbing is making a huge comeback and we are here for it. It’s the ultimate fun vertical puzzle, hidden as a full-body workout.
In the age of screens, climbing requires focused attention, helping children to focus on the immediate task at hand, as well as the delayed gratification of working to reach the end goal, which will require continuous adaptation and skill. Climbing is a powerful, proprioceptive movement, which can have a calming effect on the nervous system, which is especially useful for children who are neurodiverse.
Hyrox
We are hooked on Hyrox! We’ve been weaving functional fitness into our sessions with a great response. Hyrox makes movement fun, practical, and captivating, and is an excellent example of demonstrating that exercise isn’t always about balls and bats.
Hyrox focuses on movements we use every day like squatting, jumping, running, and carrying. We’ve found Hyrox has a wealth of benefits, which include but are not limited to strength, agility, coordination, balance, problem-solving, endurance, cardiovascular fitness, stamina and resilience.
Want to learn more about Hyrox? Read our blog here:
We hope this has enlightened you that there is more to sport than just balls! There is a sport for every child, and we encourage you to experiment with ones outside of the “box” to find their spark and the sport they love.
We pride ourselves on nurturing children’s health, well-being, and love for sport, whatever that sport might be, and creating lifelong habits and unforgettable experiences. As coaches, we believe sport isn’t just about playing, it’s about thriving, learning, and loving the journey, whether it be football or Hyrox, rugby or Parkour. Each child is unique, and all children deserve the chance to flourish at an activity they love.
So the question is, which will you be trying first?
