Fun, active multi-sports based programs specifically designed for 2–8 year olds
Specialised Multi-Sports Coaching for boys & girls aged 2 to 8
Exercise improves physical health and general well being. Children increase their over-all fitness through exercise and there are many long-term health benefits. It boosts the immune system, which means children are less likely to get sick and their defence against disease is stronger.
A Child’s overall metabolism is improved by exercise, resulting in lowered blood pressure, improvement of the cholesterol profile, reduction of type 2 diabetes, and strengthening of the entire cardiovascular system, including the heart and lungs.
Overweight children are able to reduce their body weight and body fat due to the physiological effect of burning fat while exercising, resulting in improved bone and muscle structure.
Active children enjoy additional health benefits, because exercise increases the blood flow to all body tissues, including the brain. Greater blood flow transports more oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells.
Active children have more energy. Their bodies ability to absorb oxygen is improved through aerobic exercise. This increased oxygen in their body’s cells helps children feel more energized.
The body is able to detoxify better. Exercising creates increased breathing and sweating both which contribute to release of toxins. Greater blood flow increases the transport of the by products of metabolism and toxins back from the cells for elimination, recycling, or further use elsewhere. This helps children feel healthy and fit.
Active children are able to concentrate better. Exercise improves mental health, helps memory and is excellent for brain function. It can help keep children emotionally stable, reduces levels of anxiety, and can decrease the likelihood of depression.
When children exercise, the quality of their sleep is improved which helps them function better in every aspect of their lives. Exercise increases the release of beneficial hormones helps remove harmful ones.
Active children develop a stronger self-esteem and more confidence. Their ability to overcome difficult situations improves.
The early stages of the Playball program teach children the basic physical skills needed to start playing sport. Basics such as rolling a ball, bouncing, throwing and catching form a foundation on which to build a lifetime of sports participation. The later stages of the program build upon these very basic capabilities and string them together into actual game play. In this gradual way children can be successful at every stage of the learning process which increases their confidence and the amount of fun that they can have playing sport.
The Playball program promotes school readiness skills to ensure that children develop a sound base on which to build in the future. Our goal is the development of the whole child. It is for this reason that Playball develops physical, social, intellectual and emotional skills in an age appropriate manner. The credibility of the Playball program is evident by the enormous value placed on it by parents and teachers in Australia and around the world.
Some of the school readiness skills covered by the Playball program include:
- Emotional wellbeing
- Confidence
- Cooperation and skills of inclusion
- A level of physical competence
- Concentration, Focus and Listening Skills
- Persistence while learning
- Teamwork and Social Skills.
At Playball we work within the community to help prepare children for the future. Sports participation provides opportunities for children to become more active and healthy. Playball helps children learn life skills that are essential for the challenging years ahead.
Children learn social skills through teamwork practiced at Playball.
- cooperation
- communication
- listening
- sharing
- teamwork
- sportsmanship
These skills help children learn how to play happily with others.
Playball™ gives all children, of all abilities, an opportunity to experience the benefits of participating in sports.
- Promotes a healthy start and a happy balanced lifestyle
- Promotes a positive attitude and increased self-esteem
- Increases confidence and motivation
- Develops concentration, focus and listening skills
- Teaches sportsmanship and fair play
- Develops independence, persistence, goal setting, and leadership
- Improves co-operation, patience, and tolerance and respect.
Playball has proven itself in many countries over 25 years to become recognised as a unique and invaluable sports coaching program for young children. Tens of thousands of children in Australia, America, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa are benefiting from the many rewards of the Playball program.
While Playball Australia is independently owned and operated, the Australian Playball team has good relations with the international office all of whom share the same vision.
The Playball Program is the result of many years of Research & Development.
The Playball Head Office team created the Playball Sports Program by researching the developmental needs of 2 to 8 year olds through consultation with child development professionals. Playball understands the importance of teaching the right skills at the right time, so that children can develop a strong base of foundation skills on which to build.
Research has shown that a child can easily learn a new skill when they are ready for it, however pushing them into something they not ready for is usually counter-productive in the long term. To avoid the dangers of specialising too early, for example: burnout, Playball introduces age appropriate activities gradually. This stepping stone approach ensures every child has the opportunity to fully develop the skills of each stage before moving on. This establishes the conditions for success, helping children to develop confidence through feeling the satisfaction of refining and mastering their current skills.
Not only do we understand which activities are best for each age group and developmental stage but Playball’s holistic approach helps children to function in their everyday lives as confident and able individuals. Playball’s objectives are to develop a child in all aspects; physical, emotional, social and intellectual. We use sport as the means to teach all of these essential life skills.
To provide a Program of the highest possible quality and benefit to children Playball consults professionals from a wide range of child related disciplines:
- Paediatric Occupational Therapists (paediatric O.T.)
- Child Psychologists
- Paediatric Speech Therapists/ Speech Pathologists
- Early Childhood Educators
- Sports Scientists
- Child Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
In addition Playball management and staff pride themselves in their high standards of excellence which are maintained by ongoing professional development.