Inspire a Generation

[Doon frae Troon]

After the Open and Wimbledon the village kids are usually out in the park with clubs and rackets.

The last month they seem to have dissapeared.
The only inspired folk I have seen lately are middle aged cyclists and joggers.

What's it like in your area?

 

[Fader]

Too much playstation generation nowadays. I live in a road of 30 houses, of which there are only 3 i'm aware of that do not have kids and i've only ever seen the same 4 kids kicking a ball about, and they all belong to my next door neighbours on either side.

I see a lot of people in their 30's & 40's out for a jog or cycle, but rarely see anyone with a ball, racket or even just kicking about outside playing some sort of game. It even stems to my 2 children whom live in chester with their mum, I pick them up bring them home and all they can talk about is the latest games they have, So I make sure the times we have together involve sports and exercise whilst having fun. Thankfully my boy has got into TaeKwondo now he's 7 the same age I did thanks to my dad, and he's now a member of a club in Chester, so when he comes up to me I can help him train.

But back to the main point, the Inspiring a Generation needs to be done right at grass roots, parents need to take responsibility along with schools and local communities (councils even) to provide kids the chance to find what they like, then get and stay involved in sports throughout their lives.

 

[MegaSteve]

Sadly don't see too many kids playing in the streets these days... Think there's too many 'distractions' to be had indoors... Playstation has got a lot to answer for...

Eldest grandson showed quite a bit of interest in the gymnastics... So we'll be researching where we can go locally to see if he wants to progress beyond visual impression... Took him to a local BMX track one day last week... He was the only kid there [puzzling]... Great sport!

 

[JustOne]

After the Open and Wimbledon the village kids are usually out in the park with clubs and rackets.

The last month they seem to have dissapeared.

Isn't it 'cos they're watching the Olympics?

 

[Tiger]

There are a lot of factors. Parents used to be happier to let their kids run around the streets from a younger age. There used to be more 'places' to go and hang out, kick a ball about etc. Before computer games I was John Barnes in the playground, or Daley Thompson or Linford Christie. I'd go to the park book a tennis court and pretend to be Boris Becker or Andre Agassi. Things got really good when computer games meant if it was too wet, icy or dark to go out I could do all those things indoors.

If you ask me the secret is to expose all kids to lots of sports at a young age. Don't make it too structured just make it fun. Then as they get older (10/11) encourage them to focus on the ones they enjoy the most. The way school sport works now doesn't help. Kids are generally exposed to Football plus one other sport (if their lucky). Summer terms are too short and exams/tests focussed now so athletics and cricket miss out.

David Cameron blathering on about competitive sport from primary school age is nonsense. So many kids get switched off all sport because they haven't been exposed to the one they would enjoy the most.

 

[Golfmmad]

There are a lot of factors. Parents used to be happier to let their kids run around the streets from a younger age. There used to be more 'places' to go and hang out, kick a ball about etc. Before computer games I was John Barnes in the playground, or Daley Thompson or Linford Christie. I'd go to the park book a tennis court and pretend to be Boris Becker or Andre Agassi. Things got really good when computer games meant if it was too wet, icy or dark to go out I could do all those things indoors.

If you ask me the secret is to expose all kids to lots of sports at a young age. Don't make it too structured just make it fun. Then as they get older (10/11) encourage them to focus on the ones they enjoy the most. The way school sport works now doesn't help. Kids are generally exposed to Football plus one other sport (if their lucky). Summer terms are too short and exams/tests focussed now so athletics and cricket miss out.

David Cameron blathering on about competitive sport from primary school age is nonsense. So many kids get switched off all sport because they haven't been exposed to the one they would enjoy the most.

Don't blame it all on the Government and making excuses for Parents.

There are plenty of varied sporting opportunities out there for kids to try, IF their parents take the trouble to look.
My 6 year old Grandaughter is involved in swimming, gymnastics, football, table-tennis and is part way through a 10 week golf beginners course.
She is quote good on her Parents i-pad, computer and phone, but nonetheless too busy and tired to go on them too much.

It should all start with the Parents first IMHO.

 

[6inchcup]

it boils down to bone idle parents who cant get their fat behinds of the chair and taking kids to sporting activities,when my son was little i and his mum were out at least 4 nights a week at various clubs( cricket,kick boxing,rugby) and he used to carry my bag on a sunday roll up,a lot of parents are happy to see their fat kid locked in a room glued to the tv/pc/games console because they don't have to be bothered doing anything,all kids should be made to do physical workouts at school no excuses and no spoilt brats with a letter from mummy.

 

[Gazboy]

There's loads of kids on bikes around our area this year, maybe in part because for a few years there were very few 8-14 year olds and now we have a new generation of kids discovering looser apron strings and exploring their new found freedoms.

I'm really struggling to inspire my 5 y.o son to do 'anything' sporty, just getting him through the door of the sports centres/onto a playing field can be a battle. I feel a bit like 'Big Russ Thompson' in Honey I shrunk the kids' when his eldest son simply isn't interested in sports.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Not sure If I count as middle aged but it's inspired me to start running again. The tennis courts\5-a-side pitches I run passed don't seem any busier but then it is school hols so I may miss them by the time I get in from work.

Mrs H drove past box hill on Saturday and said she'd never seen so many cyclists!

 

[JustOne]

Mrs H drove past box hill on Saturday and said she'd never seen so many cyclists!

i'm getting some T-Shirts printed for me and the wife.....

WE CYCLED

BEFORE

THE OLYMPICS!


;-)

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I wonder how many parents on here took part in the parents race at the school sports?

 

[Golfmmad]

I wonder how many parents on here took part in the parents race at the school sports?

Goodness gracious me DfT! They don't do that anymore, not down south anyway. Too many tree huggers and do gooders wouldn't like it ya know!!!!!!

 

[JustOne]

I wonder how many parents on here took part in the parents race at the school sports?

Don't know if it helps but I watched from the side lines



NB: There's be no decent sports events without spectators! LOL

 

[Iaing]

Bet there's a lot of cheap bikes on sale in time for xmas.

 

[6inchcup]

Bet there's a lot of cheap bikes on sale in time for xmas.

mostly being sold by the Australian cycle squad.

 

[Hobbit]

I don't doubt it will inspire a generation.................................................. for a week, just as Wimbledon and Cricket does. And a few will stick at the sport they find, just as in any Olympic year.

But the big question is funding. Local Councils have been closing facilities hand over fist for a few years now. So having inspired them, where will the funding be to maintain the momentum.

 

[JustOne]

But the big question is funding. Local Councils have been closing facilities hand over fist for a few years now. So having inspired them, where will the funding be to maintain the momentum.

Ironically they will assume they've done everything right, after all look how many medals we won! Maybe close a few more down and get more medals next time! ;-)

 

[MegaSteve]

But the big question is funding. Local Councils have been closing facilities hand over fist for a few years now. So having inspired them, where will the funding be to maintain the momentum.

Around here they seem to centre all their efforts into building swimming pools... Believe they only do it because then they can have an opening ceremony with plenty of photo opportunities for the 'dignitaries'... Think they overlook there are plenty of other sports in need of facilities/support...

 

[GreiginFife]

I don't doubt it will inspire a generation.................................................. for a week, just as Wimbledon and Cricket does. And a few will stick at the sport they find, just as in any Olympic year.

But the big question is funding. Local Councils have been closing facilities hand over fist for a few years now. So having inspired them, where will the funding be to maintain the momentum.

Funding seems to be as big an issue as the calls on bad parenting. The village I grew up in used to have a football club for kids, a running club and an activities community centre which was open 6 days a week where village kids could gather and take part in games and social activities. This was in 1985. By 1995 council funding for each of these clubs dried up, the football and running clubs vanished and the community centre was open 3 days a week. Now-a-days, the community centre is closed completely.
The kids in the village that would like to be able to get out and play sports simply don't have the facilities to do so.

Also, used to be a time where you could go out in the street and have a kick about - these days it's either nanny state liability fears or fear of abduction that prevents parents from allowing it (or grumpy neighbours - but we had them in my day too ).

So before we start pointing fingers at "lazy parenting" being the only cause, lets remember that it's about availability and viability of facilities to promote this - sadly often council [Government] funded.

 

[chrisd]

When i was a 10 year old we played football 24/7 when we were out of school. Dozens of us at the local park, arranging our own teams and playing. Nowadays I help run a football club with 12 teams, a mixture of adult and kids teams, it all has to be organised for them, mums and dads have to bring them and collect them and if football is Tuesday, they do badminton on Wednesday and swimming Thursday etc etc

We do get help from our local Council but they also treat us like they own us, and not as people giving up their own time and effort for the sake of the kids in the community.