Geaux Health & Fitness Magazine June 2014 | Page 42

Capital Area YMCA
Laying a Foundation
for Athletes
by Erin Fulbright

What better way to improve the health of your children
than to enroll them in a great sports program? Children’s
involvement in sports not only can prevent obesity but
has numerous other health benefits. They don’t have to be
the next Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant or Russell Wilson.
Instead, what they will take away from playing sports will
be with them for a lifetime. Sports can build athletes while
shaping youths into better adults.
The YMCA is an expert when it comes to youth sports
and building an overall great athlete. Last year, 17,700
children participated in sports at YMCA locations in the
Capital area. Children involved in YMCA sports programs
learn the value of fun for the game from the start.
YMCA focuses on caring, honesty, respect and responsibility as the core of its sports program to build the best
well-rounded athletes.
“Putting your child in sports at a young age will help them
gain confidence, teamwork, develop leadership skills, and
build positive relationships,” Kristen Hogan, marketing director for all Baton Rouge YMCA locations, said. Hogan,
who also volunteers as a tee-ball coach, supports getting
children involved in sports at a young age. Her children
have been involved in YMCA sports since age four and are
now moving into high school sports.
“I feel that sports are so important for kids to be active
and healthy. Especially right now when they are sitting
in a classroom for half the day and some schools have cut
P.E., so having those evening practices gets them active. It
is great that they are getting their exercise,” Hogan said.
Incentives to becoming involved in youth sports are being
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active and exercising, eating healthy and understanding
nutrition, and being productive in the classroom and society. Young athletes develop communication skills and will
stay active as they grow.
The YMCA incorporates stretching before practices and
games to teach about loosening up the joints and the
importance of proper exercising practices. This, in turn, can
help prevent childhood obesity. It goes along with First
Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign “Let’s Move.” The campaign is focused on getting children outside and thinking
about their health.
Getting your child moving is key, so why not make it fun
for them with the sport they enjoy?
“If the child loves to play the sport, they will go home and
want to practice at home with their parents,” Hogan said.
“They are being active and not realizing they are exercising. Then the parent can explain that, ‘Hey, did you know
you are working your body?’”
Parents are encouraged to help children understand that
what goes in their bodies is important to their health and
success as an athlete. Coaches request parents to bring
healthy snacks to each game to guide the young athletes to
the right food choices. In YMCA’s programs, including the
afterschool and summer programs, one of the first things
taught is how to read a nutrition label.
Being an athlete offers benefits in the classroom and in
personal development skills.
Statistics suggest that student athletes are less likely to use
drugs or hang out with the wrong kids. “The student athletes become the good influencers and usually are the ones