Agility is the ability to change direction and gain speed without losing control of the engine. It is directly related to speed, balance, and coordination skills . Children develop speed and agility at a young age, when they chase their friends or family pet around the garden.
When to start
Children’s speed and agility training programs should be developed in age-appropriate stages. Specialists suggest that children between the ages of 5 and 8 should be exposed to a variety of movement patterns, including arm and leg movements performed from a stationary position, jumping movements, and exercises that promote spatial awareness.
Skills mastery improves between the ages of 9 and 13 . Exercises that involve running through a cone maze, moving in a figure eight, and jumping and landing in a controlled manner are suitable for young adolescents, ages 13-16.
Characteristics
Agility and speed require a repertoire called "coordination skills." Balance is essential for agility. Some children experience the laws of balance for the first time on swings in the park, as on a seesaw when. They raise their feet and balance the board at its midpoint.
Spatial orientation, sometimes called proprioception, is developed through games like pinning the tail on the donkey . The ability to react to visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or tactile cues is an important aspect of agility. Games that require the child to respond to a whistle enhance this skill. Completion of an auditory cue, which occurs in games such as musical chairs, also provides effective training.
Profits
Speed and agility training improves athleticism and increases a child’s likelihood of participating in sports. Sports participation promotes an appreciation for health and exercise, a sense of self-worth, and interaction in a teamwork environment.
Effects to consider
Soccer is a sport that requires a considerable amount of speed and agility. The effect of soccer practice on motor development in 7 and 8 year olds improves cardiovascular endurance, speed, agility and flexibility in 7 year olds and explosive strength, speed and coordination in 7 year olds. Eight years.
Avoid forcing children to do training drills that are inappropriate for their developmental level. Doing so can cause permanent injury or make your child dislike any type of physical activity. Experimenting with different activities is essential for children to know what they like best and what least . They will be able to develop their own interests not only for the sport but for the movement and agility themselves. The child who does not like to throw a ball can enjoy rhythmic musical activities …
What matters above all is that parents are aware of their children’s motor skills so that in this way, they can enhance those skills with which the child feels good performing. It is a way to motivate and stimulate physical development, but also mental development, since body and mind are closely related. In addition, it is also necessary to bear in mind that in the current way of life, sedentary lifestyle is a social problem that parents must fight in raising. They must promote a healthy lifestyle in family life so that children learn to move and have a lifestyle that allows them to have better health both in the present and in the future.