Tennis, basketball, volleyball: at what age should you start playing these sports?

Physical activity has many benefits for children. Team sports contribute to their growth. Not only do they enable them to socialize, but they also develop their team spirit and competitive spirit. Being active strengthens bones, the heart and lungs. Among other things, it promotes psychomotor skills such as gesture coordination and motor dexterity. Sport also helps your child find his bearings in space and maintain his balance. Choose an activity that your child enjoys, so that he or she can have fun at every session. Think about exercise that's age-appropriate and compatible with your child's schedule. Keep in mind that this discovery phase is part of his development. The aim is to ensure his development and well-being, while helping him to feel confident. He also learns to treat others with respect. Many clubs allow parents to enroll their children from the age of 4. They can then adopt the right habits from an early age, so that they can look after their health as they grow up.

When should you start playing basketball?

Many children dream of becoming professional basketball players, which motivates them to play ball frequently. This team sport can be played as an extracurricular activity. Your child can start at the age of 3, indoors in a gymnasium or outdoors. The first sessions help him to familiarize himself with the different equipment. They practice dribbling the ball and scoring baskets. The instructors explain the rules of the game to the team, using fun activities to help them assimilate them.

The benefits of basketball:

• Team spirit: children must support each other so that their team wins. They must show confidence in their partners.
• Respecting instructions: children are not allowed to touch each other on the pitch. This exercise enables them to memorize all the constraints. If they don't, the coach applies the appropriate sanctions. In this way, they become aware of their role and responsibilities. These are skills that they transpose into their daily lives.
• Personality development: children find their place and overcome shyness.
• Coordination and skill: this sport requires a great deal of concentration and physical skill. You need good dexterity to score points by putting the ball in the small net.

More precisely, they're baby baskets and balls adjusted to their size. All you need at the start is a simple pair of shorts or jogging pants combined with a loose-fitting T-shirt. On the other hand, invest in quality shock-absorbing sports shoes. They limit injuries to muscles and joints. Bear in mind that children are in the midst of a period of growth, which explains their fragility.

When should you play volleyball?

It is one of the most popular disciplines for schoolchildren. It's a complete sport, both physically and mentally.

The benefits of volleyball:

• Improves cardio-respiratory and cardiovascular capacity
• Perfect body tone in legs, arms, buttocks and abdominals

Children as young as 9 or 10 can play with the real rules, and many clubs also offer mini-volley. Certified instructors use a pedagogical and introductory approach. This is adapted to the specific needs and skills of the youngsters. This involves the size of the court, the height of the net, larger and lighter balls, as well as more flexible rules. As for equipment, they need a rudimentary outfit consisting of shorts and a T-shirt. It should also include shoes with good foot and ankle support and shock-absorbing soles. If necessary, don't hesitate to buy them knee pads, essential accessories for diving.

When should you start playing tennis?

This individual sport requires good physical condition. Children can start playing miniature tennis from the age of 4. They play with foam balls, adapted courts, small rackets and simplified rules. Toddlers get used to this environment while learning to find their bearings in space.

The advantages of tennis :

• Concentration: children improve their dexterity when hitting the ball with the racket.
• Development of physical capacities: they gain in speed while becoming more enduring.
• Psychomotor: this all-round sport helps them sharpen their reflexes and push them to excel.

Your child can take real lessons from the age of 6. These lessons include positioning, moving techniques, serves, refereeing rules, backhands, forehands... As for competitive tennis, it's for enthusiasts aged 9 and over.