On the Ball!

In a time where computers, tablets and games consoles appear to be dominating the lives of many young children, it can be difficult to encourage them to be more active and to get involved in a sport or some form of physical activity. Figures from 2015 show that in Scotland, 14% of children aged between 2 and 15 were on course to be obese as adults. A further 15% were on course to be classed as overweight.

Here in Perthshire, we’re really lucky to have a number of fantastic sports clubs run by people in our community. Not only do these sports clubs provide kids with much needed exercise, they can also help your little one to make new friends, become more confident, and develop key life skills such as leadership, discipline, and listening to and following instructions.

Ball sports in particular can also help your child to develop their eye-hand coordination, concentration, agility and balance. There are many great clubs and organisations offering young children the chance to learn a ball sport, so for today’s article we have picked out a small selection where kids as young as two-years-old are given opportunities to have fun and get active!

Noah’s Ark Junior Golf Academy

Golf is a fantastic sport to play and once you’ve picked up the basic skills, it’s a game that you can play for the rest of your life! It’s a social sport which can be enjoyed with friends recreationally, or if your little ones are keen and talented then it may even lead to a career in the future.

Niall McGill is the owner and Head PGA Professional at Noah’s Ark Golf and his philosophy for the youngsters is all about enjoying the game of golf. The Junior Golf Academy aims to make learning golf a fun experience, with lots of games and challenges to help kids to learn new skills not just for golf, but for their everyday lives too.

The sessions are on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings and run in four week blocks. There are two classes on each day, one for those aged 6-10 and the other for those aged 8-14+.

Wednesday classes:       16:30 – 17:30 (6 to 10-year-olds), 17:30 – 18:30 (8 to 14-year-olds)

Friday classes:               10:00 – 11:00 (6 to 10 year-olds), 11:00 – 12:00 (8 to 14-year-olds)

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Rugby Nippers

These fun-filled classes are run by James Knight, and aim to get little ones aged 2 to 5-years-old into rugby. Held across Perthshire in Scone, Kinross, Auchterarder and Perth City Centre, the aim is to teach young children the very first skills of rugby in a fun, safe environment.

The classes help to improve a child’s balance, agility and coordination, giving them a head start in any sport not just rugby! They will learn to work as part of a team, make new friends and it will keep them fit, healthy and active.

Rugby Nippers is ideal for young girls and boys with lots of energy to channel into the game of rugby!

Saturdays:          Balformo Hall, Scone – 9:30 to 11:45

Mondays:            Millbridge Hall, Kinross – 9:30 to 11:00

Wednesdays:       Auchterarder Parish Church, Auchterarder – 13:30 to 15:00

Thursdays:          Craigie Hall, Perth – 13:00 to 14:35

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GALLERY

Jeanfield Swifts Football Club

One of Perth’s community football clubs, Jeanfield offer girls and boys the opportunity to learn the game of football and to play for the many teams the club has across a wide range of age groups.

Starting at U9’s for girls and U7’s for boys, coaching sessions are held at the Riverside on Bute Drive, North Muirton, with qualified coaches and committed volunteers overseeing an impressive football set-up.

Whether your little ones are football-daft and looking to play for a team with friends or you just want to see them stay active then Jeanfield is a great place to take them. With sessions for those with little or no experience, it doesn’t matter whether your child is familiar with the beautiful game or not – they’re definitely going to have fun!

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Kinross Kobras

Kinross Kobras is the junior section of Kinross Hockey Club and helps to bring girls and boys from the age of 6 into the game of hockey. With an emphasis on fun and learning new skills, the Kobras believe that children are mostly to succeed at a sport if they go at their own pace and enjoy what they do.

The Kobras team age groups start from U10s and the club runs regular training session for the youngsters to continue to improve their game. Children won’t just improve their hockey skills; they’ll also make new friends and learn important life skills that will stand them in good stead for their future.

There is a clear progression path to playing hockey into adulthood at Kinross Hockey Club if your child is keen to do so, but if not it’s a great way for them to keep active and have lots of fun!

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Simply Tennis Tots

Simply Tennis Tots is an energetic and fun introduction to tennis for 2 to 6-year-olds, with two different stages designed to teach kids the basics of tennis and enjoy some fun activities.

Stage one encourages youngsters to build their agility, balance and coordination, the fundamentals of physical activity. It also helps kids to develop their social skills, such as concentration, listening and taking in instructions. This is stage is aimed at 2 and 3-year-olds.

The second stage brings the racket and ball skills more into play and children will develop striking and receiving skills as well as being encouraged to work both independently and in pairs. Brightly coloured equipment is used by coach Laura Grimmond, to keep the children stimulated throughout each session!

Mondays:                            Bridge of Earn Institute, 13:15 to 14:00 and                                                  14:00 to 14:45                                                                                          (classes for P1 & P2 only from 15:30 to 16:15)

Fridays AM:                        Oakbank Community Centre, 9:25 to 10:00                                                 (for 2 and 3-year-olds)                                                                               10:05 to 10:50 (for 3+)

Fridays PM:                        Dunning Village Hall, 14:00 to 14:45

Classes cost £5 and block booking is essential!

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