Sports After-school Programs

Benefits of kids’ after school sports programs

Extracurricular activities add extra time to your busy schedule and house league sports can be competitive — which is great when you’re on a winning team but not all that much fun when you lose. Here’s a reminder of the many benefits of participating in after-school sports programs:

Improved physical health and fitness. Sports after-school programs are an opportunity to engage in physical activity. Kids improve stamina and increase strength and endurance. Kids learn for themselves the importance of physical activity and making healthy lifestyle choices. Programs give kids increased self confidence, no matter what their skill level.

Improved mental health.  After-school sports activities improve kids’ and teens’ mental well-being in a variety of ways. First, it’s an outlet for stress relief. Being physical just puts you in a good mood. There’s also a sense of belonging and community. They build friendships and learn to share with others. They learn to solve problems together and sometimes they win together, which is a boost for anyone!

Improved social skills. Speaking of social skills, kids implicitly learn how to work better with others, communicate effectively, and overcome challenges together. They learn little things like taking turns and sharing, instilling the value of cooperation and teamwork. It’s a safe setting where they resolve conflicts and develop leadership skills.

Improved academic performance. After-school activities have also been shown to improve kids' academic performance. Physical activity helps improve concentration, focus, and stamina. They also build relationships with peers, which simply leads to their overall engagement in life as well as school.

Increased self-confidence. Sports teaches kids to set and achieve goals. They develop a sense of accomplishment. Also, kids are simply more confident when they are fitter. They tend to stand up straighter, an improvement in their state, as Tony Robbins might say. They feel more confident in their physical appearance. Finally, they also learn lessons in managing their emotions and overcoming adversity. These lessons carry over to other areas of life, and go with them into the future.

The cost of after-school sports programs

There’s a wide range of costs associated with programs listed above, with the full range being free to over $2,000 for programs that involve travel to other countries. In general for programs in Canada, the range is $150 to $450, with costs at the higher end for programs that are more advanced and run by companies with a high reputation. 

Sports after-school programs

The list above covers programs focusing on multiple as well as individual sports. You can learn more about individual lessons and classes from the following pages:   

• Acro lessons are ideal for kids aged 5-10 who want to get acrobatic! 
• Baseball lessons teach kids everything from fundamentals to advanced skills.
• Basketball lessons teach kids fundamentals to team play strategies with drills, etc. 
• Karate lessons bring students up through the belts, from white to black. 
• Martial arts lessons vary from karate to ju-jitsu to taekwondo lessons.
• Soccer lessons develop kids' and teens' skills in this sport poiopular with all ages. 
• Swimming lessons get kids into the pool and comfortable with basic strokes. 
• Tennis lessons are often one to one lessons covering various aspects of this sport. 
• Volleyball lessons offer training and scrimmages in this fun recreational sport.  

How to find the best sports after-school program for your child

Many of the most sophisticated programs and camps are present at the annual camps and kids' programs expo in downtown Toronto. There, you can speak face-to-face with camp counsellors, owners, and current campers. 

Whether you are researching at the expo or online through camps.ca, here are some questions to ask to help you find the right program for your child:

• Can you tell me what activities are covered and how much time is given to each?
• What skills specific to this sport are learned? What level will my child be at by the end of camp?
• What is the camper-to-leader ratio? What safety precautions are in place?
• How many references can you provide from other parents or families?
• Does the camp have financial assistance, discounts, or scholarships?

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