Young Athletes is based on the following gross motor skill categories:
- Foundational Skills (includes body awareness, strength and flexibility)
- Walk & Running
- Balance & Jumping
- Trapping and Catching
- Throwing
- Striking
- Kicking
Your sessions should combine group games and individual skills stations that directly foster these 7 skill categories.
While progression of the development of these skills is often based on the previous skill, progress rarely follows in a straight path. Basically, while it is logical and often the best idea to start at Foundational Skills and then move onto the next skill, there are many times when athletes will be learning and practicing multiple skills, going back to review and moving ahead based on the individual’s skill level, interest and motivation.
The more advanced the skill, the more “sport specific” type activities you can begin to introduce. Keep in mind that Young Athletes is not a sport specific program but rather incorporates some sport type activities when appropriate to teach foundational skills for future participation in sports.
Where can I find ideas for games and activities?
- The Learn. Practice. Play. UNIFIED Guide (Provided to all coaches with the coach binder. Designed for schools but a great coach resource)
- The Young Athletes Family & Caregiver Guide (provided to all registered Young Athletes, as well as provided to coaches with the coach binder)
- The Special Olympics Young Athletes Curriculum (designed for schools but a great coach resource)
- The Special Olympics Young Athletes Activity Videos
Skill Progression
(coming soon)
Foundational Skills
- How to use Proprioception Activities to Help with Body Awareness – The OT Toolbox (scroll all the way down for activity ideas)
- Fun Sensory Activities: Row Your Boat – The Inspired Treehouse
- Insect Games: Imitate a Bug Printable Cards – The Inspired Treehouse
- Building Core Strength with a Playground Ball
Walking & Running
- Animal Tag – The Inspired Treehouse (also good for auxiliary skills)
- Run & Carry – The Ultimate Game
- Hidden Treasure Games
Balance & Jumping
- Tightrope Walking – The Inspired Treehouse
- Jumping Games for Kids under 5 video
- Pattern Jumping Physical Activity Programs video
- Preschool Athlete – Jumping 3 video
Trapping & Catching
- Ball Games for Preschoolers video – coaches you may need to make some modification on these ideas but they are a good base
- Roll the Ball Learning Game – The Educators Spin On It
- Animal Ball Fun Game – Fatherly
- Catching Grasshoppers video
Throwing
- How to Teach Kids to Throw Correctly – Active For Life
- Fun Gross Motor Game – The Inspired Treehouse (this example is a winter theme but you can mix it up)
- Ball Games Kids Love – The Educators Spin On It
- Preschooler Catching, Throwing and Kicking – One Kids Place
Striking
- 5 Skill-based Floor Hockey Games – Gopher Sport
- Strike To Success – The Cooperative Skills Challenge
Kicking
- Kicking Games for Kids – Sportsrec
- Kicking Onto Cones video
- Developmental Skills-Kicking – The Inspired Treehouse
Seasonal and Miscellaneous
Fall:
- Mini Pumpkin Toss – The Inspired Treehouse
- Pumpkin Relay Race For Kids – The Inspired Treehouse
- Autumn Yoga – Kids Yoga Stories
Winter:
- Fun Gross Motor Game – The Inspired Treehouse
- Indoor Activities for Kids – The Inspired Treehouse (instead of scootering into the snowman, try throwing objects at it to knock it down)
- 5 Winter Core Strengthening Exercises – The Inspired Treehouse
Music!
- Music and Movement Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers – Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
- Best Movement Action Songs – Preschool Inspirations
Picture Books
YA Coach Videos of Picture Books in Action:
Basic Movement:
- Get Moving! 10 Books Designed to Make Kids Move – Brightly
- Wiggling, Giggling, and Moving from Head to Toe: Books to Encourage Exercise – naeyc
Teamwork:
- The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His Grrrrr – bookroo
- Duncan the Story Dragon – bookroo
- We are Better Together – bookroo
Empathy and Differences
- Lovely – Creston Books
- Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
- Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el
Yoga/Self Regulation