It’s that time of year when we’re all making resolutions for the New Year. One of the most common resolutions is to get more active, lose weight and get fit. If you’ve tried more conventional sports in the past and failed, could there be other options out there for you? The Olympics in the summer are bound to inspire more families off the couch and outside. Several new sports will be making their debut at Tokyo 2020, but whatever your preferences, there is the perfect sport for you and the kids.
Top New Sport – Climbing
One of the sports set to make a huge impact at the Olympics is sport climbing. We’re all familiar with the climbing walls which have sprung up in most large towns and cities in the UK. Sports climbing takes scaling the walls and makes it competitive. It’s about how quickly you can zoom up the wall, racing either against a competitor or the clock. Climbing provides a good all over body workout and isn’t expensive to get started. All large climbing wall centres offer classes for both kids and adults to teach you the basics. If you’re booking the kids in for classes, make sure that the instructor has been properly trained and has the right DBS check to work with children.
Climbing is a great activity to do as a family, because it lets you get competitive with each other, and everyone can push themselves to achieve a little more. Start the kids now, and could they be representing Team GB in 2024?
Surfing
Perhaps more connected with the sun kissed shores of Australia or Hawaii, surfing is probably most associated with the Cornish coast. However, that all changed in 2015 when Surf Snowdonia opened in an old aluminium factory site in Wales. Kids, adults and teenagers can pull on their wetsuits, get in the water and learn to surf, whatever the weather is doing out at sea. It certainly takes a bit of skill to get upright on a surfboard and stay upright, but there’s no denying that surfing is a lot of fun too.
Park Run
Running isn’t new but Park Run has been growing hugely in the UK over recent years. The idea is simple. Just turn up at your local park on a Saturday morning and run 5k. Although you’ll get a barcode to track your time and log your progress on a website, it;s not a race in the conventional sense of the word, but more of a fun run. Many cities also have a shorter junior Park Run for kids on a Sunday. Registration is free of charge, and all you need is a decent pair of trainers. Park Run has a reputation for being fun, welcoming and open to everyone, so why not give it a go? By this time next year, you could be up there at the head of the leading group.
Disc Golf
Disc Golf is best described as a cross between a game of golf, and frisbee. Instead of using a club to knock a ball around the course and into the hole, you throw a frisbee instead. There are no complicated rules for children to learn, and it’s a great family activity as it doesn’t involve too much strenuous exercise. Disc golf course are springing up all over the country, some in conventional golf courses and others in public parks. Furthermore, it’s really easy to get started with disc golf; all you need is a cheap plastic frisbee and a bit of a competitive spirit. Just as with conventional golf, the idea is to get around the course in as few throws as possible. Can you cut your score next time?
Archery
If your family is less about physical exertion and more about developing a new skill, what about archery? It’s one of the oldest sports around, and there are archery clubs across the country. Book in for a few taster sessions and see whether you have what it takes to get the arrow in the centre of the target. Smaller children can start off closer to the target, with lighter bows which are easier to handle. Look for an organisation which is accredited through Archery GB as this guarantees that coaches have had a criminal records check and are skilled with your kids.