Summer is a wonderful time of year for kids and families. The warm weather provides all types of opportunities for sports and activities that lead to family time and great exercise. People enjoy being outdoors and many take advantage of this time of year.
School’s out for summer and kids have plenty of time to play both organized sports and pickup sports. Some kids will spend all day playing sports in the school yard or backyard and then move onto their organized teams or camps later in the day.
Other kids might default to staying inside and playing video games or hanging out on their Ipad. This is where sports and activities can play a major role in helping a kid get the right amount of exercise and enjoy sports at the same time.
There are often times many camps, leagues or simple activities that kids can be involved with. Summer is great for different sports camps, recreation activities and overall offerings for kids to be involved and to stay active.
The joy of playing sports and the many life lessons make sports very beneficial in a kids life. It can help mold them into a quality adult that contributes to society in a positive manner.
Life lessons such as failing forward, persevering, teamwork, winning with class, dedication are just some examples of the power of sports. Being around sports or different activities usually means there are other quality kids and hopefully quality adults that are great connections for now and in the future for kids.
Below we provide an overview of our top 9 sports and rank them in order. We highlight why we love the sport or activity and the benefits for kids.
Top 9 Summer Sports for Kids
- Baseball
- Softball
- Golf
- Tennis
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Biking
- Kayaking
- Hiking
#8 Summer Sports – Hiking
A great morning or evening activity. We love to go hiking in an area that takes us down towards a river. The kids will then play in the river and enjoy the water before finishing our hike. Overall, kids get to explore the outdoors, be in nature and get some awesome exercise.
The adults also benefit from the activity as they get to get some steps in and enjoy the outdoors as well. Our kids often ask to go on a hike and while our kids play plenty of organized sports, the hike is often a release because they are in control and can explore what they want to.
#7 Summer Sports – Kayaking
We took our family kayaking for the first time last summer and it truly was special. We simply used some of the inflatable kayaks that can be purchased relatively cheap, mapped out our beginning and exit points and go going.
It doesn’t take a ton of prep and talk about enjoying the outdoors. What amazing sites you can find on a river and kids love the exploration and the challenge of keeping the kayak on track. We spend 4 hours navigating our route, all had a high level of energy and were able to explore the river.
Two person Inflatable Kayak:
#6 Summer Sports – Biking
Remember back to the days when you were a kid? Did you ride your bike all around town and throughout the neighborhoods? Of course you did, I think just about every kid had the experience and you would often see 5-10 bikes laying in the beginning of driveways as kids biked from one house to the next enjoying the summer and playing whatever sport or activity they wanted to that day.
There are also the options of taking your bikes to a local park or a local trail and exploring the outdoors while enjoying the joys of riding a bike. We enjoy the simple bike rides throughout the neighborhood and the occasional trail ride.
#5 Summer Sports – Swimming
There are plenty of opportunities to swim either recreational or as part of a team. Most cities have city pools that families and kids can use. Most of these locations also have swim teams where kids can be part of a team and develop their swimming ability in different events.
There are many benefits such as becoming a better swimmer, but more importantly kids learn to be dedicated, to work hard, and to put int he time it takes to improve. Many swim practices are early in the morning and takes that extra level of dedication towards something a kid enjoys.
Swim meets are usually a ton of fun for all involved, they usually last all day or all weekend and you will see tents and different setups as families and kids hang out between events.
#4 – Summer Sports – Soccer
The great thing about soccer is that it can be played year round. For the player that loves the game there are opportunities to play travel and club soccer at a very serious level. For others the are great recreational opportunities and also pick up games that take place at local parks typically on the weekend.
Kids, especially those at a young age, love to play soccer and it is a great game to start a kid with because of the footwork development that takes place and because the ball is always in motion. Unlike basketball, the ball constantly moves and kids are able to run around and play a role in the game.
#3 – Summer Sports – Tennis
One of the benefits of Tennis is that there are many courts in just about every city in America. You simply need two rackets, a pack of 3 tennis balls and you are off and playing. It helps develop hand eye coordination and kids are able to get in some great exercise.
We would recommend looking for some local recreational camps that help introduce kids to the game or your local racket club, which probably offers lessons or group lessons. Starting with the right fundamentals and experiencing some success will be key for the kids to enjoy the game and stick with it long term. Tennis provides a great opportunity for people of all ages to compete and play against each other.
Recommended Junior Racquet:
#2 – Summer Sports – Golf
Golf is a wonderful sport for people of all ages. People from 4 through 100 can play and enjoy the game of golf. They are able to play together and compete against each other if they wish. I will never forget being a kid and getting my first set of golf clubs and heading to the driving range and then to the golf course.
The game seemed so difficult at first, but there are something special about that first shot that flew through the air. I was addicted and haven’t stopped playing since. Golf shaped who I became as a person because I needed to stay calm and control my emotions in order to golf at a high level. I also have met hundreds of interesting people and you get to spend 4 hours learning about people from different walks of life.
As a teenager this was really neat as I often met business people or lawyers or doctors that I was able to golf with and learn about them as people and their careers. With golf, you get to be on a beautiful piece of land, you are outdoors and you get to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. On top of that you get to be with other people and enjoy their company.
My father and I have played close to 1000 rounds together having taken trips to South Carolina, Florida and Arizona for special golf trips. This time with my father has been so valuable and something that we both cherish. Golf can be a great sport for your kid as well! Something serious to consider! For some great golf tips, visit here.
Excellent beginner set for kids:
#1 – Summer Sports – Baseball/Softball
We believe that baseball and softball help define summer. Just about every kid plays at least a year or two of little league baseball or softball and the games are synonymous with summer time. I can remember back to waking up each day of summer break as a kid and riding down to the ball field to play a pick up game.
We would then head to the city pool before playing our little league game in the evening. We were fortunate to play different tournaments on the weekends and we loved the competition, the heat, and the overall camaraderie that came with our baseball team each and every summer. Baseball and softball are truly special sports that have meant a lot to many people.
Major League Baseball is also in full swing by summer and there is nothing like going to the ballpark to watch the professionals play. The smell of summer is in the air and you get to spend quality time with your mom, dad, or whatever adult takes you to the game. Summer is a special time and baseball is our number one sport we love in the summer!
Great first baseball glove:
Top 3 Reasons We Love Summer and Sports
#1 – The Weather
Many of us that live in certain parts of the United States dream about the summer months. The winters can be long, cold and snowy and there is nothing like that first spring day and then the first 80 degree summer day. The weather is perfect and the amount of daylight is long. As a kid you can spend all day outside, playing with your friends and just simply having fun. The weather allows you to play just about any sport that you want and life is good!
#2 – No School
With school out of the summer in many parts of the world, the day is yours to have fun and do the things you want to do. Kids need time to run around and play, hopefully, kids are getting out of the house and being active. Here are sportswarrior365, we believe in making sure kids are active throughout the day and have time to not only play sports, but to explore the outdoors and attend different camps that help them explore their passions and interests while learning.
#3 – Vacation
Summers are often a time when many people take their family vacations. There are opportunities to travel all throughout the world. For us, a trip to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean was always very special and remains special to this day. Others might travel to different MLB ballparks and explore or some might go camping. What a great way to kickback, relax and enjoy the outdoors. Whatever is your interest, make sure you take advantage of the summer months!
Related Questions
Should my kid specialize in a sport?
We believe that kids should start off by trying many different sports. There are many benefits to playing multiple sports and switching seasons. There are some situations where a specialization in sports is something a good thing, but generally speaking playing at least two sports carries major benefits.
What if my kids coach is a screamer?
Try to balance the coach out at key times, such as on the way home from practice by being encouraging and supportive. Your kid will survive if you play the situation right and do not overreact to the situation. If it gets to a certain level, you could always contact the coach when your kid is not around and express your concerns.
What should be the goal of a season?
My goal as a coach is that at the end of the year, the kids want to play again the following year and that they have developed some skills and love for the game.
By making a goal that players want to continue on with the sport, I feel that I have been successful in making the experience fun and supportive for the kids. We want kids to have a positive feeling about the sport and hopeful for their future experiences with the sport.
What is the best sport to start with?
I would recommend starting with a several day soccer game or something similar that has a low level of commitment and is hopefully fun and encouraging.
We want kids to stick with sports and a 3-5 day start just might be the perfect combination. Soccer is a great sport for footwork development, teamwork, and the game allows kids to run around and get some energy out.
Take Action…
Whatever your kid enjoys, find a way to support them in their journey. When you can share an interest or a sport, it can be a great bonding time for kids. There is something special about playing a sport with your parent or another adult important in your life.
Find that common sport you can share with your kid, even if it is something as simple as hiking or kayaking. These types of activities help shape kids into the people they become and leaves great memories when being active.
Looking for local camps that kids can be involved with. These are great opportunities to learn the sport at a higher level while spending time with other kids in your community that usually come from quality families as well. There are often all types of camps during the summer including:
- Track and Field
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer