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Post Category - LearnLearn - Post Category - SportsSports
Post Category - PlayPlay - Post Category - OutdoorOutdoorIf your kids are bouncing off the walls sign them out for some outdoor sports activities!
We’ve uncovered some of the best outdoor children’s sports in Singapore. From tennis and soccer to basketball and even a rather civilised spot of sailing, tie up those laces kiddos, it’s time to play!
TENNIS
Future Federers can learn to whack the ball like a pro at Tanglin Tennis Academy with the Play and Stay class for juniors. The programme aims to introduce children to the world of tennis in a fun, easy and enjoyable environment, using balls, nets and racquets that are age appropriate. Promising players can also try out for the elite tennis programmes.
The STA offers junior courses for little ones who want to learn tennis, improve their skills and have a bit of fun along the way. Classes are mainly conducted at the Kallang Tennis Centre, for kiddies aged 6 to 18 and are designed to teach the young ones from beginners through to the elite levels.
HORSE RIDING
Absolute newbies can sign up for the 8-week beginner’s course and learn the basics of riding, horse handling and stable sense (must be at least 7 to join). Bukit Timah Saddle Club also offers children’s private, semi-private and group riding lessons, as well as 3-day Pony Camps during school holidays. Giddy up mama…
With three convenient locations in Bukit Timah, Pasir Ris and Punggol, Gallop Stables has riding covered. Toddlers as young as 3 years old can enjoy one-on-one pony lessons, while 4 to 6 year olds can do private junior lessons, with school-aged children able to join group, semi-private or advanced classes. They even offer riding camps during the school holidays — tally ho!
Riding on… sponsored by the Singapore Sports Council, the Let’s Ride program will have junior jockeys in the saddle quick smart, learning the foundation riding skills necessary to walk and trot confidently. Classes are suitable for total beginners and those with some previous riding experience (ages 6 to 16).
SOCCER
Sign your munchkins up to make friends, develop their football skills and build confidence with the Little League football training programs (for littlies aged 4 to 16 years old). There is also a Sunday League program for the more serious soccer enthusiasts.
Beat the heat and sign the kids up for indoor soccer training with the Singapore Soccer Academy. Programmes start from 4 years old, where coaches work on developing basic ball handling skills and fitness, whilst tailoring programs to meet the abilities of each child. The best part here is that the kiddos will never miss a lesson due to rain… Goaaaaaaaaaal!!
Specialists in age-appropriate soccer programmes for children 2 to 16 years, the English Soccer School delivers friendly, fun-filled classes that will have your tiny tots bending it like Beckham in no time. Coaches focus on motor development and inclusive play, so kiddos won’t be left standing in a long queue waiting for a chance to play.
With an emphasis on fun and community spirit, the Australian and New Zealand (ANZA) soccer program is a volunteer-run soccer programme for children aged 3 to 18 years. Littlies can learn about the game with the U4s Little Lions program (fun games and activities to develop motor skills and confidence are a focus here), while older children (U5s to U18s) can play in the Saturday Club League Programme. Please note mama that membership of ANZA is a prerequisite before joining the soccer school.
SAILING
Offering SailFun sessions for children 7 years and above, the 2-hour experiential sailing session aims to introduce novices to the world of sailing. Designed to be fun and captivating for students, kids will sail in a Pacer with 3 to 4 other mini sailors (parents are even able to join too!). Sessions are conducted from 4 to 6pm each week at Marina Barrage (handy for some shopping!) and enable children to proceed into more advanced Sailing Courses upon completion. We like the cut of their jib!
Children as young as 6 can sign up for weekly sailing classes with Mana Mana Beach Club, and learn the rules of the sea on a range of sailing boats. They also offer 4-day intensive sailing courses as part of their holiday programme (for those with some sailing experience), with the current classes running until the end of May. Best to sign the kiddies up quick to reserve their spot.
Get your sailors on an even keel quick smart with the SAF Yacht Club’s Get Kids Afloat introduction to sailing programme for 7 to 17 year olds. The 4-day course is generally held during the school holidays and is extremely hands on – your little captains will be rigging a craft, learning their capsizing drills and memorizing the points of sail (and maybe even teaching mama a thing or two along the way!).
Serious sailors can sign up for the Optimist Introductory Sailing course to learn the basics of sailing in an Optimist boat (a small single-handed dinghy, used for children). School-aged children 7 to 14 years old can join the 3-day course, before graduating into the Youth Sailing program (held each Sunday morning) and start training for national regattas.
NETBALL
Netball queens can learn ball skills, drills, and game play with the ANZA netball for girls aged 6 to 16 programme (sorry lads!). Newb’s to seasoned players are all welcome, as practice (in addition to competitive play) is a part of the programme. Take note, registrations for the 2013-2014 season open in May, so best to make a note to sign up soon. ANZA membership is also a prerequisite to joining.
CRICKET
Grant Stanley’s Cricket World runs coaching programmes for mini batters and bowlers, starting from as young as 3 years old. You’ll find him at the Singapore Cricket Club as well as at various schools around the island. All out!
Their cricket programme for 4 to 12 year olds teaches kiddies the fundamentals of cricket in a fun environment. Classes are tailored to be developmentally appropriate with high participation (no long wait for a bat around here!). Older kids looking for more match play can join the Super Cricket Competition, held each weekend.
With a focus on fun, as well as learning the basics of batting, bowling and fielding, juniors can kick off their cricketing careers from as young as 5 years of age. Intermediate and advanced levels bat off against each other in friendly (yet super-competitive) matches.
BASKETBALL
Since its establishment in 2007, Fast Break’s Development, Elite and Competition basketball programmes have gained popularity for their concentration on skill development and game play. Catering to beginners as well as advanced players (starting from 7 years old), students learn to play basketball in a structured and competitive environment. Slam dunk!
Learn to shoot hoops at the Community Basketball League and play weekly competitive basketball. Players can choose either the mid-week or weekend leagues.
HOCKEY
In collaboration with the Singapore Sports Council, the new season of hockey training takes off in April 2013 (that’s now mamas!). Register your interest with Hockey One and get your energizer bunnies (6 to 16 years) on the field quick smart. Training is on Sunday evenings.
RUGBY
Team sports are fab for littlies and the Dragons Rugby Club is a community-based club that offers a relaxed and friendly approach to mini rugby. Kicking off with the U5s (tots born in 2008) the club aims to inspire a love of the sport, whilst improving skills, fitness and motivation.
Centaurs Rubgy provides professional rubgy coaching for boys and girls (hurrah!) aged 3-18, with a spotlight on learning core skills at a young age. The club offers a Pathway Development Programme that teaches the skills needed for kids to progress to Rugby Union, while learning the importance of teamwork and communication. Girls that prefer a non-contact approach can join the GirlsTouch classes – a fast moving, minimal contact version of rugby (for girls aged 7-18).
At the Tanglin Rugby club you’ll find all the rubgy training you could ever want for your scrum halves. Mini classes start at 3.5 years old and are all about developing ball handling skills and following coach instruction, whilst junior teams (8 to 11 year olds) train for the real rubgy games. No prior experience is necessary so it’s a great way to get your sons involved.
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi! Get your junior footballers signed up for Auskick and have them booting the ball through the goals in no time. The Auskick program introduces boys and girls (from as young as preschool age) to the game of Australian Rules football, in an encouraging and fun environment. This season runs until June 2013, so there’s still time to join (or you can even register your interest for the next season).
SWIMMING
One of the largest swimming schools in Singapore, Aqua Ducks is well known for their infant (from 6 months of age) and learn-to-swim lessons. Parent-accompanied classes for water babies develop confidence and parent bonding, and classes for older ones focus on stroke development and swimming confidence. All classes are conducted with a healthy dose of fun and games too!
One-stop aquatic education classes for the whole family, Marsden Swim School offers swimming tuition by fully qualified AustSwim coaches. Your little fish will be taught correct stroke development and water safety skills, progressing from Starfish level (teaching water familiarization) for the tinies to Seals and Dolphins (the learn to swim programme) for more confident swimmers. Mermaid mamas can join their babies in the pool from 6 months of age.
Well, we don’t know about you, but after all that action we’re in need of a lie-down… Call us a masseuse and pass the gatorade, we’re off to the locker room!
