Modified sports
Many sports have recognised that the needs and abilities of children are different from that of adults and have developed modified sports or use fun games as a better way to introduce young people to sport.
Modified sports provide the following benefits, they:
- resemble the sport from which it is derived;
- are safe to play and yet still challenging for young people;
- provide players with skills that are a relevant basis for progressing to the parent sport;
- reduce excessive physical demand placed on children from adult equipment and field sizes;
- emphasise fun, participation and skill development rather than competition; and
- reduce the likelihood of domination by physically stronger or early maturing players.
Successful modifications to sports include changes to the:
- size, weight or style of equipment;
- playing area and goals;
- length of games and/or season;
- team sizes and interchanges/rotation policy; and
- relaxation of technical or complicated rules.
The needs and abilities of children are different from that of adults
Examples of well known, successful modified sports for juniors are:
- Little Athletics
- Netta Netball
- Auskick
- Go-Go Golf
- Kanga Cricket
- Tee Ball
