Signs Your Child Will Become An Athlete

1. If They Live In A Warm Climate

Image source / RainshadowA high number of professional athletes come from California, Florida and Texas.  It is thought the benefits of warm weather assist in potential athletic development.  Children who live in colder climates may not be able to practice outside as much as they need to so their development might not increase as much.

2. Having Tall Parents Gives Your Child A Great Head Start

Image source / ExpressA large number of professional athletes are well over 6 feet tall, compared to the average American who is  5 feet 9 inches tall.  To work out your child's potential height, add both parents' heights together , then divide by two.  Add 2.5 inches on for boys and subtract 2.5 inches for girls.

3. Being Fearless

Image source/ New York TimesAthletes tend to have a degree of fearlessness so if your child possesses this trait, that's the first tick off the list.   Examples of fearlessness include a gymnast who will attempt a complicated and dangerous move or a basketball player who tries a difficult lay-up.

4. Good Eye And Hand Coordination

Image source / Parenting HubExcellent eye and hand coordination are an essential skill for any athlete. Once a baby reaches 6 months old, they start to use this coordination.  Their ability to follow an object as it moves and transferring an object from one hand to another is an early sign of good coordination.

5. Having Resilience

Image source / The GuardianIf your child falls and never fails to get back up and try it again, then this is a sign of resilience and definitely something an athlete needs in bucketloads.  A little one who cries when they fall down and waits for a parent to pick them up may not be cut out for a future as an athlete.

6. Being A Quick Learner

Image source / The LighthouseDoes your child pick things up quickly and learn things fast? Being a quick learner is an excellent attribute for any athlete., whichever the sport. Learning proper techniques is essential on the road to becoming an athletic success story.

7. Having Leadership Abilities

Image source / Best Life

A child who demonstrates leadership skills from an early age, could be a sign that they will be an athlete. There are different signs that can let a parent know if their child has leadership skills such as a baby easily making the tough call of choosing between the pink teether or the blue rattle!

8. No Fear Of Failure

Image source / Nursery WorldWhilst no one likes to fail, adult or child, not being afraid to fail and using it as a stepping stone to improve, is a plus point in any child looking to become an athlete.  Not having a fear of failure is something that is built in a youngster.

9. Certain Body Type

Image source / Daily MailThere isn't a single body type that fits all sports but it’s no secret that certain body types tend to do better at different sports.  Body type can also be a good sign that a baby will be good at a particular sport.  The few exceptions to this rule are flyweight UFC fighting, ski jumping and gymnastics.

10. Good Sense Of Balance

Image source / Free SpiritObviously there is no way to tell if a new born has good sense of balance or not as they basically just lay there all day but once the baby starts moving around on their own, it’s quite easy to tell if they are going to have good balance.  This is shown by being able to got on their knees and stay there? When were they able to start pulling up on things?

11. Active Parents

Image source / Working MumsRegardless of which sport it is, one common aspect among all sports is that you have to be active. Even sports that don’t require a lot of running or moving still demand that the athlete is in good shape. It's also important that they enjoy activity. If a baby has active and supportive parents who are encouraging, the child is more likely to enjoy exercise.

12. All Round Coordination

Image source / Tiny Minds

All round coordination in early life is a good sign that your child could be an athlete.  Early signs are if the baby lifts it's head very early on and pushes up when they're lying on their tummy.  Other signs are sitting up before being 6 months old  and reaching out and grabbing a toy.

13. Can Demonstrate Independence

Image source / Aha! Parenting

A certain extent of independence is great, regardless of who you are or what you do. For an athlete, it’s even more important to be independent. Independence makes an athlete go out on their own and practice, without parents nagging them to do so.

14. Having Long Legs

Image source / TwitterLong legs can be a sign that a baby will grow into an athlete and it’s not just because they will be tall. Most people are born with shorter legs than their torso and there aren’t as many people who have longer legs. If someone has longer legs, it makes them an excellent candidate for sports such as high jump, long jump, hurdles or rowing.

15. Being Left Handed

Image source / Family Corner

While it’s impossible to tell if a baby is left or right handed as soon as they are born, it will soon be clear once they start using their hands. A lot of babies switch back and forth between hands for a while but if they turn out to be a left hander, it may be a sign they could become an athlete.

16. Fast Running Speed

Image source / NikeSpeed is a valuable aspect of success in any sport and s correlated to a kid's motor skills which can differ greatly from child to child. Offering your child high carbohydrate snacks such as peanut butter, apples or yogurt, alongside training, is a great way to help improve their speed. In all cases, natural speed is advantageous for most sports.

17. Muscular Strength And Endurance

Image source / Funny GamesMuscular strength is the ability of your child to exert force against resistance.  Muscular endurance is the ability of a group of muscles to exert force repeatedly.  It is the muscle’s endurance capacity that enables it to continue for multiple effort.  This is a great attribute when contemplating a career in sport.

18. Possessing Mental Toughness

Image source Checkup NewsMental toughness is a very powerful asset, playing a major role in so many different sports.  It allows athletes to raise their game when required and show enough determination to win, even in complicated situations.  Turning emotions into positive energy, in childhood, is a brilliant trait to possess.

19. Being Highly Motivated

Image source / QuoraA huge factor all athletes need is motivation.  This is what drives them to succeed.  A child who is motivated when playing sport could go on to be a successful athlete, with that frame of mind.   parent can encourage a child but the that extra something to push forward.

20. Eating Well From An Early Age

Image source / SheKnowsAthletes need to have a healthy diet because food is fuel, whatever the sport happens to be.  Introducing a good variety of nutritious meals to  a child will give them the energy they require to run faster, think on their feet and stay healthy.

21. Being The Right Zodiac Star Sign

Image source / YourTangoGood genes and hard work may contribute towards your child being an athlete but zodiac signs could play their part.  Children who start school as one of the oldest in their class tend to find excelling at sport easier.  This is partly because they are ahead physically and emotionally.  Talent scouts usually visit once a year and they will favour the taller, stronger and older kids as potential athletes.

22. Having An Obsessive Nature

Image source / Inc. MagazineOnce you've got all the basics in place, so good genes, a favorable zodiac star sign and a competitive spirit, then it's down to practice, practice, practice.  Being obsessed with improving could catapult your child to becoming an elite athlete.  We know David Beckham has OCD tendencies and it certainly didn't do him any harm!

23. Determined To Turn The Dream Into Reality

Image source / Lincoln TimesFor a child to be determined to make it to the top of their chosen sport, it comes down to more than talent.  Knockbacks along the way, maybe due to an injury or not being on top form when scouts are around, call all cause negativity to creep in, especially for a young person.  Having the capability to keep going and never giving in is a big plus in achieving their dream.

24. Tremendous Interest And Passion

Image source / Dai ManuelA child turning up for sports practice and improving their skill level as time goes on is obviously a good trait for them to possess but, to become an athlete, they have to have passion in their heart and this means being the first to turn up to training and the last to leave.

25. Having Training Opportunities

Image source / ActiveKidsWhilst your child may do everything in their power to improve their athletic skills, if the particular sport requires, say, water or ice, there could be an issue if no such facility is available nearby.  Not having training opportunities means travelling and expense.  This is when parents have to make their own sacrifices and make sure their child gets what they need to succeed at the highest level.

26. Being Active In Self-Marketing

Image source MailbirdWaiting for opportunities to be selected for a team etc. is the norm but a child can be proactive and possibly create their own opportunities.  This could be attained by making sure they go to sports camps during school vacations or even emailing prospective coaches - anything to open that door.

27. Having A Bit Of Luck

Image source / Lincoln StarSome people are lucky - they are strong, tall, fast and coordinated.  Others are lucky for a different reason in that another player's injury enabled them to show their talent.  Whilst luck can't be counted on, it is often a factor in how a person makes it to the top of their sport.

28.  Genetic Strength

Image source / InsiderMost studies look at specific end points such as how much a gene contributes to muscle strength or maximal aerobic capacity. These are easy to measure from a research standpoint. If you try to work it out, as much as fifty per cent of muscle strength is determined by genetic factors.

29. Be Prepared To Make Sacrifices

Image source / QuoraBeing an athlete isn't a weekend past time with a few hours training during the week thrown in to the measure.  It's actually an around the clock commitment which means giving up a big chunk of free time otherwise spent with friends and family.  It's a sacrifice and that's for sure.

30. Success Includes Remembering A Child Is Still A Child

Image source / Daily RecordAs much as your child shows signs of athletic performance, he or she is young and needs time to study, play, explore and make new friends.  Avoid putting too much emphasis on athletics at the expense of other kids' activities.  Allow your child to be a child.