As the summer draws near and the temperatures shoot up, you and your child may want to spend an afternoon or two inside. We thought it would be nice to share some great sports movies for kids to help you beat the heat:

Little Giants (1994)

This movie brings you back to when you were a kid. It focuses on a group of kids who love baseball and live life according to its rules. There are no central sports themes or moral stories. Instead, the movie focuses on the friendship among boys who enjoy America’s pastime.

Space Jam (1996)
It’s Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny…of course it made our list. Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. aliens to determine their freedom.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Gordon Bombay is haunted by childhood memories of missing the winning goal in the championship game and losing the approval of his coach. He faces old ghosts as the reluctant coach of The Ducks and faces off against his old team.

Rudy (1993)

The dream-big story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who dreams of playing football for the University Of Notre Dame. This is an incredible movie for children. It teaches that no matter what; your dreams can be accomplished if you have the proper attitude and are willing to work hard enough for them.

What was your favorite sports movie growing up?

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Mom- Approved Websites for kids

Are your kids getting too much screen time?

As a parent, you work hard to make sure your kids have every opportunity in the world. From school to music lessons, Scouts to church activities, sports practice to homework; today’s families live an over-scheduled, jam-packed life in the fast lane.

As children get older, they tend to become interested in a variety of activities. This means more time spent outside the house and less time spent as a family. Family dinners get passed up for the fast food drive-through and dinner in the car. Mom goes in one direction with one child and dad goes in the other direction with another.

At i9 Sports, we recognize that today’s families are busier than ever. As valuable as participation in youth sports can be for children, we know that it is equally important that the program fit into your busy family schedule, not consume it. That is why we schedule practices before games and convenience is a top priority.

Here are some tips to help create a balanced family schedule:

- Choose activities carefully. Weigh the benefits against the investment of time and energy.

- Protect family time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family dinner, game night or weekend afternoon, it’s important to set aside dedicated family time.

- Use a family calendar. It’s a great visual tool that will not only help keep you sane, but will help you see when you may be in over your head.

- Schedule down time. All work and no play is not much fun. Take a walk, ride a bike, read together or enjoy a board game.

- Listen to your kids. Do they enjoy what they’re doing? Are they exhausted or overly stressed?

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Could Your Kids be ‘Over-Scheduled’?

Establish Balance With Family Time, School, Sports

There has been a lot of talk about concussion safety in youth sports lately, and we’ve been paying attention! While i9 Sports programs involve minimal contact and the risk for concussions is low, player safety has always been our top priority.

New research shows that any concussion, even a “ding” or “bell-ringer,” needs to be taken seriously. This is why we have updated all of our coaching guides to include information on the signs and symptoms of a concussion.

Also, the US Youth Soccer Association does not recommend that heading be introduced at early ages in soccer. Young children simply do not have the depth perception to judge the flight of the ball and do it properly, which can lead to potential risk if done repetitively. This is why we have implemented a no-heading policy. Players within the 3-12 year age group are not developmentally ready to head the ball and should focus on foot/body ball control skills.

We have always taken steps to keep players safe, such as trained officials at every game and requiring mouth guards for flag football programs. These are just the latest safety measures we have implemented to ensure your child’s safety.

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Recognizing Concussions in Youth Sports

Six Ways to Keep Your Children Safe in Youth Sports

The Facts

• A concussion is a brain injury.
• All concussions are serious.
• Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness.
• Concussions can occur in any sport.
• Recognition and proper management of concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury or even death.

Recognizing a Possible Concussion

To help recognize a concussion, you should watch for the following two things among your athletes:

1. A forceful blow to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head and
2. Any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning. (See the signs and symptoms of concussion listed below.)

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is an injury that changes how the cells in the brain normally work. A concussion is caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. Concussions can also result from a fall or from players colliding with each other or with obstacles, such as a goalpost.

The potential for concussions is greatest in athletic environments where collisions are common. Concussions can occur, however, in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity. As many as 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year.

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i9 Sports Concussion Safety

Not All Pain Is Gain

Adults enjoy sports for many different reasons, but when the question is asked to children the number one answer remains the same: to have fun! This is why i9 Sports was the first national youth sports organization to institute our Parental Pledge to keep the games positive and the focus on the most important thing – letting the kids have fun and enjoy the game.

With most the spring sports season upon us, there is no better time to share some tips from Sports Illustrated Good Sports to keep sports fun for kids:

Remember, it’s just a game!

Having fun is the main reason to play.

Keep in mind that kids are still learning.

Even the pros make mistakes! Encourage kids to learn from their mistakes.

Be supportive during the game.

Kids feel pressure when you yell. Let kids know that you are there to support them!

Remind kids that their best competition is with themselves.

They may not always be the star of the team. Or their team may not always win. But they can always improve their skills. The focus should remain on being the best they can be.

Ask the coach for help.

Let her/him know what your child needs. Make a promise to practice.

Remember everything sports has to offer.

They are with their friends. They’re learning a new skill. They’re getting exercise. And, they’re having fun!

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Forget The Score;Have Fun!

Helping Your Kids Stay Positive in Sports

Sure, we all want to win. But only half of the players will walk away from any given game with a win. Losing at anything can be disappointing - whether it’s a board game or a division championship game. That’s why it is important that young athletes learn how to win with grace and lose with dignity, and this lesson is one that will benefit them throughout their lives.

As a parent, no one wants to see their child exemplify poor sportsmanship.  But when it happens, you can use it as a great learning opportunity. First, it is important to give your child time to cool off after the game. Second, point out their behavior and ask how it makes them feel when someone else acts that way.

Third, make sure your child understands that this situation may happen again and discuss ways that he or she may handle it differently in the future. Help your child understand that it is natural to want to win, but at the end of the day it is more important to have fun and be a good sport.

When you talk to your child about his or her behavior, it’s helpful to validate their feelings, even if you are not necessarily happy with their behavior. So you can start with something like, “That game was frustrating, wasn’t it?” This will help them know that you understand why they behaved the way that they did.

Let them know that you understand that their behavior was not typical by saying something like, “It’s not like you to act like that, and I’m wondering what’s going on.”

By talking about the behavior this time, it is less likely to occur in the future.

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What Happened to Good Sportsmanship?

Life Lessons Learned through Youth Sports

Have you checked out the new board game featuring i9 Sports? FRANCHI$IT - The Game of Franchising Fortune, has exploded onto the scene and i9 Sports is featured on the game.

FRANCHI$IT and i9 Sports Association have even joined together to create a “Special Edition” board game in hopes to raise awareness and money for economically underprivileged kids and get them participating in safe, fun and well organized sports programs in communities all across America. With each Special Edition game purchase, a $5 donation will be made to the i9 Sports Association.

In 2006, i9 Sports founded the i9 Sports Association, a non-profit organization that helps kids play sports by awarding needs-based grants to allow children to participate in i9 Sports programs at no cost.

This is a great gift for friends and family. This weekend FRANCHI$IT is holding a 3 DAY SALE EVENT and the game is on sale @ 50% OFF. Visit www.franchisit.com/i9sports to buy your game at ½ price.

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My Sports Video Contest

Will You Win $250 and a Free Registration?

Getting America’s children and families healthy is a top priority of Let’s Move - first lady Michelle Obama’s nationwide initiative to promote making healthy choices, improving food quality in schools, increasing access to healthy, affordable food, and increasing physical activity. The website has a ton of great information and we thought we would share some of their helpful tips to build healthy habits for a healthy home:

1. Healthy Snacks
   Your family, like most, is probably always on-the-go. Be prepared with nutritious and easy to eat on-the-go food like fresh fruits and vegetables. Think color - try eating fruits and vegetables of different colors to give your family a wide range of nutrients like fiber, folate, potassium and vitamins.
2. Make Physical Activity Fun
   Activities should be fun and something that the whole family can do together. There is a push for kids to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but it doesn’t all have to be at one time. Short walks, active chores, walking the dog - it all adds up!
3. Plan a Healthy Menu
   Preparing healthy meals doesn’t have to be hard or expensive, it just takes planning. Plan healthy meals for the week, then make a shopping list and stick to it! Cut back on sugar - especially sodas and juice with added sugar. Watch portion sizes - use smaller plates and bowls and buy smaller packages of snack foods.
4. Stay Active
   Some screen and computer time is healthy, but it’s important to explain to children to sit less and move more. Sometimes they can enjoy both at once - the Nintendo Wii and New Xbox 360 Kinect integrate fun games with physical activity. Follow i9 Sports on Facebook for a chance to win an Xbox 360 Kinect in time for the holidays!
5. Organize a School Health Team
   The school environment strongly impacts the behavior, health and well-being of children. Parents can help schools create an environment that will encourage a child’s overall academic success. Call your child’s principal or PTA president to find out if your school has an active health team.

Learn more at www.letsmove.gov

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Stay Fit Alongside Your Sporting Kids

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Playing sports as a child can be one of the more enjoyable memories of childhood. If you ask your son or daughter what they love the most about playing sports, they will likely tell you that playing sports is fun. If you ask adults, while you may hear that it was fun, odds are you will also get a list of the things that they learned through their participation in youth sports. Some benefits can be seen, others felt, while many occur without even being noticed. The list is long, but just to name a few:

Confidence: When players experience some degree of success and personal improvement, they can feel good about their performance. They can see that their skills and abilities improved significantly and they performed well. This success leaves players with a feeling of strong self-confidence that can carry over in life and in all they do.

Improved Socialization: Sports provide an opportunity for children to learn to interact and function within a society. Players meet a variety of kids from different backgrounds. Kids play on the same team, wear the same uniform, and share the same objectives and experiences. Sports provide kids with an opportunity to meet, and develop close relationships with their peers.

School Improvement: Students who participate in organized sports tend to work harder in school and have greater educational and occupational aspirations. Sports help kids learn to distinguish between effort and ability. Sports increase self-discipline and the awareness of the value of preparation because kids can see the difference in their performance.

Teamwork: One of the most valuable aspects of playing a team sport is learning and understanding the value of teamwork. On a team, kids learn about cooperation, camaraderie and give-and-take. They learn to work together to achieve a common goal. Teamwork also strengthens the idea of good sportsmanship as kids learn to support teammates who do well or struggle.

Improved Self Esteem: Childhood can be a difficult time, with many kids experiencing low self-esteem at one time or another. Giving and receiving encouragement and respect from teammates can help children feel good about themselves.

Character Development: You may think that a sport is just a game. But soccer, for example involves more than just kicking a ball up and down the field. When your young child plays, he or she begins to develop their character in new ways. Work ethic, time management skills and conflict management abilities can all be developed and strengthened while on the field.

Competitive Experience: Children can gain experience with a competitive environment through involvement in sports, which will help them navigate the challenges and rewards of competition in other areas of life. Kids learn how to win, and perhaps more importantly, how to lose. This experience will benefit children during their education, as well as in their careers as adults.

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Did you know that over 22 million school days are lost every year due to the common cold and on average children have between 6 - 10 colds each year?*

That’s a lot of sniffles and sneezes that may be avoided by following these tips for keeping kids healthy:

· Ensure your kids are physically active for at least 60 minutes every day through a combination of age-appropriate exercise and active free play.

· Help your kids get a good night’s sleep, which means about 10 to 11 hours for school age children and 11 to 12 hours for preschoolers.

· Make sure your child’s vaccines are up-to-date.

· Stay on schedule with well child visits to your pediatrician.

· Encourage your kids to wash their hands often, especially before they eat, after they use the bathroom, after handling animals and whenever they seem dirty.

· Teach your kids not to share glasses, water bottles, hats, towels, or other items with friends.

· Be sure your kids cover cuts and scratches.

· Teach your kids to keep their fingers and other items, like pencils or pens, out of their mouths, so that they don’t help germs get into their body.

· Teach kids to wash fruits and vegetables before they eat them and follow other food safety practices.

· Encourage kids to eat healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, and whole grains, etc., and to not skip any meals.

· Consider giving your child a multivitamin if you think that your child doesn’t eat well and is missing out on important nutrients, such as iron, vitamin D, and calcium, etc.

· Help your kids learn to manage stress.

* US Center for Disease Control and Prevention

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