First, it’s the snap. Next, the hand-off. And finally, a swarm.
“Go, go!” cheered the crowd at Catherine Strong Splash Park in Delray Beach.
It’s mostly 2- and 3-year-olds running around this flag football field. While scoring a touchdown is the goal, parents and organizers believe what the kids learn here can be applied anywhere.
“They understand teamwork, following directions,” pointed out Prentice Mobley, with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
When mom Tilisa Albury signed up her son, she wanted to set a foundation for when he starts school.
“It’s good for him to learn at 2-years-old because eventually he’ll be going into grade school and I want him to have those aspects in his life so he’s able to listen and be disciplined,” Albury explained.
Mobley and volunteers from parks and recreation launched a “Diaper Sports League” over the summer. While these kids aren’t going back to school this week, they may be more prepared than their peers when that day comes.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports students who participate in sports are more engaged in school.
“Understanding that it’s organized, ‘I can’t be running around, I have to listen, I have to pay attention, I have to use my motor skills and my mind.’ It’s healthy for all that,” he said.
The toddlers will exercise their bodies and minds with different sports throughout the fall. For more information, call Parks and Rec at (561) 243-7250.