• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Print Subscription
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Contact Us

Finding Your Kid’s Inner Athlete

November 22, 2010 by Inside Press

by Rich Monetti

On every playground, soccer field or baseball diamond, we see children who lag well behind in the key physical skills required to become a good athlete. Derek Jeter was probably never one of those kids, but the distinct skills which separate him from his peers, are part of several building blocks that a proper sports trainer can utilize to assist children compete on the playground.

In alluding to the all-star shortstop’s sport’s IQ, Nick Serio of Kombine Sports in Mt. Kisco says, “Derek Jeter is in the right place at the right time–all the time.”

As Kombine’s director of Sports Performance and Youth Development, Serio understands the elements needed to improve every child’s ability. So by providing baseball “smarts” to place your sports-challenged athlete in the right spot for a game-saving backup, confidence rises and the rest of her game progresses.

According to Serio, whereas ongoing conversations about game situations may provide a kick-start for one child, increasing strength and endurance may be the catalyst for another. “Becoming strong enough to hit the cutoff player or being able to always get back on defense,” he says, “builds a foundation for future success.”

Of course, there is no ceiling for instilling confidence. Tapping into and honing existing strengths lets children maximize their game-day ability. For instance, a good trainer understands that increasing speed first requires the proper form before such an improvement translates into enhanced performance on the field.

“We’ll practice sports-like actions,” he says, like reading the nuances of a pitcher to know when to steal a base or learning how to slide.

Encompassed within all these x-factors, a trainer should also be attentive to improving coordination, which to some may seem like an impediment which cannot be overcome. “There’s no such thing as a kid who cannot be an athlete,” Serio says.

Proprioception, which gives a sense of relative position of neighboring body parts, is a key component to coordination and can be improved through balance and stability work. In turn, as the physical hurdles fall, a trainer can bring hand-eye coordination and other factors to align into one working system.

Still, finding a sport that best suits the abilities of a particular child can take time–especially if it is one not within the confines of “traditional” games. “Allow them to explore other sports,” he says, “and once they become comfortable with something,” he adds, “encourage them through and through.”

In the long, medium and short term,” Mr. Serio says, “have the child set realistic goals.” It sounds like a winning prescription for success.

Rich Monetti lives in Somers and works in the after school program at Mt. Kisco Childcare.

Filed Under: In and Around Town

About Inside Press

Inside Press Magazines is celebrating its 20th year anniversary of publishing in 2023.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Saint Joseph’s Medical Center and Saint Pio Foundation Announce A Margherita for a Smile Community Initiative
  • Sustainable Westchester Names Noah Bramson as its New Executive Director
  • NY Ketamine Infusions Opens Third Location In Westchester County to Serve Community’s Mental Health Needs
  • Celebrate Friday Night Pride on June 2 in Hastings-on Hudson
  • Westchester County Office of Economic Development and Sustainable Westchester Team Up to Launch Clean Energy Accelerator Program
  • World Cup Gymnastics Athletes Sawyer Robertson and Victor Dyakin Take Home Bronze Medals at the 2023 Eastern DP National Championship

Please Visit

White Plains Hospital
Compass: Generic
Compass: Suzette Kraus
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Caramoor
William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
Repose
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Rocks by Jolie B. Ray
Douglas Elliman: Chappaqua
Club Fit
Tanya Tochner Interiors by ROCKS
Compass: Natalia Wixom
Temple Beth El
Play Nice Together
NYOMIS – Dr. Andrew Horowitz
Stacey Cohen: Brand up Book
Amy Singer – Houlihan Lawrence
Compass: Yona Stougo
Elliman: Pam Akin
Houlihan: Tara Siegel

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Chappaqua Inside Armonk Inside Pleasantville

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2023 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in