Activity: Learn Sports Skills

Learn about and play a team sport to promote friendship, sportsmanship, and physical fitness. Develop teamwork and leadership skills.

Learn how to play, coach, or referee a team sport such as soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, basketball, or any other team sport. Invite someone who is skilled in this sport to teach core skills, strategies, and details of the sport you may not be familiar with. Depending on the skill level of the youth, practice skills and review the rules before playing a game. Have teams play against each other with youth both officiating and coaching. Make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate as a player, coach, or officiator. Provide a fun environment without being too competitive.

As you plan this activity, please follow the counsel given in chapter 13 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), and review “Safety Recommendations for Church Activities.”

Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.

• If you have a large group, you could play more than one sport or have a mini tournament.
• If you have a small group, you could play with smaller teams or have one-on-one practice.
• Consider organizing regular practices and games, possibly within a tournament. If possible, include other wards or branches in the tournament.

Encourage youth to talk about how what they are learning can help them and others grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity and should last just a few minutes. You could ask questions like the following:

• What life skills do we learn when we play team sports?
• When have you been lifted by participating in team sports?
• How can you apply sportsmanship in other areas of your life?

• “Physical and Emotional Health,” Missionary Preparation, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• “Get in Shape,” Safety and Health, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• “Physical and Emotional Health,” For the Strength of Youth (booklet, 2011), 25–27