Sports for Fun and Fitness

Watching pro football every Sunday may inspire kids to play football, but there's no need to start with shoulder pads and tackles. Flag football is a no-impact way to learn all there is to love about the game of football. Whether it's offense, defense, throwing, catching, or scoring touchdowns, readers explore how awesome flag football is and how they can play it in their own backyards. This book explores all aspects of flag football, with a list of words to know for a deeper dive into the sport.

Soccer is a great play-anywhere-anytime game. This guide introduces kids to every part of the game. It offers useful advice for players developing their ball control skills, as well as explanations of the different positions on a team. Readers will learn how teamwork can help win games, how physical fitness helps strengthen a player's entire game, and why goalkeepers wear those huge gloves. A list of words to know and recommendations for other books help readers learn all they can about the great sport of soccer.

The National Basketball Association plays 82 games every season, but basketball fans don't have to play that many to get into the game. However, this informative introduction might inspire young fans to play even more. From dribbling and passing, readers will examine every facet of basketball, whether they want to practice their skills on their own or play as part of a team. They'll learn how basketball is unique among sports, with other games layered into it, and how teams work together to score points. How do we play H-O-R-S-E? Let's find out!

Major League Baseball teams knock 162 games out of the park every season, but nobody needs to play that many games to enjoy rounding the bases. From sandlot games to local leagues, kids can build a team with their friends. How are softball and baseball different? What kind of gear is needed to start playing? From home runs to foul balls, we'll explore bats and bases and show readers how to get into the "national pastime." This book explores all aspects of the sports, with a list of words to know so aspiring athletes can be rounding the bases in no time.

Gymnastics requires balance, patience, flexibility, and coordination. From floor routines to balance beams, from pommel horses to uneven bars and the vault, this easy-to-follow guide explores every aspect of gymnastics so readers can begin their own journeys into the sport. How does teamwork work for gymnasts? How can gymnasts stay healthy and safe while pushing their bodies to their limits? This book will help readers stick the landing and develop a lifelong love of gymnastics.

Martial arts can improve more than just physical fitness. It can make practitioners think about their body, movements, and mental reactions in entirely new ways. This book explores karate, kung fu, and tae kwon do. Readers will learn about flexibility, balance, and how to get back on their feet after taking a hit. Learning to fall gracefully is half the battle. This guidebook also explores the emphasis that the martial arts place on resolving conflicts without punches or kicks.