Trendy sports that are fun for kids

Experts advise children and young people to get at least two hours of exercise a day. But how do you tear them away from their favourite smartphone or video game? It's simple: the greater the fun factor, the greater the chance that children and young people will become interested in sport. We present three popular trend sports.

Slacklining

You see them in the park: young men and women concentrating on balancing on a rubber rope that is stretched just a few centimetres above the ground between two trees. Slacklining is the name of this trendy sport, which involves skilfully keeping your balance on a slack, flat tubular rope. «Slack» means slack or loose in English, while «line» means ribbon. In contrast to tightrope walkers, who balance on a taut steel cable, slackliners walk on an elasticated strap that stretches under the weight of the slackliner. While beginners enjoy keeping their balance, advanced slackliners practise small jumps and tricks. A little tip: the wider the strap, the easier slacklining is.

This fun sport has many advantages: slacklining trains balance and concentration and strengthens body tension. However, slackliners should not forget the trees. This is because city gardeners keep a suspicious eye on this trendy sport. That's why you should always use a tree guard to prevent damage to the tree bark.

Costs:

A beginner's slacklining course starts at around 70 francs. While an all-rounder slacklining set including tree protectors costs around 170 francs, a beginner's set is available from around 80 francs. Depending on the extras (longer strap, indoor version, etc.), the price can also vary considerably. During the holidays, children and young people can also try out slacklining at freestyle camps, such as the autumn camp run by the Sports Office of the Canton of Zurich in Engelberg. On jugendsportcamps.ch, holiday camps are listed by the cantons and also by private providers throughout Switzerland. The cost of a one-week freestyle camp usually ranges from 250 to around 500 francs.

You have to pay attention to this:

A fall can be tricky and you can quickly land on your coccyx. Because falling from a rope, even if it's not so high, is something that needs to be learnt. So don't rush things and ideally take an introductory course to learn all the important basics. Ideally, slacklines should always be stretched over a soft surface (e.g. grass). In addition: Tree protection prevents damage to trees. The city garden centres of Basel and Zurich, for example, provide information on how to install a slackline correctly.

Slackline spots, info & courses:

www.slacktivity.ch
www.swiss-slackline.ch
Baumschutz beim Slacklining
Freestyle-Camp in Engelberg

Bubble Soccer

People stuck in giant plastic bubbles roll across the pitch, squealing with delight and a ball rolls around somewhere in between. This is bubble soccer. Here, a well-groomed body check is part of the game. Instead of a red card, there are fits of laughter for every bump. Where exactly the ball flies doesn't really matter in bubble soccer. Because if you're in the giant bubbles, you can't see much anyway. And: falling over is included. Nevertheless, parents don't need to worry: The bubble cushions every fall. You are also strapped into the ball and have two handles to hold on to.

Apart from the fact that the ball has to get into the goal somehow, there are almost no rules. There are no offside rules in bubble soccer and handball is not possible anyway. Bubble soccer is therefore a fun combination of football and soccer - with a great fun factor for players and spectators alike. Depending on the source, it is also called «zorb football» or «bubble ball». Bubble soccer can be played outside on the grass or in the gym. The playing time per match is between seven and ten minutes.

Costs:

An hour of bubble soccer (including pitch hire and bubbles) starts at around 200 to 260 francs and is usually split between the participants. A group, which is divided into two teams, consists of between 10 and 16 people. Depending on the provider, half-day or full-day events (small tournaments) can also be booked. There is now a wide range on offer in Switzerland too. Prices therefore vary.

Bubble Soccer offers and info:

www.bubblesports.ch
www.bubblesoccer.ch

You have to pay attention to this:

Even though the risk of injury is low with bubble soccer, the same applies here: Fair play is the top priority. For example, players may only be pushed from the front or from the side. Pushing from behind is not permitted. And: Only standing players may be «bumped». The sport is also physically intensive, so you should have a good basic level of fitness.

Stand-up paddling

Stand a little wide-legged on the board, bend your knees slightly and let the paddle glide calmly into the water. After just a few minutes on your stand-up paddleboard, SUP for short, you'll feel like a Hawaiian surfer casually gazing into the distance. Stand-up paddling is not actually a new invention: It was inspired by Polynesian fishermen, among others, who used to stand up in their canoes to go fishing. When surfers in Hawaii later used the paddle to help them reach the reefs more quickly, stand-up paddling also became popular in Europe.

When stand-up paddling, it is important to focus your gaze. If you look backwards, for example, you usually lose your balance. That's why the following applies to stand-up paddling: look forwards, turn your feet slightly outwards and paddle gently. And that's it. In contrast to windsurfing and kitesurfing, stand-up paddling is easy to learn and therefore quick and fun. Stand-up paddling trains and strengthens the whole body, especially the legs, stomach and back, and is also a good balance exercise. You can even practise yoga on a paddleboard. And as with surfing, the SUP is available in different versions: As all-round boards for the sea or lake, boards for rivers and manoeuvrable race boards for competitions. The latest development: inflatable all-round boards.

Costs:

If you are afraid of the high purchase costs and don't have enough space to store the boards, you can become a member of a SUP club: For example, active membership of the SUP Club Zürich-Wollishofen costs CHF 390 per year. The SUP Club Zug offers youth rates for 80 francs per year or family packages (2 adults and up to 3 children) for 300 francs per year.

The cost of a basic and beginners' course with private providers, including equipment, is around CHF 100. If you want to buy your own paddle board, the price starts at 350 francs. Children's boards cost around CHF 20 per hour to hire, while adults pay around CHF 30 per hour.

You have to pay attention to this:

Of course you should be able to swim. Depending on the weather and location, a wetsuit and neoprene shoes are also recommended. The following also applies on the water: right before left. On the opposite course, both must keep to starboard RIGHT. And: ferries, sailing boats, tug boats and professional fishermen have right of way.

SUP spots, courses and events:

www.airboard.com
www.supswiss.ch
www.supyogazuerich.ch
Schöne SUP-Spots: Klöntalersee, Lago Maggiore, Zürichsee oder Zugersee. Weitere: hier.

Bild: fotolia.com