Activity = Anxiety: Why We Need Options Other than Kick Ball

This morning I was thinking how strange and funny it is that after a certain point, many hoopers branch out into other forms of dance, want to 'join the circus,' try aerial arts, and so on. A previously untapped passion for movement seems to be unleashed. I know that I too have gone down the (seemingly traditional?) path of hoop, aerial, juggling, and now other forms of dance. These are complicated skills which require study, dedication, and eventually a commitment to fitness to make any of them possible. They have made my life a healthier and happier one. But, if you had met me when I was younger - you would have thought I hated to move. Now, I am realizing that it was just the wrong type of movement for me, and, I would guess - many others.

Gym class. Elementary school. It was the same story every time - we would stomp out to the orange kick-ball fields and I would privately chant to myself that maybe if I was last in line I wouldn't have to go. I hated team sports. Please let us run the track, I would always think. But no, as the rest of the class got inexplicably excited to play the game I would become more and more crestfallen and hopeless. Over kick ball. Yes, I hated it that much. It wasn't just kick-ball though, it was every team sport. 

I hate you.

Now, you may think maybe it was because I wasn't any good - but I was actually very athletic and good at sports. Still hated 'em. Being on a team, where in my mind everyone was watching and judging, really did not work for me. Teachers don't have the time or resources to calm the anxious - but quiet - kids down, so you are forced to participate. It feels like being punished for being good. 

There are a lot of anxious kids who dislike team sports - you can pick them out as the ones staring at their feet in the kick ball line just waiting for this whole thing to end. The dynamic was boring and stressful at the same time. After years of being in school, with the only active extracurricular activities being offered as team sports or the (weak-knee killing) track team, I just stopped being involved in school activities altogether.

I know I can't have been the only kid to have felt this way. The thing is, as I said, I loved being active - the outlet offered simply did not work for me. But, what if schools offered things like hooping and juggling to kids? I know that if during P.E. someone was teaching those I would have felt much more comfortable joining in. These activities offer ways to be active and challenge yourself while still keeping to yourself for the most part. Then as you learn, grow, and become more comfortable, you have a community with which to join and share. 

Of course, finding people to teach such specific skills would be difficult, but if it was an option I think many kids would be thrilled to have a separate path down which they may find a passion for movement, activity and community. If I hadn't found hooping, I am sure that my activity would still include only one thing: the gym. 

THIS! See, half court bball and half court hooping!
Hooping and hoops! 

No matter what your options are throughout school, when you grow up you have the ability to choose what interests YOU and get involved. If I hated sports in school, I could still take a dance class now. But, much of the time it can be confusing as to how to go about that. I have no context for what I like - only what I do not; so what should I try? Being forced to try things before was painful and scary - and now I am going to volunteer for it? Starting young and showing people that trying new things is fun and there are less traditional ways to be active may help those painfully shy kids (or the non shy kids who just think sports are booooring.) The ones just waiting for sports time to end. The ones who are learning to associate activity with anxiety. 

(If anyone reading is involved with a local (DC/Virgina) school system and would like to bring hooping to the school - send me an email kymspinshoops@gmail.com because I would love to chat. Thinking about all this this morning has made me really want to see what might happen if kids could hoop instead of play basketball.)

Were you an active kid? Did you love sports and then find hooping and just add it in the repertoire - or, as I suspect, are more of you in my boat. You wanted to do something, but you knew that what was offered was NOT IT. Then you found hooping and this whole new world of activity and enjoyment became open. I think it's one reason hooping can impact a life so much - because it opens a world to you, not just a task. You can see how much you can achieve with the right tools.