Kin-ball craze
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EmailKin-ball is a newer sport youth can get involved with that promotes physical activity, sportsmanship, teamwork and healthy living.
The Michigan State University Extension 4-H Healthy Living team strives to promote physical activity for youth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit, youth should be active in some type of physical activity or exercise for 60 minutes each day. Sports are a great way to help youth meet this requirement. Other than the traditional sports we think of such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis or golf, kin-ball is a sport to consider that can help meet this 60-minute recommendation.
Kin-ball began in Quebec in 1987 and is now gaining more popularity in programs that service children all across the United States. Kin-ball is a team game that consist of 12 players on the field at any given time, with three different teams wearing three different colors. It is played with a ball that’s 4 feet in diameter and weighs 2 pounds. The goal of the game is to catch and control the ball before it touches the ground, and points are given when a team commits a fault such as dropping the ball. For more information and rules on how to play kin-ball, visit the Official Kin-Ball Sport website.
Kin-ball is very active and promotes physical activity as well as sportsmanship, cooperation, teamwork and healthy living. It can be played inside in a gymnasium or outside on the grass, beach or snow. There are many other games that can be played with kin-ball, so it isn’t limited to just one game. Youth will not even realize how much physical activity they are getting because of the amount of fun they will be having.
You can play kin-ball at school, in an after school program, in a 4-H club or part of a healthy living program. It is a new game that will be coming to an area near you if you are interested. Talk to your local MSU Extension office to learn how to get involved in exciting new programs around your area.
