Does your child have the talent to become a good sportsperson?
Is there any right way to spot his talent in a particular sport?
Any attempt to answer these questions is fairly difficult. We often tend to judge the child's ability by our own expectations, and not following any scientific parameters.
To correct this anomaly and to put talented children on the correct path, as far as sports is concerned, Krishna Bhupathi, the ace tennis coach who shaped the journey of his son Mahesh, together with Shayamal Vallabjee, noted South African physio, have now formulated an unique programme ‘Speed Kids'.
It is a multi-pronged training programme for children between four and seven years. It aims at the building a strong foundation in the initial phases of athletic development in children and enhance basic skills needed in all sports. The programme will adapt a set of specific drills to help the children attain a certain level of proficiency in the game and maintain good fitness levels.
Krishna Bhupathi says, “The programme will help us in discovering the aptitude of the child in two to three years.”
Vallabhjee, who has served as a trainer with the Indian hockey team, cricket squad and Mahesh Bhupathi, has created a functional concept.
He quips, “We take the children step by step through the programme, make them understand the biomechanics of the body, footwork, speed and agility. We also put them through ‘Kid Yoga' exercises that helps improve their physical and mental fitness.”
Swimming forms an integral part of the programme as Bhuapthi and Vallabhjee believe that it aids the development of the lung capacity of the trainees.
As far as inputs for basic training in sports go, most of them come from established stars like Prakash Padukone, Ashwini Nachappa, Ashish Ballal and Muniyappa.
With over a dozen trainers, Bhupathi aims at taking in nearly 200 children in the programme, which starts on January 23 at the tennis village complex, Kodigehalli.
Bhupathi says, “The fees for the programme has been fixed at Rs. 2,000 per month.”
For more information on the programme and the courses, call 23641747 /23646122 or visit www.speedkids.in.
