The best spring sports for kids

As winter melts away into spring, kids are naturally quite excited to get outside and play after a winter cooped up inside. A winter of reading, playing video games, and largely sedentary activities can lead to a lot of pent up energy and one of the best and healthiest ways to release that energy is through spring sports. Spring sports encourage kids to get exercise and encourage healthy habits. Moreover, team sports can teach other valuable skills including cooperation, teamwork, and discipline.

The three best spring sports for kids are baseball, soccer, and basketball. They all are great exercise, can be enjoyed solo or in a group, and all typically have organized options available. They also don't require much by way of special equipment, making them good for cost conscious parents and low-income families.

Baseball

Baseball is one of the United States' most popular spring sports and its appeal is timeless. The start of spring coincides with the opening of the professional baseball season and many cities and schools have baseball leagues that start around the same time for kids. There are many different varieties of baseball for kids to play including traditional baseball, soft ball, tee-ball, and coach pitch. With so many different options, baseball is one of the best spring sports for kids as there is softball for girls, tee-ball for young players, and regular baseball for more skilled teenagers. Baseball teaches kids a variety of skills including hand and eye coordination and provides a strong workout. It's a sport where teamwork is absolutely essential, making it a great way to teach children the importance of working with others. In addition to the hitting, catching, running, and throwing that takes place during games, leagues generally include practices where children hone these skills and do calisthenics.

While baseball is best enjoyed in an organized league with full nine person teams playing each other, there is plenty for kids to practice on their own. Children can work with their parents or other kids to develop their skills (including catching, throwing, and hitting) making it a great spring sport for kids looking to get outside. Some specialized equipment is required including a glove and cleats, but in most cases leagues will provide helmets and bats.

Soccer

Over the past twenty years, soccer has grown in popularity in the United States and it is now a very popular spring sport for kids. Children of all ages recognize soccer as one of the best spring sports for kids and play in cities large and small across the United States. A soccer ball is relatively cheap and the only other equipment required are cleats and chin guards (all of this equipment can even be found used in most cities). Soccer is the most fun in a league and most municipalities have some type of soccer league whether it be through the schools, the city, or the YMCA. Like baseball, there are many skills that can be practiced and honed by children on their own, making it an enjoyable sport to play even when a child isn't playing in an actual game. Soccer is great for hand and eye coordination and the constant running involved with soccer makes it one of the best spring sports for kids in terms of overall exercise.

Basketball

Basketball is another one of the best spring sports for kids. While most leagues play indoors, children that have been stuck inside all winter will enjoy getting out to play basketball as soon as the temperatures warm up. Basketball is a great spring sport for kids because it is playable with a minimal amount of equipment—all that is required is a ball and a hoop. Hoops are widely available at public parks or can be mounted on your garage. Basketball can be enjoyed solo or with a small to large group and with the variety of games that can be played, it is perfect for children who may not have a lot of friends nearby to gather the larger numbers necessary to play other sports. Moreover, while baseball and soccer can sometimes be difficult in the spring due to muddy conditions as the ground thaws and the snow melts, basketball courts dry quickly—meaning you can typically play as soon as it gets warm. There is plenty to work on in basketball and it is great exercise with all of the running, while shooting and passing are helpful for hand and eye coordination.

Summing up: the best spring sports for kids

Baseball, soccer, and basketball are the best spring sports for kids as they require relatively minimal amounts of equipment and investment. At the same time, they can all be enjoyed in a group with teams competing yet all have plenty of skills that can be developed and perfected on their own, making them great options for children of all ages.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.