Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
· Where is Head Start Sports located?
Head Start Sports is a mobile sports program that goes to child care centers and fitness centers in eastern Pennsylvania. If you are interested in finding out about the locations in your area, please contact us at greg@headstartsports.com.
· How long are classes and what ages are allowed to participate?
The classes are 30 minutes long and the program is designed for pre-school age children from ages 2 through 6.
· How much does it cost?
The 10-week session costs $90. If you register for 20-weeks, then a 5% discount applies. If you register for the entire school year (36 weeks), then a 10% discount applies. There are also sibling discounts (10%), child care center employee discounts (25%), and scholarship discounts.
· Our center is non-profit, so can we afford this program?
The program is billed directly to parents of children participating, so there is no cost to the child care center. We actually have a fundraising option as part of our program that allows for raising money for the center via the Head Start Sports program. Talk to your region manager or coach for more details.
· What sports do you play?
The program includes baseball, basketball, bowling, football, hockey, lacrosse, racquet sports, soccer, track & field, and volleyball.
· When are the classes?
Classes are held once per week and generally in the morning. A specific day of the week and time is chosen and that will remain consistent throughout the 10-week session.
· Does the program have to start at the beginning of the school year?
Most centers start at the beginning of the school year, but he program can begin at any time. It is a year-round program, so the timing to initiate the program is up to the center.
· If the 10-week session has already started, do I have to wait until the next 10-week session to enroll my child?
No, you can enroll at any time and the cost is pro-rated if you enroll in the middle of a session.
· How are classes organized and what are the coach/player ratios?
The classes are organized by age to make sure the activities are age-appropriate. The ratios vary depending on the age of the kids involved in the class. For a class with 1 coach, if the kids are 2 years old, we generally have 5 or 6 kids, but never more than 8. For 3-4 year olds, we generally have 6-8, but not more than 10 kids in a class and for 5-6 year olds, we can have up to 12 kids in a class.
· Is the program inside or outside, and if inside, how do you do sports, like baseball, inside?
Our program can be conducted inside or outside. The equipment is designed for safety and indoor use, but we will also go outside if weather and space permits.
For any of the sports in our program, we don’t play an actual game, such as in baseball, but we will play games around the skills for that particular sport. For baseball, we’ll play games involving throwing, catching, running bases, and hitting off of a batting tee. This can easily be done in a room within the child care center.
· Don’t the kids all want the ball?
Absolutely, and that is why every child in our program has equipment to use during each class. If we play soccer, we’ll play soccer games where every child has their own ball, thus increasing their opportunities to have fun and improve their skills.
· At pre-school ages, don’t the kids get upset when their team loses?
Our program is non-competitive, so all games that we play do not have a winning or losing team. The emphasis is on fun and skill development so that they enjoy the sport and want to continue playing outside of our program.
· Do you have information on kid’s fitness?
According to studies:
The average child gets 15–20 minutes of vigorous activity a day when 1 hour is recommended.
Nine out of ten parents think their children are fit, when only 1 out of 3 are fit.
Exercise boosts metabolism on a 24-hour basis. When kids are regularly active, their bodies burn more calories even when they’re sitting around.
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