So, it’s Christmas time again and you need to rush out and get those last minute Christmas gifts. Shopping centres are crazy at this time of year and finding time to seek out and choose the right present for all your friends and family is no small task. But not to worry... Today we’re going to make life a little easier by giving you some great sporting gift ideas for the children in your life. So, not only will you be giving a great gift that any kid will enjoy, but you’ll also be encouraging better health and exercise habits, which will benefit them for the rest of their life. So let’s get started…

Summer Sporting Equipment

In Australia, in summer, there are no two bigger sports that Cricket and Tennis. Both national pastimes, these sports take over our television screens between December and February and kids all around Australia take to the streets, parks, tennis courts and cricket nets with their friends to emulate their favourite stars. So, what could be better than making sure they’ve got the right equipment and an extra incentive to get off the couch and into some healthy outdoor activities. Both sports give you a range of gifts to choose from…

Cricket:

• Cricket bats
• Stumps
• Cricket balls
• Pads and protective equipment
• Beach cricket sets
• Shirts and other apparel worn by their favourite players

Tennis:

• Tennis rackets
• Proper Tennis shoes
• Tennis balls
• Shirts, shorts, hats, and other apparel worn by their favourite players
• Membership to the local tennis court / club

Also, there are many other popular sports played throughout the summer such as soccer, basketball, and touch football among others, so any gift that encourages kids to play sport, be active and burn off that extra holiday energy will be appreciated by all. It will also help keep kids entertained on Christmas day while their parents are trying to relax.

Beach & Water Accessories

We all love a day at the beach. There’s nothing like packing up the family, grabbing the umbrella and heading out for a day of sun, surf and sand. So, make sure your kids have plenty to keep them entertained with fun beach activities. What makes a suitable gift will depend on their age but here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Bucket and spade (ok that’s a bit obvious)
• Boogie board, paddle board or foam learner surfboard
• Frisbees
• Fishing rod
• Kites
• Floaties
• Beach sporting equipment - badminton set, cricket set, volleyball set, soccer ball, football, etc. Even a simple tennis ball can do the trick.

Summer Sports Program

For something a little more exciting and interesting you could try a summer sports camp. Every school holidays around Australia there are sports programs that teach kids - from 6-16 years old - about a range of different sports. These programs often run for 3 days and are fun, interactive and help develop kid’s skills, knowledge, and passion for a range of sports including…

• Football
• Netball
• Cricket
• Soccer
• Hockey
• Basketball
• Rugby Union
• Tennis

Australian Sports Camps are one of the most respected school holiday sports camps in Australia and have been running camps in every major capital for over 33 years. Not only do they have the very best coaches and support staff, but they also have biggest stars from various codes come in for specialist skill session with the kids. These camps are a great way to meet new friends, stay active in the holidays and let your kids try many different sports without committing to a full season. In fact, some of Australia’s biggest and brightest sporting stars have attended Australian Sports Camps programs when they were kids including:

• Michael Slater (cricket)
• James Hird and Harry Taylor (AFL)
• Mark Philippoussis and many more

For more information about upcoming camps in your area click here.

Tickets To Sporting Events

For kids that love their sport there often isn’t anything more exciting than seeing their biggest heroes, live in action. During the Australian summer, there are huge range of sporting events to choose from.

Cricket:

Test, one day and T20 matches are played all around the country over summer. And with the introduction of the Big Bash Twenty-Twenty league you can enjoy a fast paced, family friendly cricket format that’s an ideal day or evening out. And unlike test matches these games are wrapped up in under 4 hours. They are also very affordable with family tickets from just $42.50: http://www.bigbash.com.au/tickets

Tennis:

Tennis tournaments are played all over Australia during the summer months where you can see the world’s best players in action. In January most cities have professional tournaments including such as... The Brisbane International: Jan 4-10 The APIA International Sydney: Jan 11-17 The Hopman Cup Perth: Jan 1-7 The World Tennis Challenge Adelaide: Jan10-12 And the big one, Australia’s grand slam... The Australian Open, Melbourne: Jan 16-29

Soccer:

The A-League continues to run throughout summer with matches across Australia featuring local and international stars. Tickets can be purchased through: http://www.a-league.com.au/tickets

Basketball:

The NBL season runs over the entire summer offering fun, fast paced action with the best players in the country. Tickets can be purchased from: http://www.nbl.com.au/tickets/ Above we have listed gift ideas for every age, budget, and sporting interest for you to choose from, or at least spark some creative ideas of your own. So instead of buying the latest gaming console and encouraging “more screen time” why not do yourself and your child a favour and help them get active and outdoors this summer with a great sporting gift.