Terminology
Athletic Burnout: When a child becomes physically and/or emotionally exhausted from the constant demands from sports.
Body Mass Index (BMI): A person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.
Childhood Obesity: A Body Mass Index at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex.
Childhood Overweight: A Body Mass Index at or above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex.
Early Sport Specialization: When a child participates in a single sport year-round at an early point in their development.
Moderate Physical Activity: Activity that is medium to difficult in intensity. Raises your heart rate to 50%-70% of your target heart rate.
Non-Sport Physical Activity: Where a child has physical activity outside of organized sports.
Organized Sport: Any sport that is prepared, planned, and structured by means of a league or organization. Typically team sports with coaches, scheduled practices, matches with agreed upon rules and enforced by officials.
Overuse Injuries: Injuries that occur from using the same movements and motions for a long period of time. Typically linked to early sport specialization where a child will play the same sport year-round and for several years.
Unstructured Play: Unstructured, voluntary, open-ended, child-initiated activity that allows children to develop their imaginations. Activities that children create on their own without adult guidance.
Recreation: An activity that people participate in their free time away from school and work. People recognize the activity as having socially redeeming qualities. The performance of the activity is less important than the reason for performing the activity.
Sampling: When the child samples several different sports and physical activities through their developmental years.
Sport Specialization: When a person participates in a single sport year round.
Vigorous Physical Activity: Activity that is challenging in intensity. Raises your heart rate to 70%-85% of your target heart rate.