Lead story: Want to save kids from doomscrolling? Encourage them to take up sports

The incessant rise in screen time and intake of junk food among young kids is causing anxiety not only among the parents, but also in the child who is doomscrolling or is glued to the TV.

To keep them safe is a task, but many have found a way. Parents have started encouraging their children to take up sports. Football is the new found love for some children. Of late, toddlers have been rarely seen playing outdoors, but, hopefully things are improving.

Some 100 kids, starting from the age of four, are learning football at the Football Kickers’ Academy.

Started in 2015, the academy has become a place for little aspirants who want to learn the sport and achieve big in life.

Warundeep, a national-level football player who has been a member of almost every football club of the region, having played several tournaments till 2015, started the academy. “Parents want their children off the screen and they would do anything for that. When a child comes here, spends an hour or so, their energy gets utilised in doing something productive, and thus when they go home, they are very hungry. This is the time when parents can give them something healthy to eat and they will have it happily. Also, they will stay away from the screen. Parents have seen remarkable improvement,” he said.

He shared his story behind the thought of starting the academy. “When I came back to Jalandhar, I found that there was no facility for kids where they could learn this sport. I was shocked, and thus decided to dedicate my life to those who are really passionate about football,” Warun added.

He said those who came from financially underprivileged families were provided assistance and they were also provided training free of cost.

After having a successful career in football, Warundeep decided to give it back to the society and that is how the academy came into existence. The academy was started with children from affluent families. But great talent also dwells in those from the so-called lower and middle-class houses.

Kids from these families are often denied life opportunities. “I decided to give them coaching free of cost besides providing them equipment,” he said.

“We help students from a government-aided school as well. We provide them kits, so that they get motivated to play more,” the founder said.

A football league is also organised every year from October to December wherein the budding players get to evaluate their skills. On being asked what needs to be changed when it comes to producing world-class sporting talent, Warundeep said it was extremely important to train kids at a young age.

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