Aussie kids are a sporty bunch. While they love to play sports all year round, summer is a great time for kids to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and long school holidays. Our warm climate is one of the reasons why sport has become such an essential part of Australian culture.

You may be wondering what is the most popular summer sport in Australia? Well, we've done the research for you and put together a list of the top summer sports below.

Swimming

With Australia's beautiful beaches and hot weather, swimming is the most popular activity for Aussie kids aged 6 to 13. Over 3.1 million Aussies swim regularly. Swimming is excellent for cardiovascular health, flexibility and balance, not to mention being a life-saving skill and helping to build confidence around water. Whether at a local pool, in the backyard pool or at the beach, swimming provides hours of entertainment and socialisation, relieves stress and improves cognitive function. Just remember to lather on the sunscreen!

Cricket

The iconic Aussie summer pastime. Cricket has been played in Australia for over 200 years. From backyard cricket to beach cricket, cricket is great fun with mates or family. It builds hand eye co-ordination and teamwork skills. While protective gear is essential, cricket is a non-contact sport and suitable for a wide range of kids from a young age. 631,000 kids and 328,000 adults play cricket regularly. Going to watch games together is also a great family bonding activity.

Basketball

1.08 million Aussies currently play basketball. Many local parks have a basketball court where kids can make new friends. It's an easy sport to add to the backyard, just put up a hoop, grab a ball and go.

Basketball improves cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, agility and teamwork skills. As a physically demanding game, basketball is suitable for kids with excess energy, requiring them to dodge, pass, dribble, shoot, pivot, catch and more. While height can help, many kids are successful due to skill alone.

Tennis

Over 960,000 people play tennis in Australia. Tennis is particularly suitable for children who prefer individual sports and are quick thinkers. It builds hand-eye coordination, improves reaction time, balance, gross motor control and fitness. Psychological advantages include developing discipline and work ethic and learning to strategise and problem solve. Tennis is also considered a low-risk sport because of the lack of player-to-player contact and the low number of players.

Soccer

Soccer has 2 million players in Australia and is the most popular team sport for kids between 6 and 13, with a participation rate of 48.7%. It's an easy sport to pick up thanks to it's simple rules and it is also very inclusive, as kids of any height, strength or speed can play. Soccer teaches co-ordination, teamwork and control. Soccer is a contact sport but not a collision sport, which makes it a popular choice over many other team sports.

Little Rookie is dedicated to getting kids out and about and having fun with friends and family. We stock games like beach cricket sets and dart boards that the whole family can play together, as well as apparel for even the littlest sports players and swimmers.