As winter gives way to spring later this month, it's almost time for many families to break out the sports equipment and head out to the park. Baseball season is just around the corner, but the weather will soon be warm enough for fans of all outdoor sports to finally get some practice in again.

RELATED: 10 Best Sports Movies Of All Time, According To Rotten Tomatoes

Sports movies have been a staple of family cinema for many decades. Some are lighthearted comedies, while others are more dramatic and inspirational stories. Some feature children's sports, while others are stories of professional sports that children will appreciate all the same. Here are 10 sports films for kids to enjoy in preparation for sports season.

Angels In The Outfield (1994) - 6.2

A kid with his hands over another kid's ears in Angels in the Outfield

This 1994 remake of the 1951 classic by the same name received mostly negative reviews upon its release, as critics found it to be an uneven combination of broad comedy and sentimental drama. While these criticisms aren't invalid, the mix of humor and heart is what makes this remake such a good family film, as children are sure to enjoy both its funnier and more serious moments.

This being a Disney production, whereas the original was produced by MGM, certain plot elements were tweaked to make this incarnation of Angels in the Outfield more of a family film.

Little Giants (1994) - 6.4

The cast of The Little Giants posing together

1994's Little Giants is a fairly straightforward sports comedy about a team of rag-tag misfits who, against all odds, band together and win the big game against an intimidating and antagonistic opponent. In this case, Rick Moranis stars as Danny O'Shea, whose older brother Kevin coached the local children's football team.

When Danny's daughter tries out for Kevin's team but is rejected for being a girl, she convinces Danny to start a rival team and compete against Kevin's for the chance to compete in the league. Little Giants may not be the most original of family sports films, but it delivers the goods as wholesome comedy entertainment with its heart in the right place.

Space Jam (1996) - 6.5

Space Jam 1996 Theatrical Re-release

Few family films mix as many surefire crowd pleasing elements as 1996's Space JamStarring Michael Jordan as himself at the peak of his popularity, the Looney Tunes, and Bill Murray, Space Jam was a smash hit upon its release, and remains an entertaining slapstick family comedy to this day. Of course, a sequel starring LeBron James is already in the works, but in the meantime, the original will do just fine for a great family movie night.

RELATED: Looney Tunes: The 10 Funniest Characters, Ranked

Boasting great voiceover work from Danny DeVito and cameos by Larry Bird and Charles Barkley, basketball fans, Looney Toons fans, and comedy fans alike can't go wrong with this one.

The Mighty Ducks (1992) - 6.6

Several players look on from the bench in The Mighty Ducks

The premise for 1992's The Mighty Ducks is quite the strange one: a lawyer arrested for drunk driving is ordered by the court to coach a youth hockey team as community service. Surprisingly, however, the movie works, and remains a beloved '90s family classic to this day. Emilio Estevez is great in the lead role as a flawed but sincere and goodhearted hero who slowly wins the respect of his team and coaches them, yes, all the way to the championship game. The film was successful enough to birth sequels and TV shows, including 2021's The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, starring Estevez and Lauren Graham, premiering later this month.

Million Dollar Arm (2014) - 7.0

Jon Hamm in Million Dollar Arm

Disney's Million Dollar Arm stars Jon Hamm as JB, a sports agent who heads to India in the hopes of recruiting cricket players into Major League Baseball back in the United States. He convinces two young men to join him in his return home, where they struggle to make their dreams come true in a strange land.

Million Dollar Arm is well done, if a bit boilerplate, family entertainment whose wholesome subject matter makes for both an entertaining and educational experience for younger viewers.

Cool Runnings (1993) - 7.0

John Candy pushing a bobsled in Cool Runnings

1993's Cool Runnings was a major hit, grossing over $150 million, over ten times its $14 million budget. It's the story of four Jamaican men who aspire to be Olympic bobsled competitors, despite not being acquainted with snow, much less the sport itself. They recruit a disgraced former champion named Irv Blitzer, played by John Candy, who helps them compete for the gold.

RELATED: John Candy's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

28 years later, the film is still a hit with audiences of all ages, and critics praised it at the time for its great performances and uplifting spirit.

The Express (2008) - 7.3

Ernie Davis runs with the football in The Express

The inspirational story of Ernie Davis, the first Black player to win the Heisman Trophy, is the subject of this widely acclaimed biopic. The Express didn't do much box office upon its release, but has remained popular with audiences since. The movie seamlessly incorporates true details into a very conventional Hollywood genre film that some critics found to be too cliche, but most audiences admired its purpose: to tell the story of a trailblazing athlete who's on the field obstacles paled in comparison to those in his life outside of football.

Rudy (1993) - 7.5

Rudy watches from the sidelines.

1993's Rudy is the true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, tries, despite seemingly impossible odds, to play for the famed Notre Dame football team. He eventually makes the roster in the unlikeliest of ways, and is carried off the field in a glorious final sequence.

RELATED: 10 Best Football Movies According To IMDb

Rudy is widely considered one of the best sports movies ever by general audiences and sports fans alike. This is also the first film since 1940's Knute Rockne, All American, also about their football team.

Hoosiers (1986) - 7.5

Coach Norman stands alongside his team

Written by Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh, the same team behind the aforementioned Rudy, Hoosiers is based on the true story. It stars Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale, one of the most beloved characters he ever played. Dale is hired to coach the high school basketball team, and chooses Shooter, a notorious town drunk, to be his assistant.

The film does deal with some mature thematic elements, but it's still a heartwarming story suitable for audiences of all ages. It's one of the first sports films of its kind, and undoubtedly influenced many others like it in subsequent years.

The Sandlot (1993) - 7.8

The Sandlot team poses for the camera

1993's The Sandlot is perhaps the definitive kids sports movie, as it's as much about friendship and growing up as it is about baseball. Scotty Smalls is new in town, having recently moved with his mother and stepfather. He becomes the protege of the local baseball star, and the two share many an adventure on and off the field.

A great baseball film, a moving coming of age story, a comedy, a drama, a slice of life, and a fantasy, all rolled into one, The Sandlot remains a beloved classic to this day, for good reason.

NEXT: Every Disney Movie About Baseball, Ranked By IMDb