Pros and cons of different sports for kids

[Anonymous]

There are some sports (hockey, baseball/softball, dance), where the technical skills and knowledge build in such a way that it takes a looooong time to get good. A kid who starts Little League at 12 will be at a disadvantage. (Unless they're sized like a 14 year old. In which case, with a little coaching they can stand at the plate and just hammer the ball.)

Other sports -- tennis, swimming, basketball -- can be picked up whenever.

Your kids don't have to excel at everything. They don't even have to excel at something. They may be perfectly happy doing a different thing each season -- and local/rec/house level sports are great for carpools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some sports (hockey, baseball/softball, dance), where the technical skills and knowledge build in such a way that it takes a looooong time to get good. A kid who starts Little League at 12 will be at a disadvantage. (Unless they're sized like a 14 year old. In which case, with a little coaching they can stand at the plate and just hammer the ball.)

Other sports -- tennis, swimming, basketball -- can be picked up whenever.

Your kids don't have to excel at everything. They don't even have to excel at something. They may be perfectly happy doing a different thing each season -- and local/rec/house level sports are great for carpools.

Such false information here it’s a joke

[Anonymous]

One nice thing about choosing basketball, baseball and soccer (maybe lacrosse too) in the ‘burbs is so many neighbors will play too. It makes carpooling, etc, much easier.

[Anonymous]

Things to consider:
* how soon the sport begins. There is swimming and soccer for 2 year olds. There is no crew for 2 year olds.
* if the sport is done mostly inside or outside
* what type of equipment the sport requires to do at a beginner level--hockey has a lot of equipment. Track, tennis, basketball, etc. do not.
* where the sport can be practiced. You can practice a lot of baseball or soccer skills in a field. You cannot practice swimming without a pool, or horseback riding without a horse.
* where the sport is offered near you--it is not worth driving a 4 year old a long way for something unless they or you REALLY love it and you have the time and money to do so.
* what your kid likes to do!
* what your kid is likely to be good at may be worth considering...if the kid's parents are both tiny, the odds of being a basketball star are pretty slim. You could still have fun with basketball, and there's no harm in trying it, but if you were deciding between basketball and a sport that smaller people tend to do better in, I might pick the other sport, all things being equal.

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend gymnastics, ballet and karate for the under 4 set. They can move on to whatever, but it is great for body control and early athleticism. Swimming lessons as soon as possible for safety. If your kids want to figure skate or play hockey, start skating lessons by age 3. Finally, in my opinion, all kids should play at least one team sport for as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

PPs, what makes figure skating so expensive? The lessons?

It's lessons, plus ice time, skates, costumes, competition fees, travel, etc. Most top coaches in this area charge $50-55 per half hour lesson - my daughter takes 8 or more lessons per week week. Ice time varies by rink and usually is about $400+ per month. Many skaters spends hours on the ice five or six days per week. There is also off ice training that includes jump drills, stretching, and conditioning.

Competition dresses can be very expensive. Most skaters need two per season, for short and long programs. I typically buy used -- the dress my daughter wore last season cost $650 new, but I bought it for $200. We probably need to buy custom dresses this season, which will be much more expensive. Skates are $1000 (boots and blades bought separately).

It is possible to skate recreationally for much, much less, but if your kid decided he/she loves it and want to skate seriously, it is very hard to keep the costs low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PPs, what makes figure skating so expensive? The lessons?

It's lessons, plus ice time, skates, costumes, competition fees, travel, etc. Most top coaches in this area charge $50-55 per half hour lesson - my daughter takes 8 or more lessons per week week. Ice time varies by rink and usually is about $400+ per month. Many skaters spends hours on the ice five or six days per week. There is also off ice training that includes jump drills, stretching, and conditioning.

Competition dresses can be very expensive. Most skaters need two per season, for short and long programs. I typically buy used -- the dress my daughter wore last season cost $650 new, but I bought it for $200. We probably need to buy custom dresses this season, which will be much more expensive. Skates are $1000 (boots and blades bought separately).

It is possible to skate recreationally for much, much less, but if your kid decided he/she loves it and want to skate seriously, it is very hard to keep the costs low.

Former competitive figure skater now raising a hockey player. I agree with all of this, although we live out west and the cost of privates are a little higher, and I recently bought myself a new pair of skates and new blades that were closer to $2000 all in, but I expect them to last for another 20 years at this age and rate as I mostly just skate for fun now and with my kids. Travel hockey is as expensive as figure skating, but we do a lot of private lessons and extra spring and summer tournaments. I love both sports and they are well within our budget for our kids, but all the chauffeuring and tournament travel is hard. We only have 2 kids and I struggle. Growing up, I skated with a girl who came from a family of 4 and she was a very successful skater, and her siblings were successful at their sports, too, so it is possible. The family had a lot of money and a nanny even though the mom was a SAHM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PPs, what makes figure skating so expensive? The lessons?

It's lessons, plus ice time, skates, costumes, competition fees, travel, etc. Most top coaches in this area charge $50-55 per half hour lesson - my daughter takes 8 or more lessons per week week. Ice time varies by rink and usually is about $400+ per month. Many skaters spends hours on the ice five or six days per week. There is also off ice training that includes jump drills, stretching, and conditioning.

Competition dresses can be very expensive. Most skaters need two per season, for short and long programs. I typically buy used -- the dress my daughter wore last season cost $650 new, but I bought it for $200. We probably need to buy custom dresses this season, which will be much more expensive. Skates are $1000 (boots and blades bought separately).

It is possible to skate recreationally for much, much less, but if your kid decided he/she loves it and want to skate seriously, it is very hard to keep the costs low.

Former competitive figure skater now raising a hockey player. I agree with all of this, although we live out west and the cost of privates are a little higher, and I recently bought myself a new pair of skates and new blades that were closer to $2000 all in, but I expect them to last for another 20 years at this age and rate as I mostly just skate for fun now and with my kids. Travel hockey is as expensive as figure skating, but we do a lot of private lessons and extra spring and summer tournaments. I love both sports and they are well within our budget for our kids, but all the chauffeuring and tournament travel is hard. We only have 2 kids and I struggle. Growing up, I skated with a girl who came from a family of 4 and she was a very successful skater, and her siblings were successful at their sports, too, so it is possible. The family had a lot of money and a nanny even though the mom was a SAHM.

*Family of 6, with 4 kids.

[Anonymous]

Be honest with yourself from the beginning about how willing you are to take the sport. I encouraged my children to learn to ride because I love it, but I also knew I would never be ok from a risk standpoint with competitive jumping. When we had to make choices about which activity to drop and when, we kept riding limits to the purely weekly/recreational level accordingly.

Swimming should always be in a separate category because in my opinion, every child should learn to swim for safety reasons.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely at least do swim lessons. It’s a life skill and it’s good exercise. Doesn’t mean they have to do swim team later. I like rec soccer because its seasonal, so it’s kinda busy when we do it, but it’s not expensive and it only runs for 6-8 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some sports (hockey, baseball/softball, dance), where the technical skills and knowledge build in such a way that it takes a looooong time to get good. A kid who starts Little League at 12 will be at a disadvantage. (Unless they're sized like a 14 year old. In which case, with a little coaching they can stand at the plate and just hammer the ball.)

Other sports -- tennis, swimming, basketball -- can be picked up whenever.

Your kids don't have to excel at everything. They don't even have to excel at something. They may be perfectly happy doing a different thing each season -- and local/rec/house level sports are great for carpools.

LOL! You have NO idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid becomes a serious swimmer, you will be getting up at ungodly hours of the day to take them to practice (i.e., 4 am) often 4-6 days a week. But, other than that, it's a great sport!

The same is true for Ice Hockey and the ungodly hours can start much younger

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some sports (hockey, baseball/softball, dance), where the technical skills and knowledge build in such a way that it takes a looooong time to get good. A kid who starts Little League at 12 will be at a disadvantage. (Unless they're sized like a 14 year old. In which case, with a little coaching they can stand at the plate and just hammer the ball.)

Other sports -- tennis, swimming, basketball -- can be picked up whenever.

Your kids don't have to excel at everything. They don't even have to excel at something. They may be perfectly happy doing a different thing each season -- and local/rec/house level sports are great for carpools.

Unless your kids are naturally insanely coordinated, they will be a huge disadvantage if they pick up any of those sports at 12 or later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some sports (hockey, baseball/softball, dance), where the technical skills and knowledge build in such a way that it takes a looooong time to get good. A kid who starts Little League at 12 will be at a disadvantage. (Unless they're sized like a 14 year old. In which case, with a little coaching they can stand at the plate and just hammer the ball.)

Other sports -- tennis, swimming, basketball -- can be picked up whenever.

Your kids don't have to excel at everything. They don't even have to excel at something. They may be perfectly happy doing a different thing each season -- and local/rec/house level sports are great for carpools.

Unless your kids are naturally insanely coordinated, they will be a huge disadvantage if they pick up any of those sports at 12 or later.

Truth. Guy is living in a bubble cause his kids play only hockey or baseball

[Anonymous]

My average coordination kid picked up baseball for the very first time in 6th grade, now is playing travel ball in 9th grade. Baseball seemed pretty easy to pick up, actually. But it seemed like overall the 'baseball kids' were less naturally athletic then the soccer/basketball/football kids we knew, so maybe it just seems that way to baseball dads?