What sport for a 14yo who has never literally never played sports?

[Anonymous]

Most swimmers in the DMV start at 8 and under and it’s a hard sport to pick up and excel at (and I’d say not where the cool kids hang lol- my kid swims btw)

I have two friends whose kids started crew in high school- neither of them had too much experience with sports. Good team bonding but very early mornings!

[Anonymous]

Spend summer playing basketball with her. She can learn rules later, get the skills.

And Pickleball. Super fun. Played at lots of schools and colleges. Contrary to the people who post only an old person sport, it takes skill but not as hard as tennis to learn. Look up 16 yr old Anna Leigh Waters.

[Anonymous]

Agree with cross country. Everyone can run, and if she’s not currently a runner, she could start now.

Swimming would work if she knows how to swim.

Crew

Golf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it have to be in school?

Can see do like a few rock climbing classes, join a youth bowling league (Bowlero has them), for example.

More importantly, is this a YOU thing or is this her idea? Are you projecting? I'm getting the vibe you're trying to force something that just isnt there. It sounds like sports isn't her thing so maybe something like theater or one of the many clubs most high schools offer like DECA, Spanish Club, Art Club, whatever.

+1.

I was a drama club kid and am now an excellent cyclist, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most swimmers in the DMV start at 8 and under and it’s a hard sport to pick up and excel at (and I’d say not where the cool kids hang lol- my kid swims btw)

I have two friends whose kids started crew in high school- neither of them had too much experience with sports. Good team bonding but very early mornings!

My neighbor has a daughter who swims for Mount Vernon HS and she started late swimming competitively. I’m pretty sure it is a no cut sport at their school, whereas at others they have to cut. The OP said their HS “isn’t very competitive” so I am thinking along those lines. I think there is a HS that couldn’t even field a girls” softball team and I’m sure they would have loved to have enough willing to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything really! Let her pick. In 9th grade I joined the field hockey team with 4 of my friends. It was a total sh-show and I was terrible, but it was good fun. Then in college I took up rowing, same story. Sports are really just a fun and healthy activity to do with friends. Simple as that!

Oh how I wish it was that simple. Parents and organized sports and general competitiveness of everything have taken the fun out.

[Anonymous]

Field hockey. My daughter in FCPS was able to join the freshman field hockey team. Not all schools have a freshman team but ours had one.

There are a lot of summer programs starting now to get some exposure to it. Beyond Sticks is one. There are others, where are you based OP?

[Anonymous]

Summer Hockey Opportunities:

McLean-Falls Church Spring Scrimmage opportunities: Sundays thru June at Meridian High School
https://www.leagueathletics.com/Registration/Default.asp?org=mcleanfieldhockey.org

HUSEL Summer League (Middle and High School): Thursday and Sunday Nights at GMU June 22-July 23
https://www.huselsports.com/collections/leagues/products/2023-national-field-hockey-summer-league

Beyond Sticks: multiple locations and dates in the DMV
https://www.beyondsticks.com/summer-2023-overview

Revolution Field Hockey Camp at GMU: Week 1 - June 26-29, Week 2 - July 24-27
https://www.fhcamps.com/fh-camps/george-mason-university-field-hockey-camp/

Washington Wolves Summer Camps: Clinics and Camps at the Stone Ridge School (Bethesda)
https://www.wolvesfieldhockey.com/wordpress/wolves-field-hockey-summer-camps/

*Private group lesson flyer attached for Claire Cooke - 2 time team captain at Syracuse and Woodson graduate


FOR (YOUNGER SIBLINGS, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS GRADES 3 -8)

Coach Sully's Camp 2023 at Bishop O'Connell HS:
coachsullyfh.com

HUSEL Elementary Summer League (entering grades 3 - 5):
https://www.huselsports.com/collections/leagues/products/2023-elementary-school-summer-league

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fencing, Karate, archery

None of those are high school sports.

Crew is really the best option for someone like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But she's only 14 and needs to start learning how to navigate life on her own terms. And, in the short-term, that means trying her hand at sports despite her lack of passion, at least for now.

Then this is the perfect time for her to pick the sport. I'd worry that too much advising on your part could lead to her thinking you're responsible if the choice doesn't work out.

Honestly, if it were my kid, I'd say, "Wow, that's ambitious to try out for a new sport. We're here for you. Let me me know what supplies you need!" Then step back and let her start navigating life on her own terms, in your words.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PPs - crew is the right choice. It's grueling but she won't be at a disadvantage since most kids in this area start in HS.

Track/cross-country aren't bad second choices. I was a non-athletic girl who started running in college and I actually did enjoy it.

And one counter-point: she doesn't need to be cool in HS. And starting a sport almost certainly won't make her cool. There are SO many ECs and activities in any big DMV public HS - she'd really be better off doing whatever she actually enjoys than torturing herself with a sport that she's taking up only for appearances. And btw the amount of time some of these HS sports take is not helpful for academics - which are going to be what makes or breaks her college options.

[Anonymous]

Why does everyone suggest crew??? It's sooooo grueling! Super early wake-ups (although some schools are lucky and can secure practice slots after school; ymmv), the drive to the river, quickly pivot to get to school on time....and that's just the weekday commitment.

Your weekends are shot with regattas that leave you no time for anything else.

And parents are expected to commit too. Training on land starts in the Fall.
No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone suggest crew??? It's sooooo grueling! Super early wake-ups (although some schools are lucky and can secure practice slots after school; ymmv), the drive to the river, quickly pivot to get to school on time....and that's just the weekday commitment.

Your weekends are shot with regattas that leave you no time for anything else.

And parents are expected to commit too. Training on land starts in the Fall.
No thanks!

OP is looking for something where her kid would be on relative equal footing, not no hoper because the other kids have been doing the sport since they were six. You can start crew at any time, and your first opportunity is high school. You are right about the time and money commitment being high, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone suggest crew??? It's sooooo grueling! Super early wake-ups (although some schools are lucky and can secure practice slots after school; ymmv), the drive to the river, quickly pivot to get to school on time....and that's just the weekday commitment.

Your weekends are shot with regattas that leave you no time for anything else.

And parents are expected to commit too. Training on land starts in the Fall.
No thanks!

Because it doesn’t require any learned athletic skill you just grind

[Anonymous]

Crew fencing XC and swimming