4th grader and team sports

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try diff sports. Lax is a good one for kids w adhd

Can you say more about this? My third grader is very similar to the OP’s son. I’ve been trying to convince him to try lacrosse and he says maybe next year. He likes soccer, but he seems to have trouble keeping track of what’s going on during a scrimmage or game and how to position himself. His older brother started travel soccer in third grade and is much better at this. Even at age 9, he could thoughtfully explain the runs he was making and reflect on decisions he and his teammates made during the game. He watches soccer games and plays the FIFA video game, neither of which interest my younger son.

I always thought lacrosse was pretty similar to soccer in terms of needing to scan the field and anticipate plays. But maybe I am wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We let mine stop doing organized sports in spring of fourth grade. He wasn't into it, he just wanted to be on a team with his friends with minimal commitment, but that's the age when they started shifting to more serious time commitments (club or travel instead of rec, 3-4 day sports instead of 2) and nobody wanted to reorganize the entire family's schedules to force him into that.

Instead, we bought some passes for a boulder gym and a ninja gym and focused more on getting outside for family bike rides last spring and fall. We've let all that lapse a bit this winter, so I am considering making him sign up for a running club in the spring with a friend - he doesn't like the sound of it but he likes being a good runner, and you don't get that sitting at home. Might conflict with a club he wants to do though.

The friends part is tough. Mine tends to gravitate to less sporty kids who are a little more nerdy- his interests too.

I think elementary school is just a rougher time for kids who aren’t super into sports because there aren’t a lot of other organized activities that they can do with kids in their community, that generate as much enthusiasm as sports. It seems like options really open up in middle school and high school for kids who are really into something that isn’t a sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try diff sports. Lax is a good one for kids w adhd

Can you say more about this? My third grader is very similar to the OP’s son. I’ve been trying to convince him to try lacrosse and he says maybe next year. He likes soccer, but he seems to have trouble keeping track of what’s going on during a scrimmage or game and how to position himself. His older brother started travel soccer in third grade and is much better at this. Even at age 9, he could thoughtfully explain the runs he was making and reflect on decisions he and his teammates made during the game. He watches soccer games and plays the FIFA video game, neither of which interest my younger son.

I always thought lacrosse was pretty similar to soccer in terms of needing to scan the field and anticipate plays. But maybe I am wrong?

You’re not wrong lol. Idk what pp is suggesting. I would recommend private coaching or supplemental lessons. My kids play lacrosse and both do supplemental lessons and training at the St. James. It’s been helpful in anticipating where to be and the actual game play.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one with a 3rd grade boy who thinks the above posts about expecting kids to scan the field, anticipate plays, and strategize are expecting too much? It's fine if you have a kid super into sports and also so aware of his body and plays that he can do all that, but IME boys at this age are just happy to kick the ball or smash the lax stick around. No, just my kid? And he's not too bad at sports, either. Seems typical for the age...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one with a 3rd grade boy who thinks the above posts about expecting kids to scan the field, anticipate plays, and strategize are expecting too much? It's fine if you have a kid super into sports and also so aware of his body and plays that he can do all that, but IME boys at this age are just happy to kick the ball or smash the lax stick around. No, just my kid? And he's not too bad at sports, either. Seems typical for the age...

If your son is decent at sports, I would bet he’s doing more scanning and anticipating than you think, or that he is even aware of. The kids who aren’t doing this at all are the ones who can’t figure out how to get involved in the game, or just pass the ball right to the other team because they put zero thought into what would happen next. If a kid is having at least moderate success, they probably have a bit more of an intuitive understanding and spatial/body awareness than a lot of other kids even if they can’t articulate what they are doing and why they’re doing it.

[Anonymous]

The sports obsession in the DC area is real. I don’t get it myself. I think it’s just another way for parents to be competitive. It’s kind of sick to be honest. Elementary school should be fun and child-like, not a bunch of little kids trying to act like pro sports players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sports obsession in the DC area is real. I don’t get it myself. I think it’s just another way for parents to be competitive. It’s kind of sick to be honest. Elementary school should be fun and child-like, not a bunch of little kids trying to act like pro sports players.

It’s worse in some other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grader has never been good at sportsball and he doesn't like it. For exercise he does swimming and karate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4th grader has never been good at sportsball and he doesn't like it. For exercise he does swimming and karate.

Why that

[Anonymous]

Agree to put him in an individual sport that has options for teams where aggregate results from competitions or meets benefit all: swim, tennis, golf, fencing, etc.

Also there are a lot of kids who do sports for fun without the pressure of scores or competitions. Things like recreational gymnastics and martial arts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sports obsession in the DC area is real. I don’t get it myself. I think it’s just another way for parents to be competitive. It’s kind of sick to be honest. Elementary school should be fun and child-like, not a bunch of little kids trying to act like pro sports players.

I disagree, to an extent. I think sports is GOOD for kids. It's exercise and helps them make friends. A little competition is good for us.

What's not good is how busy DMV parents keep their kids. It's not just 1 sport, it's multiple, and a year round schedule. Plus, hebrew/chinese/church, math tutors, homework etc...when do they get to play in the snow? be with their families? RELAX?? Then there's the parents who have no social life or time to themselves because all they do is work, volunteer for the school and schlep their kids around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sports obsession in the DC area is real. I don’t get it myself. I think it’s just another way for parents to be competitive. It’s kind of sick to be honest. Elementary school should be fun and child-like, not a bunch of little kids trying to act like pro sports players.

I disagree, to an extent. I think sports is GOOD for kids. It's exercise and helps them make friends. A little competition is good for us.

What's not good is how busy DMV parents keep their kids. It's not just 1 sport, it's multiple, and a year round schedule. Plus, hebrew/chinese/church, math tutors, homework etc...when do they get to play in the snow? be with their families? RELAX?? Then there's the parents who have no social life or time to themselves because all they do is work, volunteer for the school and schlep their kids around.

You have a blind spot for those of us with kids who are not athletic or who have hidden disabilities. As in they cannot keep pace with their peers and are then shunned and teased by those boys who you think are so GOOD. It sucks to be that kid and it’s because of that competitive nastiness that parents encourage. Sports can be fun and beneficial for one and all but not when kids are judged by their individual athletic ability rather than their loyalty to the team or other aspects of their personality. You have created an environment that is exclusionary for young kids who deserve a shot at being active just like anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sports obsession in the DC area is real. I don’t get it myself. I think it’s just another way for parents to be competitive. It’s kind of sick to be honest. Elementary school should be fun and child-like, not a bunch of little kids trying to act like pro sports players.

I disagree, to an extent. I think sports is GOOD for kids. It's exercise and helps them make friends. A little competition is good for us.

What's not good is how busy DMV parents keep their kids. It's not just 1 sport, it's multiple, and a year round schedule. Plus, hebrew/chinese/church, math tutors, homework etc...when do they get to play in the snow? be with their families? RELAX?? Then there's the parents who have no social life or time to themselves because all they do is work, volunteer for the school and schlep their kids around.

You have a blind spot for those of us with kids who are not athletic or who have hidden disabilities. As in they cannot keep pace with their peers and are then shunned and teased by those boys who you think are so GOOD. It sucks to be that kid and it’s because of that competitive nastiness that parents encourage. Sports can be fun and beneficial for one and all but not when kids are judged by their individual athletic ability rather than their loyalty to the team or other aspects of their personality. You have created an environment that is exclusionary for young kids who deserve a shot at being active just like anyone else.

I bet you don’t give a $hit about the kids excluded from the advanced classes in elementary school, though.