8th Grade Boy - Soccer? No... Baseball? No... Lacrosse Then?

[Anonymous]

Depends on your high school and what your kid is good at. You may (and it is just a guess) be at a point where the kids are settling into one or maybe two sports -- and that may not include your kid.

There are sports that really "start" in high school though, but it depends on your kid, and, of course, what sports are offered at your kid's school. As an example, kids who play middle school soccer may well have no chance of ever making a varsity team at particular schools because the kids who play club soccer are not playing middle school soccer. When those kids show up for tryouts they get picked. That is NOT the case for many high school sports though, but it is the case for some mainstream sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Football is still a sport where pretty much anyone can make the team. They may not play, but they will be on the team if they show up for tryouts and practices. Track and field, Cross-country, swimming, wrestling are others. Look at your high school. Participation by kids who are interested in the sport is always a good thing -- even if they are not particularly good as freshman or sophomores. Remind your kid that if he tries a new sport there are almost certainly going to be some kids who are good off the bat, but there will be lots who will struggle for a couple of years. Can he still have fun doing the workouts and practices while he gets bigger and better?

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed swimming - which isn't the same kind of "team" ie you're not passing the ball to anyone or guarding against a goal. You still have friendships with your fellow training buddies. Same with tennis or badminton or gymnastics. I liked that I was in control of my effort, not dependent on a randomly moving ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Golf. It is a life long sport. You could learn with him. And if he puts in enough time he could make a high school team next year.

I agree with the lifelong sport idea. Also think swimming, tennis and ice skating (without the triple axel).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Band? Theater? Robotics? Scouting/camping/hiking?

Every mid does not need to do sports.

By 8th grade he should be able to drop sports in favor of another activity.

^^This. It's time you let him figure it out and decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Golf. It is a life long sport. You could learn with him. And if he puts in enough time he could make a high school team next year.

I agree with the lifelong sport idea. Also think swimming, tennis and ice skating (without the triple axel).

+1.

Golf and tennis are lifelong sports. They are also expensive "country" club sports. To be good at it and make varsity @ Langley, Mclean, Madison, TJ..., most of the times, it requires private lessons, clinics, club membership, you need to able to practice when it is cold outside.

The upside of being a member of HS varsity tennis and golf team is that you are likely surrounding yourself with a lot of excellence academic athletes.

[Anonymous]

Well, if he wants to try a new sport, what does his school offer? Start there (probably cross country and track?). Or what teams does his high school have that he could start now as a rec or clinic sport? You can find private lessons/clubs/teams for anything: rowing, sailing, fencing, tennis, swimming, diving, golf, etc. What does he want to try?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i wish there's rowing in his MS... would love for him to try.

I posted before about rowing. My son's MS doesn't have rowing either. I can't imagine many schools do. But local rowing clubs have teams for MS and HS. In DC, there is a program for MS and HS. If you post where you live, perhaps we could help find a program.

https://www.capitalrowing.org/crcwp/join/special-programs/juniors/

[Anonymous]

He's in 8th grade. He needs to decide, but encourage him to pick something he can likely continue in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS decided he's done with soccer and baseball, but I'm still trying to find him a team sport to do for the spring. I think this is probably his last season playing rec sports as he goes to HS next year. He'd said he liked floor hockey in gym but there's no boys league... Am I nuts to think we could give Lacrosse a try even though he's never done it before and is not athletically talented to pick a new sport quickly? I know he wouldn't fit in as a new player but would a team at least be welcoming (or not unwelcoming)?

Do you want a sport or does your son want one? Let him figure out what he wants even if that means he doesn't want to play any team sport. I would not choose Lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

How about tennis? When my son was in 4th grade he decided he was done with soccer, so I signed him up for tennis lessons, and he wound up really liking it. He thought baseball was too boring and slow, and soccer required too much aggression, but tennis was a perfect fit.

[Anonymous]

Do you want him to do something athletic or is it important that it be a team thing? Because an individual activity like rock climbing or martial arts could be a better fit.

[Anonymous]

There were kids on my 8th grade DDs rec lacrosse team who had never picked up a stick before. He'll be ok.

But what does he want to play? Can you get him to explain why no soccer and baseball? Is he more of an individual sport kid, in which case he's not going to like lacrosse either.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he feels like he's done with sports? That's okay, you know. What does HE want to do? Let him decide. He's almost in high school.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for suggesting ultimate freebie he's okay with that idea.

He'll probably be done with team sport after this season but we'd like for him to continue with individual sports in HS. He "wants" to stay home and sleep or play video games but we're not going to agree to that.