What are we supposed to do about non-athletic child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a very non-athletic girl who is now 17. I made her do cheer until middle school. She found and is now devoted to archery. She hates movement. I did ask that she at least try to exercise 3 times a week for 30 minutes for heart health. She does not need it for weight management as she is 100# and lanky but has low muscle tone. My youngest is kind of stocky but is extremely athletic and can do anything but is devoted to two sports. Let them be who they are but while young I would ask that he recreationally try one sport or swim.

Damn

[Anonymous]

Jogging and weight training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1:1 non-team sports - tennis, skiing, swim.

Or non-competitive activity which could be life-long and no team needed.

Swimming lessons, enough so that DC is a strong swimmer and "drown-proof" but NOT swim team.

Running as exercise for fun. Or hiking.

Depending in where you live, take some longish family bike rides in dedicated bike paths. N Arlington is good for this. W&OD also is good for this. Similar places exist in MD.

(Aside: many MS/HS running teams are "no cut" and the better managed ones are less focused on the "team win" and more focused about each improving his / her personal best time.)

[Anonymous]

Swim team. Consider diving, as well.

[Anonymous]

If rec coaches act like that you should have complained to whoever runs the league. I’d have a few choice words if someone spoke to my 4th grader like that.
If he wants to do team sports I would try and find a different league. If he doesn’t care then try things that aren’t team related. Bike riding, swimming, hiking, shooting hoops in the driveway for fun, martial arts, track….

[Anonymous]

Swimming or cross country

[Anonymous]

Tennis, theater, dance, swimming

[Anonymous]

Yoga?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim team. Consider diving, as well.

Maybe. I am sure that swim teams vary. Some are supportive and everyone participates equally, but some coaches are only focused in the win and the few swimmers who will get them that win. Choose wisely.

[Anonymous]

Golf?

[Anonymous]

Wrestling! It's weight matched so it gives smaller kids a shot

[Anonymous]

Talk to the league about that awful coach!! I've never encountered that type of attitude even when my kids weren't any good. That is not your kids fault.

Try different leagues. Try classes or clinics that arent competitive. Try individual sports.

Try non athletic group things like band or scouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim team. Consider diving, as well.

Hard no to 5am high school practices. Good luck convincing a “non athletic” kid to do this

[Anonymous]

Those coaches are toxic. Ignore.

You may want to take him to OT and checked for things like primal reflexes. Sometimes developmentally small things happen that don’t merit therapy. But if they are impeding what he wants to do, it could be worth getting checked out. There are exercises you can do to get rid of these, and they will help athleticism tremendously.

[Anonymous]

If he is uncoordinated but likes being outside and has some endurance, maybe cross country or track. My own kid isn’t super coordinated and doesn’t enjoy sports with contact but has a ton of endurance and loves running so this is probably where he will put his focus.