Sports to try for an un-athletic girl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the people recommending softball when OP specifically said that wasn't what her daughter enjoyed.

I actually came on here to beg people NOT to recommend softball. Its a really complex sport and we are SO tired of new girls joining who have never watched a baseball game in their life and are terrified the ball might actually be hit or thrown to them. Please God no.

Softball coach here, we're always happy to get new players and take pride in getting them quickly up to speed. If you get a coach like this guy don't give up, find a better league.

Haha. Most coaches 12u and up feel this way. I'm guessing you are either not a coach, or you coach 8u. Its not fair to players working on double plays and bunt collapse to have to wait up while some kid learns how to field an easy grounder or not swing in the dirt.

The OP is looking for a league for 8 year olds. But if an older kid wants to join and isn't disruptive we have multiple coaches available to work with them without disrupting the high precision double play routines, plus softball players are more accepting of new players than baseball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the people recommending softball when OP specifically said that wasn't what her daughter enjoyed.

I actually came on here to beg people NOT to recommend softball. Its a really complex sport and we are SO tired of new girls joining who have never watched a baseball game in their life and are terrified the ball might actually be hit or thrown to them. Please God no.

Softball coach here, we're always happy to get new players and take pride in getting them quickly up to speed. If you get a coach like this guy don't give up, find a better league.

Haha. Most coaches 12u and up feel this way. I'm guessing you are either not a coach, or you coach 8u. Its not fair to players working on double plays and bunt collapse to have to wait up while some kid learns how to field an easy grounder or not swing in the dirt.

The OP is looking for a league for 8 year olds. But if an older kid wants to join and isn't disruptive we have multiple coaches available to work with them without disrupting the high precision double play routines, plus softball players are more accepting of new players than baseball.

Fine, you take them all. But for the love people, stop recommending this sport to kids who can't play sports.

[Anonymous]

As someone who was very similar as a child, I didn't object to exercise, I objected to people watching, or measuring my exercise, or competing based on it. Softball and basketball were terrible because you stand there and every one watches you miss the ball or the basket. Racing was the same.

I was happy to go to the ice skating rink to take lessons or just skate in circles. I didn't want it to turn into speed skating, or figure skating. I was happy to go hiking or skiing with my family. Biking or running in an event with the goal of raising money? Fine. Biking or running to "win"? No. Going to the pool to swim laps, or taking stroke and turn type classes? Yes. Racing? No. I think I would have liked martial arts, if I didn't have to spar.

I would look for opportunities for her to be active and enjoy things that aren't competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,
My 8 year old daughter is a total delight. Loves to read, loves to practice her piano, super funny and engaging kid. She is, however, extremely un-athletic. As a result, she tends to not like any of the sports or physical activities I try to enroll her in, because she struggles to keep up. I would really love to find her a sport or physical activity that she enjoys, because I think it's really important to her health and to becoming a well-rounded person (I was also bookish like her, and it took me until my 30s to realize that I enjoy certain types of exercise).

She does like things like bike riding and swimming, just for fun. But I think it'd be good to get her into something with a little more structure than that. So far we've tried dance, gymnastics, soccer, and softball. None of it has really stuck.

Any recommendations for other things to try? I was thinking maybe golf? Or should I just care less about this? I admit it's kind of a personal sore spot for me, so it's possible that I'm projecting.

Thanks!

I don't think you need structured sports to be a 'well rounded person' Just let her be for now. She might do track or swim later. Or you could try karate or some sort of martial arts

[Anonymous]

Meet me at the bar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the people recommending softball when OP specifically said that wasn't what her daughter enjoyed.

I actually came on here to beg people NOT to recommend softball. Its a really complex sport and we are SO tired of new girls joining who have never watched a baseball game in their life and are terrified the ball might actually be hit or thrown to them. Please God no.

Softball coach here, we're always happy to get new players and take pride in getting them quickly up to speed. If you get a coach like this guy don't give up, find a better league.

Haha. Most coaches 12u and up feel this way. I'm guessing you are either not a coach, or you coach 8u. Its not fair to players working on double plays and bunt collapse to have to wait up while some kid learns how to field an easy grounder or not swing in the dirt.

The OP is looking for a league for 8 year olds. But if an older kid wants to join and isn't disruptive we have multiple coaches available to work with them without disrupting the high precision double play routines, plus softball players are more accepting of new players than baseball.

Fine, you take them all. But for the love people, stop recommending this sport to kids who can't play sports.

If you don't want newbies coach a travel program that makes cuts. We'll take anyone as long as the check clears.

[Anonymous]

Softball and athletes ! Good one!

[Anonymous]

If she likes horses, horseback riding lessons might be good. I wasn’t athletic as a kid and loved horseback riding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love all the people recommending softball when OP specifically said that wasn't what her daughter enjoyed.

I actually came on here to beg people NOT to recommend softball. Its a really complex sport and we are SO tired of new girls joining who have never watched a baseball game in their life and are terrified the ball might actually be hit or thrown to them. Please God no.

Softball coach here, we're always happy to get new players and take pride in getting them quickly up to speed. If you get a coach like this guy don't give up, find a better league.

Haha. Most coaches 12u and up feel this way. I'm guessing you are either not a coach, or you coach 8u. Its not fair to players working on double plays and bunt collapse to have to wait up while some kid learns how to field an easy grounder or not swing in the dirt.

The OP is looking for a league for 8 year olds. But if an older kid wants to join and isn't disruptive we have multiple coaches available to work with them without disrupting the high precision double play routines, plus softball players are more accepting of new players than baseball.

Fine, you take them all. But for the love people, stop recommending this sport to kids who can't play sports.

If you don't want newbies coach a travel program that makes cuts. We'll take anyone as long as the check clears.

But this is why good players leave for travel and Rec leagues fall apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,
My 8 year old daughter is a total delight. Loves to read, loves to practice her piano, super funny and engaging kid. She is, however, extremely un-athletic. As a result, she tends to not like any of the sports or physical activities I try to enroll her in, because she struggles to keep up. I would really love to find her a sport or physical activity that she enjoys, because I think it's really important to her health and to becoming a well-rounded person (I was also bookish like her, and it took me until my 30s to realize that I enjoy certain types of exercise).

She does like things like bike riding and swimming, just for fun. But I think it'd be good to get her into something with a little more structure than that. So far we've tried dance, gymnastics, soccer, and softball. None of it has really stuck.

Any recommendations for other things to try? I was thinking maybe golf? Or should I just care less about this? I admit it's kind of a personal sore spot for me, so it's possible that I'm projecting.

Thanks!

A good swim team worked for my DD. Ours is fantastic, I think you’d have to get into a good one to have an overall good experience.

[Anonymous]

Tennis

[Anonymous]

Is there any type of outdoors program nearby? Where kids hike, kayak, etc? That sounds perfect for a kid like yours.

[Anonymous]

DD is very uncoordinated, HATES competition. Taekwondo has been good for her as it is mainly individual and helps her out with coordination at the same time. We first tried gymnastics, she hated it. BUT, absolutely loves jumping on the trampoline in the backyard. Hates racing but will run for short distances with her dad. I feel like it doesn’t have to be a big competitive sport, just find something to get that energy out.

[Anonymous]

My unathletic girl ended up liking basketball - it took her two seasons to get used to running up and down the court and becoming a good defender. She still won't dribble or shoot the ball but she will pass it to a teammate.

I would try to get your daughter to stick with something for 2-3 seasons before giving up because sometimes it takes time to get used to something.

When I was a kid, I played tennis. My husband ran track and field.

[Anonymous]

Golf