If your child plays a less "popular" sport, what has the experience been like?

[Anonymous]

If OP is still checking, the kids must be young if they are trying to decide on which team to be on. Tennis and football aren’t even the same season. My kids have played every single sport you have mentioned at some point. Have them try out anything they like because you don’t know what will stick, what they will be good at AND have a passion for and what team they will actually make when they get to HS. If they still even want to play at that point.

[Anonymous]

3-sport athlete tp prevent burnout

[Anonymous]

BJJ, Judo, wrestling, soccer, summer swim. All sports that can be competitive or rec and life long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. It's funny that the OP think tennis is a "less popular" sport. My kids play squash .. now that's a really unpopular sport

Having said that, it's been a great experience for them. Yes, they have to explain to some people what squash is. Yes, we've been on trips to tournaments where the flight attendants would see the racket bags and ask if they play tennis (they've learned to just say yes to avoid a long explanation) ... but other than that, it's been a great experience. The squash community in the DMV is really nice. They've made friends from around the country that they met in tournaments. They've also learned some social skills because they sometimes have to play with adults.
They also play other sports, but squash is their passion. I'd say let your kids play whatever sport they are passionate/good at without overthinking its popularity.

Squash is a blast. I started playing in my early 40s and (like everyone else) wish I started earlier as my knees kill me after playing for 90 minutes. I love the international appeal. It's cool to meet people from all over the world through squash.

That said, I probably wouldn't introduce my kids to squash. I'm simply not rich enough. Squash infrastructure is so limited and scarce. At least with tennis, there are free tennis courts everywhere in metro DC. There's like two squash facilities in DC (that I know of).

It is a really fun sport to play, though.

[Anonymous]

Umm both tennis and football are popular but I would do tennis. It’s a sport you can play for life.

[Anonymous]

A martial art is a practical life skill which can be pursued for a lifetime with no team required.

[Anonymous]

My DS (9) plays tennis. There is a lot of pent up demand for kids tennis in this area, so the main problem is there are very few places to play indoors so that you can play year round without having to worry about the weather or the fact that it gets dark super early after school. I wouldn’t want my kid out playing in this weather, or when it’s pouring down rain, and we won’t see 6 PM or later sunsets to allow for playing after school and after parents get home from work until early March when DST starts. The summer tennis camps also fill up pretty quickly.