Is age 13 too "old" for DS to try baseball, tennis, or lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geesh, if we are telling 13-year-olds that it's too late to try something new, then I'm definitely screwed.

I hear you and I feel the same way. Aren't there 2nd string practice teams at the middle/high school level? Is a teenager really too old to try something new? How dumb.

+1! Remember, regardless whether kids are "star" athletes or not, only 2% get college athletic scholarships anyway, so it's better to encourage kids to go for it for the health and fun aspects because IRL they'll only end up on intramural teams in college and after work drinking leagues anyway.

[Anonymous]

13 is not too old to try baseball, tennis, or lacrosse. He will probably not be the only student in his position. Which sport does he want to play?

If he were my son, I'd have him figure out which sport interests him, and perhaps which sport his friends are going to play. If he wasn't sure about them, find a friend with gear and test it out. He can practice throwing and catching a ball for lacrosse, do some pitching and batting for baseball, and hit a few balls for tennis. Find out if any of them appeal.

Since he's been swimming, track might be the way for him to go. It's similar in that it's an individual sport on a team.

Since the school has a no-cut policy, he should be fine. He probably won't be on the same lacrosse team with the kids who have been playing since they were 5. If he is, it'll be the kids who didn't make a club team because even though they've been playing since they were 5 they're just really not that good.

What he's interested in trying matters the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is 13 and not yet mastered the hand-eye coordination needed for baseball and lacrosse then forget it. He will be embarassed. I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Track his only option. It's called the social sport because everyone is welcome and you can be slowest kid in school or the fastest and you will be welcome.

OP here. I kind of felt bad reading this post because my didn't necessarily encourage my son to play baseball when he was younger (because we could see he didn't have awesome hand-eye coordination, and also he was a kid that had a ton of energy.) Swimming seemed to be a great way to use up his energy and a great work-out. Baseball seemed like 80 percent standing around (although I admit I could be wrong on that.)

Based on all the great responses here, maybe I'll suggest that he try tennis and we'll try to do lessons before hand. I would love for him to try something like that. T hank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Uhhh.... because baseball sucks and is not really a sport? It's a game that a lot of people like to watch, and it certainly requires a great deal of skill to do well (kind of like cornhole).

Clearly you've never played baseball. It's very much a sport. My daughter is playing basketball now and she says emphatically that she does more running at her fastpitch softball practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Uhhh.... because baseball sucks and is not really a sport? It's a game that a lot of people like to watch, and it certainly requires a great deal of skill to do well (kind of like cornhole).

Clearly you've never played baseball. It's very much a sport. My daughter is playing basketball now and she says emphatically that she does more running at her fastpitch softball practices.

That is called conditioning...not the same as the actual game play...and I agree with PP lots of standing around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he is 13 and not yet mastered the hand-eye coordination needed for baseball and lacrosse then forget it. He will be embarassed. I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Track his only option. It's called the social sport because everyone is welcome and you can be slowest kid in school or the fastest and you will be welcome.

OP here. I kind of felt bad reading this post because my didn't necessarily encourage my son to play baseball when he was younger (because we could see he didn't have awesome hand-eye coordination, and also he was a kid that had a ton of energy.) Swimming seemed to be a great way to use up his energy and a great work-out. Baseball seemed like 80 percent standing around (although I admit I could be wrong on that.)

Based on all the great responses here, maybe I'll suggest that he try tennis and we'll try to do lessons before hand. I would love for him to try something like that. T hank you!

You and DH could also teach him yourselves on the weekends and play "pick up" informal (just a few people/not regulation) games with friends to build his confidence.

[Anonymous]

Track and field (actually cross country) is very good for swimming - they call it dryland exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he is 13 and not yet mastered the hand-eye coordination needed for baseball and lacrosse then forget it. He will be embarassed. I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Track his only option. It's called the social sport because everyone is welcome and you can be slowest kid in school or the fastest and you will be welcome.

OP here. I kind of felt bad reading this post because my didn't necessarily encourage my son to play baseball when he was younger (because we could see he didn't have awesome hand-eye coordination, and also he was a kid that had a ton of energy.) Swimming seemed to be a great way to use up his energy and a great work-out. Baseball seemed like 80 percent standing around (although I admit I could be wrong on that.)

Based on all the great responses here, maybe I'll suggest that he try tennis and we'll try to do lessons before hand. I would love for him to try something like that. T hank you!

OP, you're not alone in this. I have two uncoordinated sons who've never played baseball. They have done swimming, gymnastics, even dance. Baseball never interested them, but they are active, healthy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Didn't Misty Copeland begin ballet at the advanced age of 13yo?

I don't see the problem.

I agree. Ballet sounds like a great option for a non-sporty boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Uhhh.... because baseball sucks and is not really a sport? It's a game that a lot of people like to watch, and it certainly requires a great deal of skill to do well (kind of like cornhole).

Clearly you've never played baseball. It's very much a sport. My daughter is playing basketball now and she says emphatically that she does more running at her fastpitch softball practices.

That is called conditioning...not the same as the actual game play...and I agree with PP lots of standing around.

I also agree, and I love baseball. It is a terrific game, but I have a hard time thinking of it as a sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Didn't Misty Copeland begin ballet at the advanced age of 13yo?

I don't see the problem.

I haven't read to the end of the thread, but this makes me think of Tom Brady, who didn't start playing football til high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13 is not too old to try baseball, tennis, or lacrosse. He will probably not be the only student in his position. Which sport does he want to play?

If he were my son, I'd have him figure out which sport interests him, and perhaps which sport his friends are going to play. If he wasn't sure about them, find a friend with gear and test it out. He can practice throwing and catching a ball for lacrosse, do some pitching and batting for baseball, and hit a few balls for tennis. Find out if any of them appeal.

Since he's been swimming, track might be the way for him to go. It's similar in that it's an individual sport on a team.

Since the school has a no-cut policy, he should be fine. He probably won't be on the same lacrosse team with the kids who have been playing since they were 5. If he is, it'll be the kids who didn't make a club team because even though they've been playing since they were 5 they're just really not that good.

What he's interested in trying matters the most.

pp wrote: "Since the school has a no-cut policy, he should be fine. He probably won't be on the same lacrosse team with the kids who have been playing since they were 5. If he is, it'll be the kids who didn't make a club team because even though they've been playing since they were 5 they're just really not that good. "

Well, the first part assumes there is more than one team (an A and a B team, i.e.) and that is not necessarily the case-- your kid could be on the team but never see any playing time
The second part demonstrates lack of knowledge of the local athletic scene: the elite players (the ones who get full scholarships to ivies, of course) still play for their school teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he is 13 and not yet mastered the hand-eye coordination needed for baseball and lacrosse then forget it. He will be embarassed. I don't understand how a boy gets to be 13 years old without ever playing baseball.

Track his only option. It's called the social sport because everyone is welcome and you can be slowest kid in school or the fastest and you will be welcome.

OP here. I kind of felt bad reading this post because my didn't necessarily encourage my son to play baseball when he was younger (because we could see he didn't have awesome hand-eye coordination, and also he was a kid that had a ton of energy.) Swimming seemed to be a great way to use up his energy and a great work-out. Baseball seemed like 80 percent standing around (although I admit I could be wrong on that.)

Based on all the great responses here, maybe I'll suggest that he try tennis and we'll try to do lessons before hand. I would love for him to try something like that. T hank you!

OP, you're not alone in this. I have two uncoordinated sons who've never played baseball. They have done swimming, gymnastics, even dance. Baseball never interested them, but they are active, healthy kids.

Baseball is slowly dying, sad to say. MLB is worried. It already barely registers among AAs. It just takes up a lot of room and requires a lot of players and equipment, and is slow for kids raised on iPads and xBoxes. I wish it wasn't so.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't start a 13 year old on a team sport that others have been playing for years. Baseball would be a really bad idea.

[Anonymous]

I'm 43 and I am looking forward to starting tennis in the next year or two as my kids get older. It is a great sport to pick up at any time and can be played for years.