non-athletic becomes athletic?
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Anonymous
| Is this possible? Is so Dora it happen after puberty? |
Anonymous
| My son was never an athlete. No natural ability, no skill. Tried baseball, soccer, football. He just wasn't any good. It wasn't until he hit a growth spurt in 6th grade that his athleticism started to develop. Now (going into 8th) he plays lacrosse (well, I may add) and wants to try football again in the fall. So yes, it is possible to gain some athleticism due to puberty (and probably the maturity that comes along with it). |
Anonymous
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I have a 16 year old who is clumsy and not into sports. We tried dance classes and soccer when she was younger, but she never got into it. She doesn't even like riding bikes to be honest. Some kids are just never into sports. Others may just need to find something they like.
If your kid is not interested in the usual things -- soccer, baseball, football, hockey -- maybe try to get him into something that is more individual-based like karate or judo. He might think it is cool to take indoor rock climbing lessons or learn how to kayak or ride horses or play golf. If he is camp-age, he could be exposed to a ton of different sports to try through camps. |
Anonymous
| Well, if it doesn't happen, I recommend jujitsu or similar, and swimming. I took jujitsu for a few years and saw some really, really uncoordinated guys end up moving with a lot of speed and grace. Martial arts are good for develping coordination and body awareness, and they're easier for the non-athlete since running speed and hand-eye coordination aren't essential. |
Anonymous
| I hated sports. When I was 15 though I started going to the gym and I loved everything about it. Loved getting strong, firmer, thinner. I think kids need alternatives to the standard team sports. |
Anonymous
+1. Goal should be movement and fitness for all, not necessarily team sports. |
Anonymous
Another fan of the gym for the uncoordinated. There may not be much one can do about natural athleticism/hand-eye, but one can still build muscle, get fit and strong, and fake the athleticism. 
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Anonymous
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People these days too often equate athletic with being part of a sports program. SOME go as far to say the only real athletes are in a travel program. Silly. Just like many things some kids give up on things because they are labeled something early. Oh! Look at this lovely picture Jaunita drew. She's so artistic. Meanwhile Magda hears this, believes she's not artistic as a result and doesn't bother trying any more. And because she doesn't try, she doesn't develop. With sports some of it has to do with where a kid is developmentally as well as physically ready. One kid may naturally gravitate toward more intellectual pursuits first, while another may focus more on physical stuff. Doesn't mean the first kid won't become athletic, and the second won't become intellectual.
I have two friends (males) who didn't become involved in organized sports until high school. One was especially uncoordinated though was brilliant at music (percussion) and academically. His parents were weary about him trying out at all. In fact they discouraged him a bit, because they didn't want him to fail. He made a D2 team, and became a scholarship athlete in his second year. My other friend also played in college, but was not on an athletic scholarship. Both lettered in HS. |
Anonymous
| DD hated all sports and still cannot catch a ball but got into running as a freshman in high school and did track all through high school and college. She was amazingly good for a Sally-Sit-By-The-Fire (as my grandmother called her) all of her young life. |
Anonymous
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I can speak for myself: I am male. until I hit puberty, I was clumsy and not athletic. Between the 7th and 8th grade, I grew from 5'1" to 5' 11", and was asked to play basketball. I couldn't shoot or dribble, but I could rebound...made the MS basketball team as the big man. By the 10th grade, I was 6' 6", and pretty dominant. I could handle the ball, I had a nice 15' jumper, etc. I continued to improved, and was offered a D1 scholarship.
It can happen. |
Anonymous
| This is the exact reason I hate the early specialization of kids in sports. Then there are no alternatives. Kids are stuck in one sport and some kids are "not athletic" and are turned off forever because how can you join a sport when everyone has played since age 6 and there are no beginning level classes/leagues at older ages? Not to mention the repetitive use injuries for little kids doing the same sport over and over again. It's so frustrating! |
Anonymous
| I was the laaaaaziest teen ever. Hated exerting myself in any way. Now I love running, yoga, biking, and swimming and just generally moving my body. You just have to find the activity that speaks to you. |
Anonymous
Absolutely! It can happen at any time. Some people don't find their thing until college or even later in life. I think what's important is to not reinforce self-concepts of being "bad" at sports or "not an athlete." A kid might not be into soccer right now. That doesn't stop them from getting into soccer later, but if they internalize "I'm bad at soccer" or "I don't like soccer" that's an additional barrier they'd have to get over. |
Anonymous
| thx all. sometimes it's hard to watch but i guess we'll stick with it, as long as he's having fun and getting on the field. |
Anonymous
This really is the best approach. Enjoy these times and enjoy your child for who they ARE and not who you WANT them to be. |