Non-competitive beginner level sports for teens - does this exist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably too late for baseball, IMHO, unless he is very athletic and you get him a private coach or coaches to work on skills. If he is a beginner, he’d need a batting coach and a separate fielding coach, most likely. Still a long shot even then. Sad that things are this way, these days, but just being honest.

There are still rec basketball leagues at this age if you look around.

Track and cross country naturally start at this age or later. Usually wrestling and football are easy to start around now as well. Or how about boys volleyball? Our HS just added a team but not sure if this is common. A lot of this will depend on the area, of course. Swimming? Golf? Especially if he already has experience in either.

I love that you think there are no rec baseball teams (?) but that this kid is going to easily find a winter swim team that will take a new swimmer at this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank for these ideas. Will run them past him.

Anyone know of non-competitive options for baseball?

Greater Vienna Babe Ruth for baseball. Definitely available to you in you live in FC. Not sure if you can play from Arlington but check it out. Very laid back. I mean, the kids want to win, but there are always beginners and it is totally fine.

[Anonymous]

My experience is with girl's softball, which is different because less competitive in the DMV. But my kid wanted to begin softball in high school so I went to a baseball training place/batting cage and paid for private lessons.

I also signed her up for clinics at the same place, but I'm thinking that those might be more intense for HS aged baseball than it was for softball. But if you can afford some private lessons, with batting cages in between, then this is a good way to get started. The trainer will teach good technique and if the kid is athletic, they'll get to a moderately-ok level relatively quickly. They'll use batting cages for a lot of hitting, but can also do some hitting off of the tee or trainer-pitch when appropriate. They'll also do field practice (throwing technique, catching grounders).

FWIW, we went to Baseball Zone (they have winter clinics, school's out clinics, private lessons, and batting cages) but I'm sure there are similar places all around-- more in VA than MD in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Here’s my advice. Look for local rec leagues in whatever sport he is interested in. There are no tryouts and everyone gets to play so he can start now. Maybe he won’t ever get to the level of a travel player or even the best players on the rec team but if he’s reasonably athletic and willing to put in the time, he can be probably hold his own. The downside we experienced with rec baseball in HS was there was greater demand than teams so my son was placed on a huge team and most kids only got to bat 2x a game and 2 innings in the field. His team had everyone from complete newbies to “retired” travel players. He himself had played rec baseball through elementary and then BCC select in MS and was just looking for a way to stay active.

As for soccer, there are always rec teams. Again, it’s hard to start these sport late but there is a team if you look and it is no cut. He won’t make it to travel or to HS varsity staring at 13 but he can still have a great experience. It is about having fun being active. My other son who did start travel young and went all in, never says no to a friend who wants to practice with him and he has given a lot of friends pointers over the years. Perhaps he has friends who are willing to help him out.

[Anonymous]

i9 is great for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s my advice. Look for local rec leagues in whatever sport he is interested in. There are no tryouts and everyone gets to play so he can start now. Maybe he won’t ever get to the level of a travel player or even the best players on the rec team but if he’s reasonably athletic and willing to put in the time, he can be probably hold his own. The downside we experienced with rec baseball in HS was there was greater demand than teams so my son was placed on a huge team and most kids only got to bat 2x a game and 2 innings in the field. His team had everyone from complete newbies to “retired” travel players. He himself had played rec baseball through elementary and then BCC select in MS and was just looking for a way to stay active.

As for soccer, there are always rec teams. Again, it’s hard to start these sport late but there is a team if you look and it is no cut. He won’t make it to travel or to HS varsity staring at 13 but he can still have a great experience. It is about having fun being active. My other son who did start travel young and went all in, never says no to a friend who wants to practice with him and he has given a lot of friends pointers over the years. Perhaps he has friends who are willing to help him out.

If you read the OP, you would see that the rec leagues are super competitive where she lives. Try reading the OP, dummy.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all the PPs, but in our school tennis is not a popular or competitive sport. There are always a few boys who have been taking lessons since they were young and are very good/committed, but there's plenty of room for new players, especially if they're willing to be patient while puting the time in.

Beginners who work hard in practice and continue some in the off season may find they enjoy the sport as well as the challenge of moving up in time from being a practice player (bench teammate) to a more skilled player who makes the lineup in a few years.

Plus, tennis kids tend to be very nice. It's more of an individual sport where kids come together loosely for team practices and events. Not heavy stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ultimate frisbee

+1. Best decision we ever made was get our 13 year old involved in this sport.

[Anonymous]

My freshman tried out for the tennis team
having never played tennis. Made it on the C team and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ultimate frisbee

+1. Best decision we ever made was get our 13 year old involved in this sport.

Ultimate is really great. My otherwise somewhat non-sporty kid plays and really enjoys the sport. He travels to competitions out of state and is a valued member of the team, but it isn’t terribly competitive. Plus, most people don’t start playing until middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s my advice. Look for local rec leagues in whatever sport he is interested in. There are no tryouts and everyone gets to play so he can start now. Maybe he won’t ever get to the level of a travel player or even the best players on the rec team but if he’s reasonably athletic and willing to put in the time, he can be probably hold his own. The downside we experienced with rec baseball in HS was there was greater demand than teams so my son was placed on a huge team and most kids only got to bat 2x a game and 2 innings in the field. His team had everyone from complete newbies to “retired” travel players. He himself had played rec baseball through elementary and then BCC select in MS and was just looking for a way to stay active.

As for soccer, there are always rec teams. Again, it’s hard to start these sport late but there is a team if you look and it is no cut. He won’t make it to travel or to HS varsity staring at 13 but he can still have a great experience. It is about having fun being active. My other son who did start travel young and went all in, never says no to a friend who wants to practice with him and he has given a lot of friends pointers over the years. Perhaps he has friends who are willing to help him out.

If you read the OP, you would see that the rec leagues are super competitive where she lives. Try reading the OP, dummy.

Blow me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My freshman tried out for the tennis team
having never played tennis. Made it on the C team and loved it.

Wuts a c team