Should I force my kids to play sports?

[Anonymous]

I have 2 boys who like to run around but don't necessarily enjoy sports teams. I didn't play sports as a child and think it is important. Boys are mediocre at sports, not the worst.

Do you make your kids play sports if they complain and don't want to go to practice?

I'm really torn. Plus I have an infant so it will be pain to go to all these practices and games. DH is the athlete but he works long hours. He can definitely do weekend games but it's all me for lugging around 3 kids to different practices.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids?

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids and what other interests do they have.

I think, in general, it's really good for kids to have a physical outlet and for kids to participate in some sort of group/teamwork activity. But sports isn't the only way to accomplish that.

So maybe they want to bike ride a lot and join boy scouts.
Or dance and be in a play.

[Anonymous]

No, don't make kids participate if they absolutely don't want to, but make sure they get physical exercise another way. I did individual sports, but got plenty of group/teamwork activities through other extracurriculars. Mathletes, scouts, dance, church groups, etc. are all great.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want your boys to participate in sports? Teambuilding? Physical exercise?

[Anonymous]

Under the circumstances you describe, I'd encourage you to keep having them participate in one rec sport. My son is EXACTLY as you describe you kids. He's 8 and I'm glad I kept him in rec soccer. It makes it easier for him to keep being mediocre, learn the rules of the game, and join in on games at aftercare or recess when he's in the mood to do so (which is only about 1/4 of the time).

[Anonymous]

I would force them to exercise but not do group sports if they dont want to.

[Anonymous]

Under the circumstances you describe, I'd encourage you to keep having them participate in one rec sport. My son is EXACTLY as you describe you kids. He's 8 and I'm glad I kept him in rec soccer. It makes it easier for him to keep being mediocre, learn the rules of the game, and join in on games at aftercare or recess when he's in the mood to do so (which is only about 1/4 of the time).

Oh sorry, I missed that your kids complain and don't want to go to practice. My kid is neutral about it - not looking forward to it, but not complaining either. Just neutral. So I guess the situation is somewhat different.

[Anonymous]

I have three kids too, and it's a struggle, but yes, sports are a must for me. Doesn't have to be a group sport, doesn't even have to be year round, but I believe the physical outlet is important (and to me, sports would include something like ballet). I would just insist they wrap up the season, since they are committed to it, and tell the boys they can drop that sport if it's not a good fit. But I would also insist they try something else. It's rare to find not a single sport that a child doesn't like. Maybe he isn't into the physicality of basketball and would prefer golf or swimming, etc.

[Anonymous]

Forced my son to do soccer in Preschool and now he HATES it! Let your kids guide your decision- if they want to play on a team then by all means. If you ask and they don't want to go, I'd wait a couple of years and try again. In the meantime, maybe try alternative sports like Parkour or even gymnastics- they have some boys specific programs at Silver Stars.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered something that isn't a team sport, like martial arts? I have a feeling that our 4 year old isn't going to be a "team sports" kind of kid, so we just started him in karate. So far, so good.

[Anonymous]

I have a teenager now who we are trying to wean back into sports. He started out with baseball and basketball and then in about 3rd grade just didn't have a huge interest and I dropped the ball - I should have pushed him to continue.

By not continuing, he basically lost any real skills or knowledge of the game, and by the time he hit middle school he was very very self-conscious -- which only made him less interested in playing team sports.

We kept him in something throughout this -- martial arts for a few years, more recently tennis. But I feel like we really didn't do him any favors by letting him opt out at 8yo. He will never be a huge sports kid, but for fitting in socially and for staying fit, I wish we had kept him on some team until middle school.

[Anonymous]

Swimming? I insist on that for safety, though luckily my boys love it. Soccer/baseball is good so they can participate in pickup games on the playground, but rec leagues are perfect for that.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't have to be a team sort. Swimming, cross country, even tennis.

[Anonymous]

This is a terrible idea. Don't do it. He needs physical activity but why does it have to be in a sport? Forcing this is a great way to end up with a kid who hates your guts.