8th Grade Boy - Soccer? No... Baseball? No... Lacrosse Then?

[Anonymous]

DS decided he's done with soccer and baseball, but I'm still trying to find him a team sport to do for the spring. I think this is probably his last season playing rec sports as he goes to HS next year. He'd said he liked floor hockey in gym but there's no boys league... Am I nuts to think we could give Lacrosse a try even though he's never done it before and is not athletically talented to pick a new sport quickly? I know he wouldn't fit in as a new player but would a team at least be welcoming (or not unwelcoming)?

[Anonymous]

if he didnt like soccer, he may not enjoy lacrosse. very similar style with required coordination to handle the ball and not get crushed at the same time. going for a ground ball not paying attention is gonna get him mauled.

[Anonymous]

this guy wasnt paying attention

https://youtu.be/vkiuzF4Nfx8

[Anonymous]

My son tried wrestling freshman year and really likes it. He's a sophomore now and and fits right in with the majority of his weight class.

[Anonymous]

Crew?

[Anonymous]

If you have never watched lacrosse before - (which I hadn’t when my son told me he wanted to do it) - it’s super physical and even at 8 year old I feel like my son is already behind. And I think he is generally used to being one of “the best”. I like the crew idea a PP gave.

[Anonymous]

It really seems to depend on where your kid is going to play. A lot of private school kids seem to be really good at lacrosse. At Wilson, where my kid goes, some kids pick it up as freshmen, make the JV team and seem to do fine. So, I'd say 8th grade is not too late, but I know nothing beyond that some of DS's buddies play.

[Anonymous]

What about ice hockey if your son likes floor hockey. My DS quit soccer and went to ice hockey.

[Anonymous]

My son is on a middle school rowing team and he likes it. All of the kids are new to rowing in middle school so it isn't like other sports where there will always be kids who have done the sport since they were 5 yrs old.

[Anonymous]

i wish there's rowing in his MS... would love for him to try.

[Anonymous]

Same situation with my 6th grader. Says he no longer wants to play spring/fall soccer or winter basketball. He is finishing the basketball season because we and he believe in finishing what he starts, but now we need to find something for him. He enjoys tennis, so we'll probably sign him up for twice weekly lessons, but it seems more expensive than the larger team sports. Anyway, I think by middle school we have to follow our kids' lead.

[Anonymous]

Golf. It is a life long sport. You could learn with him. And if he puts in enough time he could make a high school team next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crew?

I started in 9th grade and enjoyed being part of the team through high school.

Another idea- what about track and field? There are other things besides running.

[Anonymous]

Ultimate frisbee!

[Anonymous]

Band? Theater? Robotics? Scouting/camping/hiking?

Every mid does not need to do sports.

By 8th grade he should be able to drop sports in favor of another activity.