Does height matter for kids sports?

[Anonymous]

DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

[Anonymous]

Yes. It matters. No. It doesn't matter when you are 6.

Some parents are crazy. That lady is one of them.

~ former high school coach

[Anonymous]

Meh. It makes a difference, sure, but generally not enough to matter unless you and/or your kid are really competitive.

For example, swimming success is more about torso and arm length, not overall height. Running is more about long legs, etc.

Let your kids do what they want. There are SO many ways to be active, and that’s most of what matters.

[Anonymous]

It does matter, but not for a 6 year old. Your relative is a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Not for a 6 year old. Plus he may well be tall of you are a 5’8” woman

[Anonymous]

One of the best swimmers on my kid’s very competitive team is very small, but works like hell. I wouldn’t worry about it, especially because height doesn’t matter at a young age. Let him swim for the sport, fun, and friendships. Lots of kids love it no matter their size.

[Anonymous]

It’ll matter when they’re trying to get recruited by colleges, until then not at all. As far as swim, relative torso length and shoulder width are more dispositive then height

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

You are tall, your husband isn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

So, is your kid turns out to be 5’8” (He could well be a lot taller) then he will not be winning gold at the Olympics in the 50M FS or playing in the NBA. Height and wingspan really do matter. Read Sports Gene by David Epstein if you want to know more.

But does it matter for now? No. Our average height 6 year old regularly beats older and taller kids in the pool because he has better technique and endurance. And even if he didn’t it would not matter to me at all, so long as he is getting exercise and having fun.

Also, if your kid loves swimming and ends up average height there are other options, distance swimming and triathlon for example.

[Anonymous]

My MS son's club basketball team has been whipped by short teams. At some point it may matter, but certainly not at age 6 or for a long time.

[Anonymous]

She sounds evil and crazy. Ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

So, is your kid turns out to be 5’8” (He could well be a lot taller) then he will not be winning gold at the Olympics in the 50M FS or playing in the NBA. Height and wingspan really do matter. Read Sports Gene by David Epstein if you want to know more.

But does it matter for now? No. Our average height 6 year old regularly beats older and taller kids in the pool because he has better technique and endurance. And even if he didn’t it would not matter to me at all, so long as he is getting exercise and having fun.

Also, if your kid loves swimming and ends up average height there are other options, distance swimming and triathlon for example.

Muggsy Bogues, an excellent NBA player, was just over five feet tall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

So, is your kid turns out to be 5’8” (He could well be a lot taller) then he will not be winning gold at the Olympics in the 50M FS or playing in the NBA. Height and wingspan really do matter. Read Sports Gene by David Epstein if you want to know more.

But does it matter for now? No. Our average height 6 year old regularly beats older and taller kids in the pool because he has better technique and endurance. And even if he didn’t it would not matter to me at all, so long as he is getting exercise and having fun.

Also, if your kid loves swimming and ends up average height there are other options, distance swimming and triathlon for example.

Muggsy Bogues, an excellent NBA player, was just over five feet tall.

Sure, there are exceptions. But the average height of players on the 2019-20 NBA roster is 6’ 6”. So...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS just joined a year round swim team and was really excited for it. I was chatting with a relative about it and her response was that I was putting him at a disadvantage because swimming is for tall kids and he wouldn't be able to ever win races if he was a head shorter than everyone else. DS just turned 6 and he's only 44 inches, which is okay, DH is 5'7 and I'm 5'8, we're not expecting our kid to be tall since we aren't tall. He's usually the smallest boy in the room but we picked swimming for him because he likes it and if he wants to do basketball next year I wouldn't hesitate to sign him up for that. I don't particularly care if he ever loses at sports as long as he does his best, but now I'm second guessing myself a bit. Did you ever put a short child into a "tall people sport"? Or a tall child into a sport like gymnastics? How did it go? Does it ever make much of a difference unless you're gunning to be a professional athlete?

So, is your kid turns out to be 5’8” (He could well be a lot taller) then he will not be winning gold at the Olympics in the 50M FS or playing in the NBA. Height and wingspan really do matter. Read Sports Gene by David Epstein if you want to know more.

But does it matter for now? No. Our average height 6 year old regularly beats older and taller kids in the pool because he has better technique and endurance. And even if he didn’t it would not matter to me at all, so long as he is getting exercise and having fun.

Also, if your kid loves swimming and ends up average height there are other options, distance swimming and triathlon for example.

Muggsy Bogues, an excellent NBA player, was just over five feet tall.

Sure, there are exceptions. But the average height of players on the 2019-20 NBA roster is 6’ 6”. So...

Talent is talent, if you’re born talented and work hard and get lucky with opportunities, you can become anything you want.

[Anonymous]

She sounds evil, just ignore.