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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 4th grader struggles with team sports. He’s coordinated and can be quick-thinking, but he doesn’t intuitively position himself for the action. Sometimes he seems engaged, but he can also get distracted (he does not have ADHD). He’s never been a particularly aggressive or competitive kid. He does enjoy competition to some extent, and I can tell he wishes he had the spotlight sometimes. However, he refuses to practice and becomes very defensive if we try to offer advice. I suspect there may be some self-esteem issues involved. Most of his friends are very into sports, and he’s been excluded or made fun of for not being “as good” as they are. That’s been hard to watch. Has anyone else had a child in a similar situation? How did you handle it? We’ve tried encouraging other sports or activities, but he refuses to try anything new.[/quote]

This could be nothing or something. I'm a parent whose kids have enjoyed some team sports and hated others, currently a coach, and a former Div. I athlete. What you're describing can apply to almost any 9/10 year old.

In fast moving-sports, very few kids can intuitively position themselves until they receive hours and hours of instruction and repetition.  If he's coordinated,  he's already above average for kids his age.

When you say, he won't practice does that mean on his own or with a team? A small minority of kids hours age practice on their own without parental prodding, even those on travel/club teams. If he's on a team and won't practice with the team, that's a discipline issue (i don't think that's what you're referring to though). His friends are separate issue and they just seem like they suck.

Just keep trying to expose him to other team sports, individual sports and other activities.  He'll find his niche and appropriate friend group. [/quote]

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