My kids are out of middle school now, but from talking to friends/neighbors (both before my kids were there, and now after they've left) the middle school sports teams are very very competitive and have been for the last two decades. Many kids that try out do not make the team. I can't imagine "requiring" something of my kid that might be truly impossible and out of his control.
Cruel!

I know LOTS of parents that do this. We do not. I think it is a bit crazy and controlling.

Definitely not, that kind of controlling behavior is going to backfire on you. Encourage, nudge a little, celebrate trying new things whether they stick or not, model being physically active, but no forcing.

My eighth grade nieces are required (by parents, not the school) to do a school sport two out of the three terms. It has gotten them to try new things they wouldn’t have tried in their own, and both have found sports they really like as a result.

We've required one athletic activity and one artistic activity until it was pretty obvious that there was one activity that our child really loved. Athletic activity can be of child's choice--can be yoga, hiking club, etc. Does not need to be a team sport, but needs to be structured (i.e., you have to sign up for something). Artistic can be piano, art class, violin, whatever.

No, I have never required a sport of any of our kids. Only a sadist would do that.

No. I have a kid that likes chess and plays an instrument. They don’t want to do a sport and I am not forcing them.

This is probably the last year you are going to able to force them to do activities. So I guess enjoy it while you can.

Plus - I can only imagine if I forced my musical, non-athletic kid to give up practicing piano to do a random sport she wasn't interested in playing.

I would not do that, especially if the kid was figuring out a way to exercise on their own.

No I don’t require anything. But my kid found a sport herself, year round. I actually hate how much time it requires.

I think it is more common to force this in elementary.

A kid that age should have a sport or two he likes more or is naturally inclined toward based on size and natural ability. How about getting involved with something more year round of something he truly enjoys. Which no, does not have to mean a travel team.

Also there is more than sports. Encourage other things.

Why do you feel the need to force it?

No (or music, since other families seem to require that).

I encourage, but don’t think requiring is a winning strategy in the long run.

Am I the only horrid parent requiring a sport each term in middle school? According to my child (naturally strong and athletic, but has lazy tendencies and would much rather go for an occasional run and veg in front of YouTube or online w/friends), I am the *only* parent who forces this issue...