Basketball is hard- running and dribbling at the same time takes some coordination but she picked it- so cheer for her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give softball a shot. Basketball, soccer, and other sports are just a mad rush to the ball at that age. You can still get hit by the ball in softball, but at least when it's her turn at bat it's her turn, no worries about her own teammates stealing the bat out of her hand. Smart kids do well at softball, lots of skills and strategy to learn.

Minimal exercise. If you want to be sedentary go for it

True the games are minimal exercise but practice involves a lot of running around. As they get older it gets a lot more athletic.

Anonymous wrote:Give softball a shot. Basketball, soccer, and other sports are just a mad rush to the ball at that age. You can still get hit by the ball in softball, but at least when it's her turn at bat it's her turn, no worries about her own teammates stealing the bat out of her hand. Smart kids do well at softball, lots of skills and strategy to learn.

Minimal exercise. If you want to be sedentary go for it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give softball a shot. Basketball, soccer, and other sports are just a mad rush to the ball at that age. You can still get hit by the ball in softball, but at least when it's her turn at bat it's her turn, no worries about her own teammates stealing the bat out of her hand. Smart kids do well at softball, lots of skills and strategy to learn.

This is my vote, too! (From a mom of a daughter currently being recruited to play D1 softball!!!)

Hey congrats to your daughter! May she have a great recruiting journey and love where she lands.
-fellow softball mom whose kids will never be recruited

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you for all suggestions and encouragement. She has been watching her older brother playing soccer and basketball for a few years, so she is kind of exposed to these at earlier ages. She has her own soccer ball and basketball. She has not asked about giving soccer a try yet, and I believe it is due to being outdoors. I will try to practice with her more often with basketball. May I ask about softball? Is that offered at her age? Where in montgomery county has class for it?

Softball starts young-ish (not quite as young as soccer), usually kindergarten but you can find the occasional preschool opportunity. 7 is a great age to start.

I am much more familiar with the northern Virginia rec softball landscape, but I have seen Montgomery County Little League mentioned for softball on here: https://www.mclittleleague.org/registration/divisions-of-play

This would be the coach pitch rulesest for them: https://www.mclittleleague.org/rules/softball/sb-coach-pitch

Fencing and swimming for the uncoordinated types

Fencing is great and lots of good clubs in the area.

Op here. Thank you for all suggestions and encouragement. She has been watching her older brother playing soccer and basketball for a few years, so she is kind of exposed to these at earlier ages. She has her own soccer ball and basketball. She has not asked about giving soccer a try yet, and I believe it is due to being outdoors. I will try to practice with her more often with basketball. May I ask about softball? Is that offered at her age? Where in montgomery county has class for it?

Anonymous wrote:Give softball a shot. Basketball, soccer, and other sports are just a mad rush to the ball at that age. You can still get hit by the ball in softball, but at least when it's her turn at bat it's her turn, no worries about her own teammates stealing the bat out of her hand. Smart kids do well at softball, lots of skills and strategy to learn.

This is my vote, too! (From a mom of a daughter currently being recruited to play D1 softball!!!)

First of all, I'm impressed that the replies here have been encouraging and helpful. Stay classy, DCUM!

Second, I agree with the advice that it's best not to label kids as un-athletic. I'm saying this from my perspective as the parent of three college athletes (one daughter and two sons), two of whom were "naturals" from a very early age and one who took a while to find his sport. He never developed the agility of the other two kids, who play soccer, but it turns out hat's ok for a swimmer. You might, in fact, be surprised at how many swimmers consider themselves clumsy and actually joke about it.

Give softball a shot. Basketball, soccer, and other sports are just a mad rush to the ball at that age. You can still get hit by the ball in softball, but at least when it's her turn at bat it's her turn, no worries about her own teammates stealing the bat out of her hand. Smart kids do well at softball, lots of skills and strategy to learn.

Girls basketball doesn't look like much until around 4th or 5th grade. Until then girls are learning basic skills and the rules. Games are super messy for the younger set.

You might go watch a game or two with older kids so she can see how it's supposed to be played. Middle or high school girls games could be a good option. Try to have someone sit next to her to explain the penalties and strategies.

If she asked to try basketball, I'd encourage her to keep practicing. It has a steep learning curve.

At 7 some kids might be obviously athletic, but I agree with 08:19 that it's not helpful to label a kid as unathletic yet. Give her time to practice and play and see how she blossoms.

That said, my kids who weren't great at rectangle field/court sports did great at softball. Just a beat more time to plan ahead for every play fit them much better. Plus the fact that some positions in softball just require tons and tons and tons of repetitive practice worked for them.

Let her try it since she picked it. Spend some time after school practicing dribbling/passing to each other and spend a few weekends going to a nearby court to shoot with her. That will make her more comfortable at practice.
I wouldn’t go into it with the mindset that she’s not athletic- swimming and gymnastics require athleticism. But try a few sports - soccer would be next on my list (start in the spring). Maybe softball? The girls are still young and don’t throw that hard.

DD7 is trying her first team sport, and she picks basketball. She is clumsy and cries at first practice (ball hit her). She is not a sporty type, and she only has done dance, gyynmastic and c swimming in the past with zero body contact. Is basketball a bad pick for an unalthetic girl?