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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)?