Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 14:04     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The middle school years are often tough for swimming. But many swimmers (especially) boys really start to enjoy the sport more in high school. Boys tend to keep getting faster as they get bigger and stronger. Also, it's a sport where they interact with girls a lot.

Is the basketball team where he goes to high school so competitive that he won't be able to play? I know this is often the case. I would tell him that. If he's willing to take that risk, then let him cut back on swimming (I would try to avoid stopping swimming altogether), and let him give more time to basketball. After a year of that, let him choose.


Correct. He would not make a freshman school basketball team. He would not make any travel basketball team.

While he is the best boy swimmer for his age on his travel swim team.


He would make some travel basketball team…there is always a team that wants money.

How tall is he and what height is he projected?

Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:58     Subject: Re:Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Your kid is in middle school?

Try getting older TEEN athlete to not quit their sport.

That's pretty much the path you're on.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:53     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
There is no intensity or practice schedule for what sounds like church basketball league. Why do you have to quit a travel sport to do church league basketball? It’s like 30-60 minutes once a week where local kids horse around.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:51     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:OP people are being a little harsh but seriously, there’s no need to really maximize his athletic potential in any sport.


Maybe if you’re living in the 80s or 90s or in some podunk town in the Midwest. That’s not how it is anymore. You can’t just casually show up to try-outs and make teams anymore.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:49     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He's fortunate to be playing a sport he loves. Clearly, let him do it. Are you seriously considering pressuring him to drop a sport he enjoys to do something he doesn't?


Do you understand higher level teen basketball? It's too late. He's not good enough to play past this little local league.


No, I know nothing about higher level teen basketball, so please explain to me the problem with your child having fun, getting exercise, and socializing in "this little local league."


Quit swim to focus on basketball. Basketball league he can compete in ends in about 12 months. He won’t be good enough to proceed into any next level of basketball. Basketball ends and he already quit swimming. Now what, genius?


Then he rejoins swimming, continues to play rec league/pick up basketball, and/or tries something new. He's a child -- he doesn't need to have made lifelong decisions.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:48     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:The middle school years are often tough for swimming. But many swimmers (especially) boys really start to enjoy the sport more in high school. Boys tend to keep getting faster as they get bigger and stronger. Also, it's a sport where they interact with girls a lot.

Is the basketball team where he goes to high school so competitive that he won't be able to play? I know this is often the case. I would tell him that. If he's willing to take that risk, then let him cut back on swimming (I would try to avoid stopping swimming altogether), and let him give more time to basketball. After a year of that, let him choose.


Correct. He would not make a freshman school basketball team. He would not make any travel basketball team.

While he is the best boy swimmer for his age on his travel swim team.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:47     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:He's fortunate to be playing a sport he loves. Clearly, let him do it. Are you seriously considering pressuring him to drop a sport he enjoys to do something he doesn't?


Do you understand higher level teen basketball? It's too late. He's not good enough to play past this little local league.


No, I know nothing about higher level teen basketball, so please explain to me the problem with your child having fun, getting exercise, and socializing in "this little local league."


Quit swim to focus on basketball. Basketball league he can compete in ends in about 12 months. He won’t be good enough to proceed into any next level of basketball. Basketball ends and he already quit swimming. Now what, genius?
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:46     Subject: Re:Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
He should do the sport that makes him happy. I don't know why this is a question. School is an obligation. As long as he's being physical in some way who cares which sport he picks.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:45     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:He's fortunate to be playing a sport he loves. Clearly, let him do it. Are you seriously considering pressuring him to drop a sport he enjoys to do something he doesn't?


Do you even have kids? Who lets their child get bullied into disliking a sport and thinks that’s okay?
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 13:01     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Get him in water polo


+1 This is a great suggestion.


Why is this a great suggestion? Introduce a third sport that he has shown no interest in?

I get the connection to water and swimming. But also water polo is not widely available and can be a pain in the arse to participate in distance wise.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 12:59     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
The middle school years are often tough for swimming. But many swimmers (especially) boys really start to enjoy the sport more in high school. Boys tend to keep getting faster as they get bigger and stronger. Also, it's a sport where they interact with girls a lot.

Is the basketball team where he goes to high school so competitive that he won't be able to play? I know this is often the case. I would tell him that. If he's willing to take that risk, then let him cut back on swimming (I would try to avoid stopping swimming altogether), and let him give more time to basketball. After a year of that, let him choose.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 12:59     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
He doesn’t want to swim any more, ma. Get over it.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 12:58     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:He won’t forget how to swim. Let him take a year off to see how basketball goes.

Remember, being the best is not the only reason to play a sport:
-physical activity
-mental health
-teamwork
-cameraderie
-time management
-learning to be coached by different people
-FUN!!!!

I’ll say that last one again—fun! If he’s not having fun swimming, why should he continue?

This sums it up OP. But I would not drop summer swim, which is almost always fun. And +1 you should look into water polo.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 12:57     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
Anonymous wrote:Get him in water polo


+1 This is a great suggestion.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2025 12:52     Subject: Tween DS is amazing at sport he now hates, loves sport he's medicore at
He probably likes being on a team better than doing a solitary sport. I think in the long run that's a win. Teamwork is a crucial life skill.