The OP said non-aggressive, not not-competitive. There are many sports that are competitive but not aggressive.

Anonymous wrote:She’s 5, OP. How about a playground?

It’s possible to both play on playgrounds and participate in sports that offer additional benefits.

She’s 5, OP. How about a playground?

Once. She develops strong swimming skills, I bet she would love synchronized swimming. A lot like dance.

I think most of mine are covered but just wanted to add I have two girls who are not super physically aggressive - especially one. Gymnastics, diving, horseback, Irish Step, swimming, field events in track and field are all things they like to do. Tennis & golf too.

Golf is great for this type of kid. And it's good exercise - they need to walk a long way, carrying their clubs.

DD had danced up until 11 yo then took a volleyball class at Summer camp and fell in love with it. DD did not like fighting over the ball as in basketball and soccer. She likes the fact you are with your teammates on one side of the net and the other team on the other side.

Can try out a few clinics to see if she likes it. It is an aerobic sports and also great team work.

So I give a vote for volleyball!

Obviously not a great option now, but when my daughter was 7, she discovered she loved rock climbing. There are plenty of gyms around with that option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All sports require aggression to compete and win.

Untrue.

OP, I recommend swimming. My dd is very non confrontational in face to face athletic competition. When she first started playing soccer and basketball I thought she might grow out of it, but she is 10 now and it’s pretty clear that it’s baked into her personality. Swimming is totally different. She competes against herself mostly, trying to beat her own best times. She is close friends with many of her teammates, who become the competition during meets. She has excelled in swimming because there is no scenario where she is face to face with an opponent during competition, causing her politeness instinct to overtake her drive to give it her all.

thank you! This will likely be our best bet. She has done lessons a long time (cant swim yet) but with covid it has been difficult. One of our favorite companies- the instructor is now teaching from the deck so she's in 3 ft and just practices with her feet touching the bottom. We're in British now and although instructors get in the water, their system doesn't seem to work well for her. Unfortunately moco has not restarted lessons though the county so hopefully when (if) covid improves we can ramp up on lessons again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ice skating. It’s a great sport with the potential for life long enjoyment, and easy to enjoy progress without competition — unless she wants that at some point.

What planet do you live on? Ice skating is as competitive as can be, and it doesn't make any sense without competition.

Op here- Competition is okay. I was referring to physical competition where one on one aggression was an advantage. This is not really her personality.

thanks so much for these! We do swimming and gymnastics we did precovid ( although I was looking for something more active than gymnastics) but I really like the other ideas! I'm going to do as the poster said and try them all at some point since they only last 6-8 weeks at a time.

We do soccer and I can barely get her to participate- but she's very enthusiastic about activities that she enjoys.

We are not far from cabin john for ice skating. Any thoughts on where to start for equestrian are appreciated.

I don't know how I forgot softball, I played growing up and my son used to play. At this age she's preferring things that are mostly girls but I'm going to keep trying.


thanks again!

Anonymous wrote:All sports require aggression to compete and win.

Untrue.

OP, I recommend swimming. My dd is very non confrontational in face to face athletic competition. When she first started playing soccer and basketball I thought she might grow out of it, but she is 10 now and it’s pretty clear that it’s baked into her personality. Swimming is totally different. She competes against herself mostly, trying to beat her own best times. She is close friends with many of her teammates, who become the competition during meets. She has excelled in swimming because there is no scenario where she is face to face with an opponent during competition, causing her politeness instinct to overtake her drive to give it her all.

Anonymous wrote:Ice skating. It’s a great sport with the potential for life long enjoyment, and easy to enjoy progress without competition — unless she wants that at some point.

What planet do you live on? Ice skating is as competitive as can be, and it doesn't make any sense without competition.

Anonymous wrote:My non aggressive DD (age 11) plays softball (just rec league)

She really likes it. I’m sure club teams are totally different, but rec teams are just for fun. Really nice team sport with a great group of girls.

So maybe tball in the spring? Tball tends to be mixed boys and girls, and might be fun to try.

This!! Except it isn’t the most active, heart-pumping, calorie-burning sport, which you seem to want. For that, any individual sport is going to be better. Bit of you want a team sport for your non-aggressive girl, softball ALL THE WAY!!!

Irish dance - very much dance and athletic.