golf is a good one to pick up at this age and it's a life long sport unlike baseball!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rowing or fencing would be some good choices. Most kids don't start rowing until that age so most will be beginners.

While it's very true that people start rowing at many different ages, there's not a 'non competitive' option for kids.

Really? So nowhere for a teen to learn single or double sculls or even a novice 4 — without the assumption that they will be competing at some point?
The Thompson Boat House offers classes for 13+ starting with a beginners class. Maybe kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding would also be of interesting. Recreational swimming is also pretty easy to find. I’d recommend having at least basic swimming skills before trying rowing.

Archery, dance, yoga, tai chi, martial arts, roller blading, roller skating, ice skating, ultimate frisbee, biking….

What’s your teen looking for? Physical activity? The experiences of being on a team? Something else?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13 is late to start rock climbing unless he is athletic and has a lot of strength already.

So even adults can't start rock climbing if they didn't do it as toddlers? Please, people can start a sport whenever they want to as long as there is a place to do it.

You can start rock climbing anytime. And there's good rec groups at Movement in Rockville and Sportrock, and if your kid enjoys it they can do competitions, and if not, they can just climb in rec group. Great sport.

Anonymous wrote:Ultimate frisbee

+100

Martial arts like taekwondo

Anonymous wrote:Yes he can start baseball! My son is a high level travel player at a small private high school where everyone makes the team. There are kid starting baseball for the first time as 9th or 10th graders. They are learning and don’t get to play in games unless it’s a blowout, but they are on the team and learning. It’s not too late!

Agree rec league and lessons now are a good idea. The other important thing is knowing the game - the rules, plays, etc. He wants to know where to throw the ball when he fields it, in what situations he might try to steal and when not to, etc. Watching baseball on TV can help (maybe videos of little league World Series?) and there may be books, too. I’m sure there are YouTube channels.

Finally, a kid like mine (17, wants to coach when he grows up) would love to “coach” your kid - teach the basics, instill confidence, etc. Maybe you know a baseball crazy older teen who would work with your son for a modest fee? Most baseball lessons taught by pros are not exact of modest cost…

+1

If he likes baseball OP, look into the program at your intended HS. At our mid sized suburban public, there is a freshman team (along with JV and varsity). It depends a little bit on numbers but nearly anyone can make the freshman and then JV teams (although they will not necessarily play in games). They still get practice every day, winter workouts and if numbers allow (usually do) are welcome on the school affiliated fall ball/summer teams (and may actually see some playing time on those). Most of the top players do other non school affiliated travel teams at those times. I don’t think they do many cuts at any level- most kids cut themselves over the years due to lack of playing time..move to other sports and activities. There is a nearby private HS with a strong baseball program than siphons off a lot of the good players from our school zone (which obviously helps immensely in terms of making the public HS teams).

Schools really vary in this way, so can be worth looking into. At ours, you’d have a few years (generally fresh-soph at minimum) to continue working and trying to catch up, and various programs and workouts available nearly year round. I know you are talking rec etc for now but depending on your intended HS there could be some future opportunities if he gets started now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13 is late to start rock climbing unless he is athletic and has a lot of strength already.

So even adults can't start rock climbing if they didn't do it as toddlers? Please, people can start a sport whenever they want to as long as there is a place to do it.

You can start rock climbing at any age.

In Arlington there’s Arlington Senior Babe Ruth (ASBR). It’s a rec league with no tryouts. There are two separate spring “seasons” - one that starts later for teens on their HS teams and one that starts earlier in the season for those not on HS teams. Your son can sign up for the early season. We’ve seen plenty of beginner players on these teams. I think registration is still open for this spring.

Anonymous wrote:There are some private middle and high schools that do not overemphasize or recruit for sports that would allow a newbie to walk on to just about any team, including baseball.

This is true. They may not ever get to play in a game, but they can practice and be on the team. Some schools will have A and B teams. Some really small schools have just one team.

My kid's school allows this, but the kid has to really be resilient because while it is "allowed" it really annoys some coaches that they "have to deal with" 13-yr-old newbies. My kid has struggled with this. He's tall and athletic but not experienced in basketball and the coach has been an absolute d!ck to him and a couple of other new kids; I've witnessed it firsthand and am amazed that my kid hasn't wanted to drop out.

Yes, if you have 50/70 baseball, also called "intermediate", in your area, that would be ideal. A lot of little leagues around here offer that. Or look at Babe Ruth, which is sort of like "rec" baseball for that age group.

Also, rec basketball and rec soccer are good team sport options that welcome all levels.

Anonymous wrote:Yes he can start baseball! My son is a high level travel player at a small private high school where everyone makes the team. There are kid starting baseball for the first time as 9th or 10th graders. They are learning and don’t get to play in games unless it’s a blowout, but they are on the team and learning. It’s not too late!

Agree rec league and lessons now are a good idea. The other important thing is knowing the game - the rules, plays, etc. He wants to know where to throw the ball when he fields it, in what situations he might try to steal and when not to, etc. Watching baseball on TV can help (maybe videos of little league World Series?) and there may be books, too. I’m sure there are YouTube channels.

Finally, a kid like mine (17, wants to coach when he grows up) would love to “coach” your kid - teach the basics, instill confidence, etc. Maybe you know a baseball crazy older teen who would work with your son for a modest fee? Most baseball lessons taught by pros are not exact of modest cost…

Ditto this. My son plays HS baseball and would totally be willing do something like this. You may find college aged guys (maybe who played HS baseball but don’t play in college) willing to do so for extra $ as well. Learning the basics doesn’t necessarily require an expensive professional coach…A tutor/mentor with individual attention would probably be more helpful and more relatable. I’d put an ad out on your neighborhood board, Craig’s list or similar, and/or ask around. Oh- also, there are youth baseball forums on FB for most areas- do some looking. That would also be a great place to post.

Anonymous wrote:Rowing or fencing would be some good choices. Most kids don't start rowing until that age so most will be beginners.

While it's very true that people start rowing at many different ages, there's not a 'non competitive' option for kids.

Yes he can start baseball! My son is a high level travel player at a small private high school where everyone makes the team. There are kid starting baseball for the first time as 9th or 10th graders. They are learning and don’t get to play in games unless it’s a blowout, but they are on the team and learning. It’s not too late!

Agree rec league and lessons now are a good idea. The other important thing is knowing the game - the rules, plays, etc. He wants to know where to throw the ball when he fields it, in what situations he might try to steal and when not to, etc. Watching baseball on TV can help (maybe videos of little league World Series?) and there may be books, too. I’m sure there are YouTube channels.

Finally, a kid like mine (17, wants to coach when he grows up) would love to “coach” your kid - teach the basics, instill confidence, etc. Maybe you know a baseball crazy older teen who would work with your son for a modest fee? Most baseball lessons taught by pros are not exact of modest cost…

As others have said, there should be rec baseball options. Not all Little Leagues have Juniors/Seniors level of play or even Intermediate, but I believe you can get a waiver to play in the leagues that do field those divisions if your home league doesn’t offer them.

For Little League-affiliated baseball, if your son has a Jan-Aug 2010 birthday, he will be league age 14, which means he won’t be able play Intermediate level, which is for kids with a league age 13 birthday. If your son has a Sept-Dec 2010 birthday, he’d still be IM-eligible. They play on a field that’s 50ft mound distance and 70ft base distance.

Anyone league age 14 and older plays on the standard sized field, the same as the MLBers at least in terms of the infield.

Babe Ruth baseball may also be an option. Our local BR league has player evaluations, but no one is cut. It’s more how to assess a kid and then they might do a draft, but again, there’s a spot for everyone.

Good luck to your son!

Look for a rec league in your area. In our area of Maryland, we have several wonderful rec leagues.

Also consider YMCA. I'm not sure if they have baseball, but they do offer several other rec sports and our YMCA goes up to age 14 for youth sports.