Golf is great and archery

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Volleyball! They don't really start until 5th grade. I know because I have the 9 y.o. who has wanted to do it for two years now.

Good call (and great sport). The folks saying tennis have no clue -- huge advantage for early starters.

Given the responses on this thread, it seems like it might be more helpful for OP or others who have the same question to hear about what seems to be the relatively smaller number of sports that might be hard (though by no means impossible for the athletically gifted) to break into later because of the advantage for early starters that PP identified.

PP mentionted tennis. I'd add soccer, basketball, and hockey, all of which require skills that take a long time to fully develop.

The problem with tennis, as many adults have figured out, is that there's a huge learning curve, and since it's not a team sport (normally), you're out there on your own so can't get your bearings while play continues around you. If you can't rally and play games with some level of skill, it's not fun. You just end up chasing balls all over the place. Many kids don't have the attention span to get past the learning-to-rally stage.

Kids' USTA/tournament tennis is no less crazy than other junior sports. Some of the parents are really cut-throat, and I've seen really egregious cheating by kids who appear to be egged on by horrible parents. My kids love tennis, though. One didn't start playing tennis till he was 10 and he now plays tournaments and is on the varsity team at school.

As for high school tennis, there are usually only 7 spots on the team (3 singles players, 2 doubles teams), so even in small schools it can be tough to get a spot. That said, a really good athlete who has some key skills (a soccer or basketball player with good footwork, a squash player with great eye-hand coordination, etc.) can certainly succeed as a tennis player with enough work.

The big upside to tennis is that there are free public courts everywhere, and once you've learned, it's truly a lifetime sport. I know people in their 80s who still play doubles several times a week, and I know several who play in wheelchairs. For that reason alone, it's a great sport to pursue at any age.

For a child starting "late," the best sport is one that he/she really enjoys. Even better if it's one that doesn't cut players in high school, i.e., one that easily supports a large squad: cross country and track are the typical examples.

In my opinion, if a kid is interested, a kid should start no matter what the age, no matter if they have the "build" or "natural ability" or not. There are intro classes for all levels, and hey, for lots of sports you don't have to be in a "class" to start. Palling around with your friends or on your own is good enough.

At 9 or 10 you are not starting late in any sport. Many girls (and boys) sports do not really exist in a competitive format until high school. Others start at younger ages and have varying levels of play in terms of competitiveness and intensity of training. One of the things that a parent of an athletic kid, and particularly of an athletic daughter has to keep in mind is that they can be "good" at many sports.

Two cents worth of advice from our personal experience

1. If possible based on time/budget -- do some competitive swimming -- even low level. My kids all did summer swim club stuff not because they might be good competitive swimmers. I don't think any of them ever won a race and none swam for their high school. But at 9, 10, 11 it turned them into fish. They are all very good swimmers which is a nice skill t6 o have.

2. Try multiple sports/activities like you are doing now. If it does not work out or is not much fun then move on. Do not, however, push that it something to do with particular friends. Kids will make friends who are doing a sport or activity with them, but your daughter's enjoyment of a sport or activity should be based on what she things of the sport/activity and not because a good friend is doing it.

3. Be realistic about your daughter's physical abilities. A girl who is a good athlete can play a sport up to a certain point just because they are a good athlete. But, as they get older and as competition increases, their physical abilities will factor more and more into the equation. My daughter plays soccer in college, but is only 5'2". Volleyball and basketball would be a struggle although not impossible, because there are positions and roles that a shorter girl could still fill. But, if she were six foot tall more doors would open. On the other hand, a kid headed for six foot may find gymnastics to be a struggle. Similarily -- foot speed is a bigger factor in some sports more than others. A fast kid can often find a home in those sports even if their technical skills may be lacking.

4. Don't be afraid to try stuff that sounds offbeat if it also sounds fun. Archery, badminton, ice hockey (a tough athletic girl might find a real home there), martial arts, tap dancing, etc. . .

5. Golf. It is a sport you can play in to old age, and it is a social sport where business is done. My nieces are always in demand for golf outings as they play reasonably well from the men's tees where their dad and I make them play. Put them up on the ladies tees and they can turn a scramble into a rout.

6. In reality it is never to late to pick up a sport if you enjoy it. Yes, a kid who decides at 13 that they really want to play competitive soccer may end up disappointed, because they will be fairly far behind their peers. But, they can still have a good time playing so find a team that is at their level and have at it.



Good luck

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

While I understand the point you are trying to make, I don't think people are panicking much or talking about absolutes on this thread. I think OP asked a very sensible question, and that a lot of people are in the same boat. It's true that there will always be some very athletic kids able to break into virtually any sport much later than the average, but I still think its helpful for parents to get a sense of which sports do and don't have an "early advantage" factor on balance.

Isn't it reassuring to know that people who have been there/done that say it's no problem to wait until middle-school or so to try softball or volleyball? Knowing that information, I might want a younger kid who likes soccer, basketball, etc. to start with those sports, comfortable in the knowledge that there are a bunch of others to try later if those don't end up being a good fit.

PP here. I think you're right about this thread. I probably overstated because of the combination of threads I've read here re: travel sports, private coaching etc. and hear on the sidelines. But yes, it is good to know that there are, even here, sports that can be started later, but I just hate to see doors closed on any sport. I know a bunch of 8th grader boys who started playing house soccer this year after getting into the World Cup. IMO it's never too late to have fun at sports.

I always thought of sports--and team sports--as something *fun* to do. I was never driven to participated because I loved to win. The only sport I started 'early" was swimming -- again, that was a fun summer activity, and I liked the social aspect of practice and the party atmosphere of the meets. I did this through high school. My parents thought of it as a life-saving skill, too, so that's why I was in the pool at a very, very young age. Good news: I still swim today for fun and exercise even though I've never been an award-winning swimmer.

I played soccer, kickball, and softball during recess. I played basketball with friends at the school playground after school. That was plenty for me at the time.

Later in high school I picked up volleyball. I was never a stellar athlete, but I thought it was fun. I liked the social aspect of practice and the collaborative effort of games. I can still bump, dig, and set a ball -- not so great at spiking, anymore.

And as an adult I took up running and a few triathlons. For exercise, stress relief, personal challenge, and camaraderie with friends. Never got better than an 8 min mile for a 5K even at my best, but I didn't care.

Now, this is how *I* think about sports. Enjoyment, personal challenge, exercise/health, camaraderie.

I would hope the same for my child.

Anonymous wrote:[

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

While I understand the point you are trying to make, I don't think people are panicking much or talking about absolutes on this thread. I think OP asked a very sensible question, and that a lot of people are in the same boat. It's true that there will always be some very athletic kids able to break into virtually any sport much later than the average, but I still think its helpful for parents to get a sense of which sports do and don't have an "early advantage" factor on balance.

Isn't it reassuring to know that people who have been there/done that say it's no problem to wait until middle-school or so to try softball or volleyball? Knowing that information, I might want a younger kid who likes soccer, basketball, etc. to start with those sports, comfortable in the knowledge that there are a bunch of others to try later if those don't end up being a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports that are hard to start late:

Lacrosse
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Hockey
Swimming (competitively)

Sports that are good to start at age 9/10

Field Hockey
Track & Field
Softball
Cross Country
Crew
Volleyball
Fencing

A little confused by these lists. I'm hoping that the list under 9/10 isn't what you mean by starting late. And I'd love to see a kid get into crew at that age.

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

I'd also love to see a 9/10 year old doing crew, which typically requires a little muscle development. Track and cross country are definitely sports you can take up in high school. Some kids do get into those earlier, but having run Div 1 track myself, I question the wisdom of starting hard training much earlier than that.

IMO parents need to help kids find something they enjoy and let them do that. Playing should be viewed as an end in itself, not the gateway to some college scholarship in the sky, because for 99.99999% of kids around here that's what is will be.

That may have been the case a few years ago but Lacrosse has exploded around here and most kids who are playing on HS teams especially at private schools have been playing for quite a few years. It can be pretty hard to make a HS team for lacrosse if you haven;t played.

Not at our FCPS high school where both boys and girls who had never picked up a stick but were good athletes made the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports that are hard to start late:

Lacrosse
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Hockey
Swimming (competitively)

Sports that are good to start at age 9/10

Field Hockey
Track & Field
Softball
Cross Country
Crew
Volleyball
Fencing

A little confused by these lists. I'm hoping that the list under 9/10 isn't what you mean by starting late. And I'd love to see a kid get into crew at that age.

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

I'd also love to see a 9/10 year old doing crew, which typically requires a little muscle development. Track and cross country are definitely sports you can take up in high school. Some kids do get into those earlier, but having run Div 1 track myself, I question the wisdom of starting hard training much earlier than that.

IMO parents need to help kids find something they enjoy and let them do that. Playing should be viewed as an end in itself, not the gateway to some college scholarship in the sky, because for 99.99999% of kids around here that's what is will be.

That may have been the case a few years ago but Lacrosse has exploded around here and most kids who are playing on HS teams especially at private schools have been playing for quite a few years. It can be pretty hard to make a HS team for lacrosse if you haven;t played.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports that are hard to start late:

Lacrosse
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Hockey
Swimming (competitively)

Sports that are good to start at age 9/10

Field Hockey
Track & Field
Softball
Cross Country
Crew
Volleyball
Fencing

A little confused by these lists. I'm hoping that the list under 9/10 isn't what you mean by starting late. And I'd love to see a kid get into crew at that age.

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

I'd also love to see a 9/10 year old doing crew, which typically requires a little muscle development. Track and cross country are definitely sports you can take up in high school. Some kids do get into those earlier, but having run Div 1 track myself, I question the wisdom of starting hard training much earlier than that.

IMO parents need to help kids find something they enjoy and let them do that. Playing should be viewed as an end in itself, not the gateway to some college scholarship in the sky, because for 99.99999% of kids around here that's what is will be.

The OP's daughter is 9yrs old so I was responding to her but yes, that list is for 9yrs and older. Most of those are hard to start before that.

Anonymous wrote:Sports that are hard to start late:

Lacrosse
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Hockey
Swimming (competitively)

Sports that are good to start at age 9/10

Field Hockey
Track & Field
Softball
Cross Country
Crew
Volleyball
Fencing

A little confused by these lists. I'm hoping that the list under 9/10 isn't what you mean by starting late. And I'd love to see a kid get into crew at that age.

People here need to dial back the panic and the absolutes. Sometimes I think folks come up with these limits because of insecurities/fear about their own kids' abilities or because they too readily buy into the hype. Yes, everything is competitive in an area this populated. That said, I have seen 12 an 13 year olds appear on the travel soccer scene seemingly out of nowhere after they finally decided to take the sport seriously, kids take up lacrosse in high school and girls playing Varsity Volleyball who first played the sport at 14.

I'd also love to see a 9/10 year old doing crew, which typically requires a little muscle development. Track and cross country are definitely sports you can take up in high school. Some kids do get into those earlier, but having run Div 1 track myself, I question the wisdom of starting hard training much earlier than that.

IMO parents need to help kids find something they enjoy and let them do that. Playing should be viewed as an end in itself, not the gateway to some college scholarship in the sky, because for 99.99999% of kids around here that's what is will be.

Sports that are hard to start late:

Lacrosse
Basketball
Soccer
Tennis
Gymnastics
Ice Skating
Hockey
Swimming (competitively)

Sports that are good to start at age 9/10

Field Hockey
Track & Field
Softball
Cross Country
Crew
Volleyball
Fencing