Anonymous
01/28/2025 12:17
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, but one of my kids did end up doing her sport professionally for a few years after college.
People were commenting on her athleticism starting when she was just 3 and 4 years old. She ran faster than the other kids, she climbed higher on playground equipment, and she had no fear. She loved and got so much enjoyment out of running, jumping, climbing- anything and everything that involved physical movement. She also had more advanced muscle development for her age according to her pediatrician at the time.
So for some kids, you can tell pretty early that they will be athletic
Same. My most athletic kid rode a peddle bike at 2 (straight from balance bike, skipped training wheels, no instruction required). He skied a double black diamond at 4. He taught himself to backflip on the trampoline at 5. He’s been an adrenaline junkie since ~2. Now does one sport at a national level.
Big deal and not helpful?
Anonymous
01/28/2025 11:58
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read this whole thread, but one of my kids did end up doing her sport professionally for a few years after college.
People were commenting on her athleticism starting when she was just 3 and 4 years old. She ran faster than the other kids, she climbed higher on playground equipment, and she had no fear. She loved and got so much enjoyment out of running, jumping, climbing- anything and everything that involved physical movement. She also had more advanced muscle development for her age according to her pediatrician at the time.
So for some kids, you can tell pretty early that they will be athletic
Same. My most athletic kid rode a peddle bike at 2 (straight from balance bike, skipped training wheels, no instruction required). He skied a double black diamond at 4. He taught himself to backflip on the trampoline at 5. He’s been an adrenaline junkie since ~2. Now does one sport at a national level.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 11:36
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
I haven’t read this whole thread, but one of my kids did end up doing her sport professionally for a few years after college.
People were commenting on her athleticism starting when she was just 3 and 4 years old. She ran faster than the other kids, she climbed higher on playground equipment, and she had no fear. She loved and got so much enjoyment out of running, jumping, climbing- anything and everything that involved physical movement. She also had more advanced muscle development for her age according to her pediatrician at the time.
So for some kids, you can tell pretty early that they will be athletic
People were commenting on her athleticism starting when she was just 3 and 4 years old. She ran faster than the other kids, she climbed higher on playground equipment, and she had no fear. She loved and got so much enjoyment out of running, jumping, climbing- anything and everything that involved physical movement. She also had more advanced muscle development for her age according to her pediatrician at the time.
So for some kids, you can tell pretty early that they will be athletic
Anonymous
01/28/2025 11:30
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:The majority of this thread is about boy athletes. I’m curious about girls.
My sense is- and I include the previously mentioned gymnastics and ice skating- that opportunities beyond rec for girls are still rather limited compared to all boys’ sports, and the initial general ability level of girls is a bit lower which frustrates slightly talented girls and pushes them into more selective leagues and sports. That waters down opportunity for girls who aren’t massively talented at age 8-9 and a lot of them disappear from sports altogether.
As a coach of two very different sports and a mom who has been through almost every sport but football, I think a lot of girls actually show their true talent and ability closer to 11-12 and closer to 16-17 as their body composition and hormones change, but don’t have the opportunity because it’s “too late.” I had one child in gymnastics and although they were hand-picking talent at ages 4-7, the amount of girls who came in out of seemingly nowhere at age 9-10 and went straight to the team and testing out of competitive levels suggests that team slots and the metrics being used to spot talent are the limit, not age.
Young girls with a background in competitive gymnastics often excel in other sports as they grow out of gymnastics. This has been evident with my daughter's friends. The ones who were doing back handsprings and back tucks at seven years old are now really good at various sports like soccer, track, and even lacrosse. They have a strong base of athleticism that serves them well after gymnastics.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 11:23
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
18 
My kid really blossomed late. Yes- he was always one of the athletic kids in elementary. But- he really stalled out a bit MS-early HS. He was behind growth curve. Still mid-height but quick late growth spurt sidelined him for end of sophomore year to Fall of senior year--he could only play haphazardly with hip/groin severe pain--osteitis pubis,,,before that knees.
When it was all said in done Fall of Senior year he came into his own. By spring of Senior year--beast mode. He missed recruiting--went to best academic school he got in (very smart kid) and was able to walk on the team--and they said they don't do walk-ons--sophomore year. D1
My kid really blossomed late. Yes- he was always one of the athletic kids in elementary. But- he really stalled out a bit MS-early HS. He was behind growth curve. Still mid-height but quick late growth spurt sidelined him for end of sophomore year to Fall of senior year--he could only play haphazardly with hip/groin severe pain--osteitis pubis,,,before that knees.
When it was all said in done Fall of Senior year he came into his own. By spring of Senior year--beast mode. He missed recruiting--went to best academic school he got in (very smart kid) and was able to walk on the team--and they said they don't do walk-ons--sophomore year. D1
Anonymous
01/28/2025 11:20
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Truthfully my 2nd son in K was asked to play with 3rd graders because it wasn’t fair to the other kids .
It sounds insane but that is when I sort of had an inkling.
My older son in 4th grade really could not find a team where he wasn’t the absolute best until college,
Doesn’t mean we “wrote off” others as being athletic.
What? how old was he in Kinder? redshirted?
No he was 5, not redshirted.
what sport?
Must be some weird sport like ice skating
Pulling a kinder kid up to playing in 3rd grade would be extremely unusual. We live in a super competitive area with pro athletes and SEC d1 athlete’s kids on every team for baseball and football and I have not seen that. I’ve seen a kid played up rarely in soccer or lax but just one year and in the case of lax they are redshirted kids who should be in the grade above by their birthday.
My younger kid used to get pulled up in trainings/pick up by our big large club when he was in K to play with 3rd graders---but not placed on team. He was lightyears ahead of kids his age. He was also tiny, but tough. That leveled out and went away since he is a late developer. I rarely see play ups now with older kids---or the parents go on and on and on about their kid playing up a year and the kid has a January bday...so it's 1 month up not a year..lol. Basically the same age as my December born kid since it is birth year. BFD.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 09:31
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Truthfully my 2nd son in K was asked to play with 3rd graders because it wasn’t fair to the other kids .
It sounds insane but that is when I sort of had an inkling.
My older son in 4th grade really could not find a team where he wasn’t the absolute best until college,
Doesn’t mean we “wrote off” others as being athletic.
What? how old was he in Kinder? redshirted?
No he was 5, not redshirted.
what sport?
Must be some weird sport like ice skating
Pulling a kinder kid up to playing in 3rd grade would be extremely unusual. We live in a super competitive area with pro athletes and SEC d1 athlete’s kids on every team for baseball and football and I have not seen that. I’ve seen a kid played up rarely in soccer or lax but just one year and in the case of lax they are redshirted kids who should be in the grade above by their birthday.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 07:53
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Truthfully my 2nd son in K was asked to play with 3rd graders because it wasn’t fair to the other kids .
It sounds insane but that is when I sort of had an inkling.
My older son in 4th grade really could not find a team where he wasn’t the absolute best until college,
Doesn’t mean we “wrote off” others as being athletic.
What? how old was he in Kinder? redshirted?
No he was 5, not redshirted.
what sport?
Must be some weird sport like ice skating
Anonymous
01/28/2025 05:56
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Truthfully my 2nd son in K was asked to play with 3rd graders because it wasn’t fair to the other kids .
It sounds insane but that is when I sort of had an inkling.
My older son in 4th grade really could not find a team where he wasn’t the absolute best until college,
Doesn’t mean we “wrote off” others as being athletic.
What? how old was he in Kinder? redshirted?
No he was 5, not redshirted.
what sport?
Anonymous
01/28/2025 05:36
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
After first major growth spurts for boys, and after puberty for girls. You can’t really tell speed/quickness until then for girls, or size/speed/quickness for boys.
Anonymous
01/27/2025 23:38
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
The majority of this thread is about boy athletes. I’m curious about girls.
My sense is- and I include the previously mentioned gymnastics and ice skating- that opportunities beyond rec for girls are still rather limited compared to all boys’ sports, and the initial general ability level of girls is a bit lower which frustrates slightly talented girls and pushes them into more selective leagues and sports. That waters down opportunity for girls who aren’t massively talented at age 8-9 and a lot of them disappear from sports altogether.
As a coach of two very different sports and a mom who has been through almost every sport but football, I think a lot of girls actually show their true talent and ability closer to 11-12 and closer to 16-17 as their body composition and hormones change, but don’t have the opportunity because it’s “too late.” I had one child in gymnastics and although they were hand-picking talent at ages 4-7, the amount of girls who came in out of seemingly nowhere at age 9-10 and went straight to the team and testing out of competitive levels suggests that team slots and the metrics being used to spot talent are the limit, not age.
My sense is- and I include the previously mentioned gymnastics and ice skating- that opportunities beyond rec for girls are still rather limited compared to all boys’ sports, and the initial general ability level of girls is a bit lower which frustrates slightly talented girls and pushes them into more selective leagues and sports. That waters down opportunity for girls who aren’t massively talented at age 8-9 and a lot of them disappear from sports altogether.
As a coach of two very different sports and a mom who has been through almost every sport but football, I think a lot of girls actually show their true talent and ability closer to 11-12 and closer to 16-17 as their body composition and hormones change, but don’t have the opportunity because it’s “too late.” I had one child in gymnastics and although they were hand-picking talent at ages 4-7, the amount of girls who came in out of seemingly nowhere at age 9-10 and went straight to the team and testing out of competitive levels suggests that team slots and the metrics being used to spot talent are the limit, not age.
Anonymous
01/27/2025 23:13
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:At first it's more about who obviously has NO chance.
That's clear by age 6 for many kids.
I agree with this. I have an 11 year old, and watching his rec basketball game this weekend was painful with some kids who are just so bad. It's why many kids go to travel, they have to in order to not play with kids who are absolutely horrible and cause the team to lose.
I’ve seen some of the “bad” kids who end up 6’5 play on the high school team. The glory days for many of the boys who end up short were middle school. Enjoy it while it lasts!
It has nothing to do with being short. It has everything to do with coordination.
baloney! short is a detriment in many sports. some coaches won't give a "short" kid a chance.
Anonymous
01/27/2025 23:09
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Truthfully my 2nd son in K was asked to play with 3rd graders because it wasn’t fair to the other kids .
It sounds insane but that is when I sort of had an inkling.
My older son in 4th grade really could not find a team where he wasn’t the absolute best until college,
Doesn’t mean we “wrote off” others as being athletic.
What? how old was he in Kinder? redshirted?
No he was 5, not redshirted.
Anonymous
01/27/2025 23:00
Subject: Re:At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
After puberty, for most sports. Anything before that is truly impossible to predict IMHO.
I would also say (I have 3 teens who have played a lot of sports): the most successful athletes are the ones with athletic parents! Which does not apply to my kids, lol. But a disproportionate number of the best athletes at high school age seem to have very athletic parents (ones who played sports at the college level or even beyond). Some of these kids always seemed athletic- since childhood. Others not so much- often because they were taller and/or generally larger than the other kids and didn’t seem to grow into their bodies until later on. Oh- and lot have not just one athletic parent but two (like attracts like, I suppose). This is the main factor I have seen overall. Parents/genes.
I would also say (I have 3 teens who have played a lot of sports): the most successful athletes are the ones with athletic parents! Which does not apply to my kids, lol. But a disproportionate number of the best athletes at high school age seem to have very athletic parents (ones who played sports at the college level or even beyond). Some of these kids always seemed athletic- since childhood. Others not so much- often because they were taller and/or generally larger than the other kids and didn’t seem to grow into their bodies until later on. Oh- and lot have not just one athletic parent but two (like attracts like, I suppose). This is the main factor I have seen overall. Parents/genes.
Anonymous
01/27/2025 21:53
Subject: At what age do you think you can tell whether a kid has potential to be an athlete?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The English soccer academies recruit kids as early as 8 years old to hopefully go on to become pros one day.
There was a story that basically said they don’t come close identifying pro talent that early and have a weak track record when it comes to young players.
Yep. Notoriously bad. Almost none of them make it.
And sex abuse scandals. No thanks