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Old 11-24-2009, 07:55 AM   #1 (permalink)
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What are the best/worst sports to encourage kids to pursue, and why?

There are many sports/activities available to pursue as kids grow up, and I'm curious what people think are the best ones to encourage kids to try. Obviously they will at some point pick for themselves, but before that point, it's basically up to the parents to guide them. What sports did you play and enjoy? What sports do you think are most beneficial? Is there any sport you would absolutely forbid?

My daughter is probably going to be a gymnast, since her mom is a coach, at least until she is old enough to decide for herself. I would love for her to get into a self defense discipline, but would absolutely forbid boxing. I'm actually not a huge fan of ballet and gymnastics, as it leaves girls pretty beat up when it spits them out the other side, with lifelong joint problems, but I don't really know of any sport that doesn't, when pursued at the highest levels.

Even if you don't have kids, feel free to contribute!
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Old 11-24-2009, 08:14 AM   #2 (permalink)
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i dont see an issue with boxing tele.i did some boxing back in my day, and you dont have to spar anybody if you dont want to. you could go a year doing speedwork and cardio only..unless you want her to stay the hell away so that she doesnt end up being a proffessional boxer....thats a different story

i did tae kwon do for 5 years also. its good for flexibility and self confidence. sadly my instructor was a total tosser and made everyone feel like shit.

my passion was always running, but i was always best at swimming and could have made it to the olympics at some point. it's probably why i teach kids how to swim in my spare time...unfulfileld potential..

if you want pretty much injury free sport, swimming is the way to go. not only does it give you a cardio work out, but can be used to save oneself (and others), so there's added bonuses. the ONLY thing i didnt like about swimming was the constant boredom of training at a high level and 'following the black line' at the bottom of the pool.

maybe try the girl guides or scouts on weekend for interaction between kids?

at the end of th day, its really up to what the kid enjoys. no matter how much you want your kid to do well and be happy with a chosen sport, if they dont like it, it'll never last.

ill put my kids in running, swimming and tennis, and maybe some kid of self defence, probably ju jitsu.
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Old 11-24-2009, 08:20 AM   #3 (permalink)
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I had definitely thought of swimming...I grew up in the pool, and though I never did it competitively, and my father and mother both did. Is there any truth to the pseudofact that shoulder injuries become a serious issue at higher levels of competition? We've thought about encouraging her to pursue diving if she wants to branch out after gymnastics, it seems like the ULTIMATE injury free sport, if you can avoid conking your head.
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Old 11-24-2009, 08:30 AM   #4 (permalink)
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My son has a gun for an arm so he's been in football and t-ball.. he's not a fan of the football as much as the t-ball so baseball will probably be where he's at.

My wife was a Div.I scholarship athlete in softball, I was an MVP baseball center fielder and an MVP in soccer.. my daughter seems to have a gun for an arm as well and since my FIL is a DIV II. pitching coach, I'm sure that's where she'll end up.

Both the kids love swimming so I'm sure they'll be in the pool a lot, and both of my kids are going to have MMA training..

by the time my daughter is 11, she's going to know how to kill a man 20 different ways
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Old 11-24-2009, 08:56 AM   #5 (permalink)
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I agree with martial arts with a good teacher/sensei, that can really do good for a kid. Soccer is also one of those great workout sports. Keeps the kids from being fatties.

My kids will be enrolled in martial arts and I'll try them on running/hiking because I suck at sports.

Can't wait for the day when I have kids and at age 3 they can catch better than their daddy.
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:06 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Martial arts is awesome for kids... their little brains and bodies can process the training so much more readily than adults.

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Old 11-24-2009, 09:12 AM   #7 (permalink)
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My SO and I really enjoy hiking and other outdoorsy pursuits, so my guess is that any child of ours is going to grow up hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and skiing.

I have little to no interest in engaging in concerted cultivation of what I perceive as my child's talents. Too many lessons and too many sports leads to not enough free time for a child to be a child. If they ask to be enrolled in something, sure, but I'm certainly not going to push them to do it.
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:16 AM   #8 (permalink)
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I would say that any sport the kid excels at, has a knack for, or otherwise is really into should be the sport they might want to pursue.

I'm against forcing or otherwise encouraging a kid to play a sport because it's convenient or it's a way for a parent to live vicariously through their child.
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:38 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Sports are also a virtual babysitter for the parents. They get their 'me-time.'

I'd let my kid choose whether it's sports, music, art, etc. Their choice what they want to do. I never did sports, other than running in high school. Had no desire. I still don't know how you even play football.
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:53 AM   #10 (permalink)
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I still don't know how you even play football.
Wow.

For me, one of the most enjoyable activities I did in high school was powderpuff football. I learned a lot about football, got to run around and get dirty with friends, and got to see our senior class president (male) in a cheerleading costume.

Some people may run down powderpuff football as an activity, but I had a great time, despite getting punched in the face. Don't worry--I punched her back.
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:55 AM   #11 (permalink)
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cheerleading
Speaking of which, it was just on the news that some cheerleader got a concussion after being hit in the head with a water bottle thrown from the stands lol.

Go sports!
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Old 11-24-2009, 09:57 AM   #12 (permalink)
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I played softball for...umm...14 years? And volleyball for seven... so if my kids wanted to pick one or both of those up, I'd have a blast helping them practice and going to games & such.

Really, though, the only things I wouldn't want them doing are boxing and wrestling. I've seen too many guys in wrestling that either have eating disorders, or are borderline, and I really don't want my kids having to deal with that.


Oh-- and I wouldn't really want my daughters to be cheerleaders, either... but it's not something I'd forbid.
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Old 11-24-2009, 10:37 AM   #13 (permalink)
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heh. I forgot my wife was a Div. I volleyball athlete as well..

sports and athleticism runs in the family I guess..

I'm not going to force my kids to do sports, but if they enjoy it and they're good at it, let them do it. There's a fine line between pushing too hard and cultivating a real talent.
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Old 11-24-2009, 10:44 AM   #14 (permalink)
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It's really true about the 'cultivating real talent' thing.

My parents fought me when I wanted to play flute because they didn't want to drop the cash. They finally gave in and I took to it immediately. First chair, from 4th up until I gave it up in 9th grades. I really enjoyed it. Haven't touched it in years, and I pawned my flute at 19 for Floyd tickets, but I know if I were to pick one up I could play it again np.

Let them choose and watch them succeed.
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Old 11-24-2009, 11:07 AM   #15 (permalink)
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I had a great time
That's what it's all about folks. The kids having fun. If they're not, then what's the point?

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I'm against forcing or otherwise encouraging a kid to play a sport because it's convenient or it's a way for a parent to live vicariously through their child.
This bears repeating.

I don't know that there are any "best" sports, or activities, for kids to pursue. There is so much out there to choose from. I, personally, played baseball. I didn't excel at it. I was a mediocre, at best, center fielder. I joined the wrestling team. I didn't excel at it. But, I enjoyed both of them. I was also in the Boy Scouts. I got a lot out of that program. My own son plays baseball (better than I did), soccer (wasn't around when I was his age), and he is in the Cub Scouts, which he really enjoys. He wants to play basketball (something that I never had an interest in), and he wants to wrestle.

The best advice that I can offer is to listen to your child. He/she will tell you what activity is "best" for them.
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Old 11-24-2009, 11:19 AM   #16 (permalink)
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yip

...and let them pawn their instruments for concert tickets. They'll regret it and learn for themselves.
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Old 11-24-2009, 01:43 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Sports are also a virtual babysitter for the parents. They get their 'me-time.'

I'd let my kid choose whether it's sports, music, art, etc. Their choice what they want to do. I never did sports, other than running in high school. Had no desire. I still don't know how you even play football.
^ bolded for emphasis

Agree wholeheartedly. You can't push them into a sport or anything else. Is they want to pursue band or soccer or whatever, then that's the right answer. If they don't, then that's cool, too.
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Old 11-24-2009, 01:57 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Swimming was always my personal favorite sport as a lad. It teaches you to use muscles you don't know you have, along with providing an important skill: water survival. Playing tee ball and martial arts don't teach you how to avoid drowning or how to save someone else drowning.

Soccer will teach stamina in a way that football and baseball might not. It teaches foot and leg control better than most other sports, too, which is something lacking elsewhere.

I would say something like karate or tae kwan do, but frankly martial arts in the US has gone downhill since I was younger. Instead of teaching you important self-defense and philosophy, it teaches you how to score points in sparring which really isn't all that important a skill. If you can find a school that doesn't treat your kid like he's made of glass, go for it, but otherwise you're probably just wasting money.

Finally, there's piano. Yes, it's a sport; you can compete in it against other pianists. And it's perfectly physical as it requires a great deal of coordination and dexterity. Trust me, you need to keep piano as a priority for kids, it's the most important sport there is. Aside from being awesome, playing piano helps kids academically by stimulating the brain in unique ways. I have no doubt my high mathematics and science grades had a lot to do with learning how to read music and memorize theory and then apply those to playing.
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Old 11-24-2009, 02:07 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Finally, there's piano. Yes, it's a sport; you can compete in it against other pianists. And it's perfectly physical as it requires a great deal of coordination and dexterity. Trust me, you need to keep piano as a priority for kids, it's the most important sport there is. Aside from being awesome, playing piano helps kids academically by stimulating the brain in unique ways. I have no doubt my high mathematics and science grades had a lot to do with learning how to read music and memorize theory and then apply those to playing.
Funny you mention this...I agree wholeheartedly, but didn't classify it as 'sport'--I've had a full-sized Yamaha keyboard set up at her height since she was 10 months old, and she regularly "plays her piano" of her own volition, and when told "Go play the piano for me!"

She really seems to enjoy it, so I leave it turned on all the time for her, and, at 18 months, she is actually to the point where she's articulating her fingers independently rather than just bashing on it with her palms. Nothing approaching rhythm or melody, obviously, but she sure has fun making it make sounds!
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Old 11-24-2009, 02:34 PM   #20 (permalink)
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If I'm not on the computer lately, I'm on my piano. Never had a lesson in my life but I taught myself how to read music starting at around 8 years. The flute lessons helped. I love my piano, even though it's just an old antique from when my Mother was a little girl. Needs new strings and all, but I don't always hear that when I'm playing.
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Old 11-24-2009, 02:55 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Funny you mention this...I agree wholeheartedly, but didn't classify it as 'sport'--I've had a full-sized Yamaha keyboard set up at her height since she was 10 months old, and she regularly "plays her piano" of her own volition, and when told "Go play the piano for me!"

She really seems to enjoy it, so I leave it turned on all the time for her, and, at 18 months, she is actually to the point where she's articulating her fingers independently rather than just bashing on it with her palms. Nothing approaching rhythm or melody, obviously, but she sure has fun making it make sounds!
Once upon a time, I had a little lady on my Roland doing the same thing. For the most part, it's pretty damned awesome.

Just a quick bit of advice: over-ear headphones. She didn't like them at first, but through positive reinforcement, a very young person can be persuaded to use headphones for his or her piano banging so that they can enjoy their music without putting a bit of pressure on your patience.
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Old 11-24-2009, 03:16 PM   #22 (permalink)
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heh. I forgot my wife was a Div. I volleyball athlete as well..

sports and athleticism runs in the family I guess..
See, now you are just bragging!

I'm in the 'let them do what they want' camp. My eldest is already showing signs of sportiness, and I think the role of parents is to encourage in any way possible...
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Old 11-24-2009, 06:57 PM   #23 (permalink)
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heh. I forgot my wife was a Div. I volleyball athlete as well..

sports and athleticism runs in the family I guess..

I'm not going to force my kids to do sports, but if they enjoy it and they're good at it, let them do it. There's a fine line between pushing too hard and cultivating a real talent.
i didnt think those poms had a sporty bone in their body. we aussies beat them at everything
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Old 11-25-2009, 04:44 AM   #24 (permalink)
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i didnt think those poms had a sporty bone in their body. we aussies beat them at everything
wasn't there a big cricket tournament not too long ago that the Poms won? Oh and how about football?? How's football working out for you criminals?
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Old 11-26-2009, 07:51 AM   #25 (permalink)
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I'm planning on getting him in skates ASAP. Daily practices at the ice rink. Some nice costumes, eventually find a girl for him to partner with, enter a few ice dancing contests by age 7, international competitions by 12, olympics by 13, cereal box endorsements through the mid teens, and burn out by 18.

Seriously, I'd like to see if he likes hockey. When I was a kid, it seemed like every place we lived, the age for organized sports was always one year away from my age. And I really wanted to play. Then we finally moved to the south, where child endangerment is not such a big deal, and I got to play full contact football in 6th grade. In fact, I was one of the oldest on the team, our roster ranged from 4th to 6th grade.

There was an article on MSNBC stating that organized sports shouldn't start until age 12. No soccer, no bowling, no Texas Hold Em. I personally do not agree with that or like that idea. Kids are hardwired to want to play, be it in the backyard or park with a ball and some friends, or at an organized event.

Recess has been dropped by about 40% of American elementary schools. They've been replaced by reading time, quiet time, and instruction time. It's like every day is rain day in our schools.
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Old 12-01-2009, 03:03 PM   #26 (permalink)
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There was an article on MSNBC stating that organized sports shouldn't start until age 12.
Christ 12? I was playing organized hockey at 4, it was Bumble Bee as they used to call it in Ontario but none the less it was still organized into teams. 12 sounds like they just pulled a number out of their asses.

As for getting a young lad into hockey, it's great to play for the fun of it, but the rep and travel teams just start to put pressure on the kids. From the ages of probably 7or 8 until I was 13 I played hockey 11 and a half months out of the year, winter hockey ended time for summer hockey, summer hockey ends time for winter hockey, and I was burnt out by 21, I'm now 32 and have only had skates on once since I quit playing, so if you want to get your kids involved in hockey, just let them have fun with it, and never, ever become a hockey parent, my father was one, we get along fine now, but believe me when it comes to hockey, they're bastards.
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Old 12-01-2009, 03:48 PM   #27 (permalink)
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That's crazy! I would like to learn, because I grew up skating at the rink where the then Colorado Rockies practiced (they were a hockey team before they were a baseball team - now they're the NJ Devils). They have a lot of winter leagues in DC for adults and kids of every skill level. I'm thinking it could be something we do together, sort of.
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Old 12-01-2009, 04:29 PM   #28 (permalink)
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wasn't there a big cricket tournament not too long ago that the Poms won? Oh and how about football?? How's football working out for you criminals?
what?? no way we lost to the poms.
Note the above sentence may bear little resemblance to the truth
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