Kids in Sports

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
Wife and I were talking about getting our little girl (who's 3 and will be 4 next May) into some sort of sport. I think it would be good for her and for my wife and I. We were thinking about her doing soccer, since I think it would be fairly simple for her to understand. Problem is, the child has two left feet and is constantly falling and running into stuff. What age did you start your kids into sports? I would have liked for her to start this fall, but I think we are a little late on that.
 
We put both girls in gymnastics last year at 4yo. We also tried karate, which they didn't like. We will keep up with gymnastics until we see that they truly don't like it. One of them is interested in riding horses so we will try that for her as well but most places 6yo is the cutoff.
 
She'll be fine. Sign her up

I think that's the best age to get them started. Doesn't have to be her love but the coordination, learning about being part of a team and teaching the game of life through sports is what it's all about imo.
 
At that age soccer is a good way to go. its mostly just running around and chasing a ball for the young ones. skill development comes in a couple years, but laying down the foundation now really helps put your kid above the bar by then. Tumbling (the version of gymnastics for that age) is good too if the kid is focused and patient enough. most places do classes of 8-15 kids, so there is a lot of waiting in line for your turn. most younger kids lose interest by the time they advance to the bars. thats make it or break it time. usually they are fine rolling around on the floor or balance beams. you'll know if gymnastics is for your kid when its time to start flipping over bars.

4 is a little young for anything else. I coached youth football and the league allowed 5 year olds to sign up but experience showed that was just a little young. At this age, focus on teaching them to swim and ride bikes. get outside with them and kick the ball back and forth. Physical activity with mom or dad goes a long way at this age.
 
Reid said:
At that age soccer is a good way to go. its mostly just running around and chasing a ball for the young ones. skill development comes in a couple years, but laying down the foundation now really helps put your kid above the bar by then. Tumbling (the version of gymnastics for that age) is good too if the kid is focused and patient enough. most places do classes of 8-15 kids, so there is a lot of waiting in line for your turn. most younger kids lose interest by the time they advance to the bars. thats make it or break it time. usually they are fine rolling around on the floor or balance beams. you'll know if gymnastics is for your kid when its time to start flipping over bars.

4 is a little young for anything else. I coached youth football and the league allowed 5 year olds to sign up but experience showed that was just a little young. At this age, focus on teaching them to swim and ride bikes. get outside with them and kick the ball back and forth. Physical activity with mom or dad goes a long way at this age.
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The swimming thing is a hit. In a matter of weeks, she has gone from just standing on the steps or wanting us to hold her in the water to full on jumping in and going under (with her floating jacket thing) Bought her a bike for her 3rd birthday and while she talks about it from time to time, when she does want to ride it, she's done after 10 min or so.
 
We started dance at 4. Every father needs to set through dance recitals, in my case I was fortunate to have 4 of them dancing. Talk about adds on, dresses, shoes, shocks, fancy gloves...what a racket looking back. There were beauty pageants along the way as well. Then came gymnastics x 4. Oh boy! Those gymnastic meets where you sat through each routine with the same song for however many were competing that day in the floor exercise. Then it was on to the uneven bars, the beam, and then the vault. Then you went to the next age group..... ALL day ordeal. And the travel, Asheville, GA, Spartanburg, Concord, Charlotte, Raleigh....did I mention all all the outfits, jackets, warm ups.... Then came cheerleader at school. All 4 cheerleaders, all ended up being captains there junior and senior years, this was 9 years to get through all of that. At one time we had three daughters on the varsity squad at once. and it repeats itself again, outfits, shoes, sweats, jackets, warm ups, oh my. No wonder I am broke when I look back at all of this...lol sorry to get side tracked, yes it was 4 when all of that started.
 
89wrangler said:
We started dance at 4. Every father needs to set through dance recitals, in my case I was fortunate to have 4 of them dancing. Talk about adds on, dresses, shoes, shocks, fancy gloves...what a racket looking back. There were beauty pageants along the way as well. Then came gymnastics x 4. Oh boy! Those gymnastic meets where you sat through each routine with the same song for however many were competing that day in the floor exercise. Then it was on to the uneven bars, the beam, and then the vault. Then you went to the next age group..... ALL day ordeal. And the travel, Asheville, GA, Spartanburg, Concord, Charlotte, Raleigh....did I mention all all the outfits, jackets, warm ups.... Then came cheerleader at school. All 4 cheerleaders, all ended up being captains there junior and senior years, this was 9 years to get through all of that. At one time we had three daughters on the varsity squad at once. and it repeats itself again, outfits, shoes, sweats, jackets, warm ups, oh my. No wonder I am broke when I look back at all of this...lol sorry to get side tracked, yes it was 4 when all of that started.
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Boy you really sell it well!
 
89wrangler said:
We started dance at 4. Every father needs to set through dance recitals, in my case I was fortunate to have 4 of them dancing. Talk about adds on, dresses, shoes, shocks, fancy gloves...what a racket looking back. There were beauty pageants along the way as well. Then came gymnastics x 4. Oh boy! Those gymnastic meets where you sat through each routine with the same song for however many were competing that day in the floor exercise. Then it was on to the uneven bars, the beam, and then the vault. Then you went to the next age group..... ALL day ordeal. And the travel, Asheville, GA, Spartanburg, Concord, Charlotte, Raleigh....did I mention all all the outfits, jackets, warm ups.... Then came cheerleader at school. All 4 cheerleaders, all ended up being captains there junior and senior years, this was 9 years to get through all of that. At one time we had three daughters on the varsity squad at once. and it repeats itself again, outfits, shoes, sweats, jackets, warm ups, oh my. No wonder I am broke when I look back at all of this...lol sorry to get side tracked, yes it was 4 when all of that started.
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I suddenly don’t feel so well.

That said, my 4yo started ‘ninja classes’ this year. Combo/intro to gymnastics, martial arts and obstacle course training. She’ll start soccer in the fall and t-ball in the spring. We’ll probably add dance and an instrument in there some time soon too. And we’ll add/take away as she/they show an interest or lose interest.
 
I think soccer is a great place to start, as @rcalexander105 said. You can't go wrong because they don't have to know anything or be any good at it, most aren't at that age. My kids have both played since that age and I have always coached, as well. Now they are 9 and 13. U4 is herding cats and you have just as many that want to run off and talk to mommy as play. My son has tried everything and now plays soccer, football, basketball, and swims in summer.

It's also a good way to meet some other parents of kid's your age. You never know, might find a new family to hang out with.
 
I played soccer for 6 yrs starting at age 7. I enjoyed it, and don't think starting at age 7 held me back, so if she doesn't want to do it now, just try again in a year or three.

My son doesn't play any sports. According to him sports are terrible. His exact words as we drove past the Oak Ridge Military Academy where a game was going on a few years ago. Fine with me. I'm not going to push him to do anything he doesn't want to.
 
drkelly said:
My son doesn't play any sports. According to him sports are terrible. His exact words as we drove past the Oak Ridge Military Academy where a game was going on a few years ago. Fine with me. I'm not going to push him to do anything he doesn't want to.
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Truth be told...after 20years of playing sports, I always said I'd rather my kids get good at chess. I'll expose them to all I can, and will allow them to pursue what they want...but as I sit here at 35 and a culmination of 20yrs of 'minor' injuries coming to fruition, I'd be just fine if my kids thought sports were terrible.
 
drkelly said:
I played soccer for 6 yrs starting at age 7. I enjoyed it, and don't think starting at age 7 held me back, so if she doesn't want to do it now, just try again in a year or three.

My son doesn't play any sports. According to him sports are terrible. His exact words as we drove past the Oak Ridge Military Academy where a game was going on a few years ago. Fine with me. I'm not going to push him to do anything he doesn't want to.
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Besides some exercise and a good reason to get out of the house, they can be terrible. They really do play a toll on your joints as you get older. I'm feeling that these days.
 
drkelly said:
My son doesn't play any sports. According to him sports are terrible. His exact words as we drove past the Oak Ridge Military Academy where a game was going on a few years ago. Fine with me. I'm not going to push him to do anything he doesn't want to.
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Describes my oldest. He loves playing, but I don't think he likes the team aspect.
UTfball68 said:
Truth be told...after 20years of playing sports, I always said I'd rather my kids get good at chess.
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And as of this week, we started playing chess when I get home from work. I'm still undefeated, but he's getting better fast.
 
justjeepin86 said:
I think soccer is a great place to start, as @rcalexander105 said. You can't go wrong because they don't have to know anything or be any good at it, most aren't at that age. My kids have both played since that age and I have always coached, as well. Now they are 9 and 13. U4 is herding cats and you have just as many that want to run off and talk to mommy as play. My son has tried everything and now plays soccer, football, basketball, and swims in summer.

It's also a good way to meet some other parents of kid's your age. You never know, might find a new family to hang out with.
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What league do they play in?
 
UTfball68 said:
I'll expose them to all I can, and will allow them to pursue what they want...
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That has been my goal too. So far he hasn't found anything he is passionate about except talking, LOL. He will wear your ears out.
 
I started all of mine with tee-ball. 1st boy (now 9) from age 4 we did tee-ball, soccer, basketball, whatever the local parks and rec had going on, we tried. We've stick with baseball and basketball mostly. The 2nd 2 (boy and girl) are a year apart and we've done tee ball and one did a season of soccer too. It's good for the for skill and social development, as well as just getting them off their butts and out in the fresh air.

Until about the 7-8 year old leagues, it's just cat herding, but it's still a lot of fun. From there they get to learn how to play as part of a team, what winning and losing feels like, what practicing or not practicing can do for your performance. You also start to see coaches and parents that take things way too seriously, but it's still good life lessons.

I would like to see if they are into any karate or tumbling perhaps. Once they are in middle school if they are still interested, I'd support them doing team sports or track, swim, etc. The way I see it, physical health is much easier to maintain than to get back.
 
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I was reminded of this thread today... would you miss out on a family gathering so your kid could play in a rec soccer game? :rolleyes:
 
trailhugger said:
I was reminded of this thread today... would you miss out on a family gathering so your kid could play in a rec soccer game? :rolleyes:
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Really depends on the age of the kid in question.
For our two sports were Uber important . To them not because of us. We use them as a source of education and community and talk about the importance of a greater good than self.
In other words, you don’t have to play anything but once you commit you are putting the team first. You don’t skip a practice or a game because something more fun come along - you committed to your teammates to be there for them.

So in that vein we have missed cookouts or birthday parties or even just things we wanted to do to ensure our kids fulfilled their obligations.
 
Ron said:
Really depends on the age of the kid in question.
For our two sports were Uber important . To them not because of us. We use them as a source of education and community and talk about the importance of a greater good than self.
In other words, you don’t have to play anything but once you commit you are putting the team first. You don’t skip a practice or a game because something more fun come along - you committed to your teammates to be there for them.

So in that vein we have missed cookouts or birthday parties or even just things we wanted to do to ensure our kids fulfilled their obligations.
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I get the principle of what you were doing... but these kids are 5 and 7 and I guarantee they missed soccer to go to the beach.
 
trailhugger said:
I get the principle of what you were doing... but these kids are 5 and 7 and I guarantee they missed soccer to go to the beach.
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Hence why I said age dependent.
Then again little sally is going to get a scholarship Soccer is serious business at that age
 
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