Team sports for boys

[lechatnoir]

My eldest DS (7) does quite a bit of sport but no team games like football, rugby, cricket etc & I'm wondering whether I should try & persuade him to give something a try. I think partly for social reasons it would do him good (he's struggled with friendships in the past) but also to help learn about working as part of a team. A lot of his classmates have been doing footie for sone years already so i think he'll probably not go for that as he already feels he's not goid enough to start now but cricket maybe a good one or even find a local hockey club. Any thoughts?

[cece]

My son plays rugby, I have found it excellect for his social development. 7 is a good age to start it as well.

[lechatnoir]

Thanks for the reply I do think it's something to try & encourage (assume it is still tag rugby at this age?). I'd be interested to hear any other views

[Theas18]

I'm sure it'll be tag rugby at 7. Any team stuff will be good, though in my very limited experience (with a geeky boy .. primary age footy was all about " the team" and if you weren't picked for matches then it was tough and you knew you " weren't good enough" which isn't the right thing at 7 at all.

He only started rugby at secondary age (still geeky LOL) but loved it and still does ( now aged 17) . My only reservation is his ability to damage himself in some way pretty much every season he's played, and the frustration when he can't play because of injury. I'm sure other boys bounce better and don't throw themselves into the fray with quite so much enthusiasm...

[cece]

Yes tag at U7. DS1 has just done his first season with some contact (it builds up to a bit more contact every year) in the U9s.

[iseenodust]

Cricket. Most places don't let them start before age7. It's very democratic as everyone must bat, bowl and field in the course of a game (so no waiting on the sidelines while the 'stars' just pass a football between themselves !) and it's often mixed boys & girls.

[lechatnoir]

Well 3 weeks of cricket & DS is absolutely loving it so thank you all for the replies & fingers crossed he continues to enjoy it

[lljkk]

Around here for boys, there is little tag rugby for > y2, limited-contact rugby starts instead from y3+.