What sports does your 8yo do?

[Coffeeforus]

I am interested to know what sports or other sporting activities your DC of around 8yrs does please?

DS(8) isn’t sporty but he’s not the total opposite either. We are just finding that nothing ‘sticks’ with him, he will never practice or do the sport for fun outside of lessons so he doesn’t progress much.

In the football, kickboxing and karate classes other children have told him he is useless which has really knocked his confidence and as of today, he’s now refusing to return to karate (the other two he quit in the last year). He does swimming, Cubs and Street Dance (he loves the latter).

He did two trial lessons of basketball which he seemed to enjoy, but tbh I don’t think team sports are for him (like in football, he seemed to just run around and not really go after the ball like the other children do). But I wonder if cricket might be a better way to trial as it seems more clear cut about what to do??

We just want him to be active and enjoy the sport as he can be inclined to want to sit around gaming given half the chance.

What about trying athletics? You might have a club for kids on your area.

8year olds don’t need to practice sport, doing it for fun in the lesson or club time in fine! Perhaps he doesn’t stick at it because you’re putting too much pressure on him and expecting too much?

DS9 (nearly 10) does taekwondo and swimming lessons. We don't make a big thing of practicing out of lessons until he's coming up to grading time for taekwondo and that's just a reminder so he's not as nervous on the day.

He's done tennis at a holiday club and we go to the nearby park tennis courts on a weekend and he really enjoys it.

We're also getting him a trial in parkour lessons and an archery set for his birthday to give those a try.

He used to play football for a local team and loved the training but hated the matches as he couldn't get the idea of what he needed to be doing and just didn't have the enthusiasm. Taekwondo he's done for the last 5 years though and really loves it.

If he loves street dance how about trying another type of dance or maybe gymnastics?

My 7 year old just does swimming and football once a week each (and choir).

Climbing might suit him if there is somewhere local

Two physical activities seems ok to me though

If he loves dance maybe skateboarding or parkour would be good to try? The balance and agility comes in handy.

Or ice skating!

Skateboarding? DS has done lessons since a similar age and LOVES it. He comes out of each class soaking with sweat so must be a fair workout too

DS 9 does rugby cricket and tap dancing
DS 7 does ballet, modern and tap.
They both do swimming lessons.

I think at this age not practicing outside of lessons is fine. If they enjoy the lessons that's good they don't have to be training to be future sports men.

He doesn't need to practise outside of lessons unless he is doing grades or intends to compete.

See if your area has a multi sport club so he can try lots of things, different things have suited my DD at different stages and it's always taken about 3 months to really get settled in, normally it happens when she is no longer the 'new' girl and can help teach the new people some skills.

When she was 8 she swam competitively, did a recreational tennis club and a bushcraft club.

When she started High school she dropped all of the above for rugby. I love rugby and wish I'd got her involved earlier our club has such a nice feel to it, there aren't the same politics as when she was involved in dance/drama in her infant days or even the politics amongst parents in swimming.

You also need to take how much money you are willing to spend, how much time you as a family can put into his sport and any other children that you have when picking a sport as some get very expensive and very intensive early whereas others don't.

Swimming competitively even at 8 years old = upto 5 x 1 hr swim sessions, competitions around the county over both Saturday and Sunday with your child only in the pool for 3 mins maximum. Swim England registration, swimwear (which can get very expensive for race suits £100+), training aids, monthly pool subs (ours were £34) race fees for each event.

Rugby 1 x mid week training session and either a match or training on Sunday. Clubs fees for the year (ours are £70), match season runs Sept - April/May, mouthguard, boots, socks, shorts, top to train in and match shirts are from the club.

Sounds like he prefers individual sports. Have you tried gymnastics or another dance? DC does figure skating and that will fit someone who likes dance very well. With both gymnastics and figure skating, you get to do a Christmas show. My DC didn’t stick with ballet but you need to have put in a lot more years to get to the show in dance than gymnastics and skating in our experience.

Also, activities / sport doesn’t have to be an organised session. Do you do exercise / do activity as a family? Walk, hikes, cycling, adults run while he rides a bike or scooters, hire kayaks, paddle boarding, bouldering, parkrun / junior parkrun together (ok, that’s organised but you can all do it), family fun sessions at swimming, do a Joe Wicks PE session off you tube, online yoga……

Why do you think he needs to practice between lessons? DD did a variety of sports and never did anything.

Honestly, with swimming and dance he already does two sports. Cubs is a good physical activity as well if they offer outside activities. If he is into Street dance, then look for another dance class, musical production or even drama classes.

If you are concerned about gaming, you need to sort this out at home, give him a certain amount of time per day and expect him to occupy himself otherwise, reading, craft or go outside and cycle/run together.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone which I’m going to look onto. I had no idea you can have lessons for skateboarding- he was given one which he has never used.

For the martial arts he’s done - karate and kickboxing - these are graded activities so you need to practice in between classes. He just can’t be bothered and now wonders why he isn’t grading next week with some of the other kids - it’s because he doesn’t demonstrate the competence needed to even do the first Kata for grading. He said he wanted to quit but on the way home today he wants to do it a bit longer, but where do you draw the line and say enough? MA are graded activities and he’s going nowhere so far..

My daughter's favourite sports that she stuck with and still continues to do in her teens (actually wants to become a professional athlete in future ):

horse riding 🏇
rock climbing 🧗‍♀️

Other sports she likes a lot, but just does for fun:

athletics;
cycling;
skiing;
swimming;
ice skating;
street dance.

Sports she enjoys at school:

trampolining;
golf;
cricket;
netball.