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Non-team sports for kids (primary age)

27 replies

Dreambyme · 04/05/2024 13:31

What non-team sports do your DC do? I’m looking for ideas to suggest to DS(9), as we’re coming to the conclusion that team sports are not his thing (we have not told him this). Also not a naturally sport child either, and needs to improve his fitness.

He’s been learning basketball for about 8 months and tbh while he says he enjoys it, he’s hopeless at it, just like football - he seems to like the running around bit and the ball practice drills but actually avoids the ball coming his way 🙈. The coaches also seem to have disregarded him as we’ve noticed they don’t bother correcting his techniques much anymore, but they do with most of the other kids.

He already swims (lessons plus leisure pool visits, not competitive), Street Dance and basketball.

In the past he has tried:
Football (didn’t like it plus hopeless at it)
Kickboxing (2 years, grew to hate it)
Karate (boring)
Bike riding (doesn’t like)
Badminton - did 1 session at school & wasn’t fussed

Athletics - he really enjoyed a 2-day holiday club at our local Club last year but it’s invite-only to join and over-subscribed with a long waiting list; it’s also well known to only offer to the cream of crop, hence the holiday clubs to sift through the kids on it and DS didn’t an offer to join. I can’t seem to find a place that does athletics purely for fun and exercise, instead of nurturing future athletes.

Running - quite likes it but his running style is all out of kilter so he would need to be taught how to improve this, I assume through a club. I can’t take him to a Park Run as it says an adult has to be with a child of his age at all times and I am unable to run due to a spinal injury. He tried out for a cross-country event at school this week but didn’t get offered a place.

In school PE they are currently doing tennis and cricket and he says he likes the tennis so we are going to do a trial class somewhere, but cricket he isn’t fussed about he says.

We’d like him to try something else, hence considering non-team sports and seeking ideas to what other DC do. We know he’s not sporty at all but we’re not having him be sedentary either.

OP posts:
tealandteal · 04/05/2024 13:32

Came on to say taekwondo but you have tried a few martial arts already.

Pipersouth · 04/05/2024 13:34

Trampolining is a good one

UnendingSaga · 04/05/2024 13:34

You could try a junior parkrun, they are on a Sunday and a 2km course rather than 5km. Kids can run those without an adult (you just need to bring him).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Elsewhere123 · 04/05/2024 13:35

Jogging just round the block so safe with a story on his headphones so he doesn't get bored.

reluctantbrit · 04/05/2024 13:35

Horse riding.

PuttingDownRoots · 04/05/2024 13:37

My DD climbs. (As in proper lessons, not just clipnclimb play centre).
They've also had skiing lessons previously

powershowerforanhour · 04/05/2024 13:38

Orienteering is a good one for children and there are different difficulty levels and lengths of courses and you can run or walk.

whosaidtha · 04/05/2024 13:38

They can do junior park run unaccompanied. It's 2k. Or is there a relative or friend who could take your son round the 5k? It's really good for general fitness, burning energy and parkrun is super supportive. Also you could volunteer if he ran with someone else.

Needanewname42 · 04/05/2024 13:46

Dryslope skiing, or snowboard
Tennis
Badminton
Ice skating
Any kind of dance, from hip hop to ballet, or ballroom.

TBH Walking is probably as good as anything

NormalAuntFanny · 04/05/2024 14:01

Fencing if there's a club nearby, DS who is very anti team sport and completely non-violent loves it. There's a slightly nerdy and pretty mixed boy/girl crowd where he goes.

longdistanceclaraclara · 04/05/2024 14:07

Tennis, swimming, squash, padel

JessicaBrassica · 04/05/2024 14:27

Canoeing?
Another vote for climbing.

Both great for kids who aren't necessarily the most coordinated.

RainyTulips · 04/05/2024 14:27

Rowing?

Beamur · 04/05/2024 14:30

Climbing
Boxing
Rugby - I know you were after non team sport, but rugby has a better reputation for being inclusive for kids and the different roles require different skills/physique
Dance/gymnastics

WeightoftheWorld · 04/05/2024 14:33

Swimming
Judo (very different from Karate although another martial art)
Table tennis
Horse riding
Dance - tons of different types to choose from
Gymnastics
Trampolining

But I don't think it matters what his performance is like in a sport if he enjoys it, it's good for his health and development and he will learn skills even if slowly.

Boxerdor · 04/05/2024 14:37

Roller skating?

Pontipinecity · 04/05/2024 14:38

I agree with others see if there is. Junior parkrun nearby. Kids of all speeds do it locally and although there are some fast ones there’s plenty that aren’t.

TeenDivided · 04/05/2024 14:39

ice skating?

GardenGnomeDefender · 04/05/2024 14:40

Gymnastics
Any martial art

wejammin · 04/05/2024 14:46

My autistic son hates team sports, he's enjoyed bouldering, skateboarding, parkour and archery.

thedendrochronologist · 04/05/2024 14:50

Pickleball seems popular at my local centre

londonmummy1966 · 04/05/2024 14:53

Another vote for fencing - most clubs have kit for the children to borrow so its not as expensive as it looks. The weapons vary so a very rules focused child might like foil whilst someone else might find epee more fun.

Watersports - kayaking perhaps rather than rowing so he doesn't get his blade tangled up with everyone else?

LadyPips · 04/05/2024 14:54

My DS is 14 but was exactly the same regarding team sports. He tried lots of different sports but we stopped forcing it a few years ago.
He now just goes for a run a few times a week for fitness and his activities after school are piano and drum lessons. He did coding for a while also and still does a bit at home.

Newuser75 · 04/05/2024 14:56

Horse riding
Ice skating
Climbing
Cycling

Popfan · 04/05/2024 15:31

Golf!

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