What activities can you start age 13 without already being behind?

[accomplishment]

I have twin DC and for various reasons they haven’t done much extra curricular stuff outside of school, apart from learning to swim but just basics no races or anything.
they don’t do any sport outside of school any more really.
just wondering whether I have left things too late for them to join in with stuff that they can make friends. I

Athletics because there are so many different things to try.

One of mine went to air cadets and the other tae kwon do

waterpolo if they can swim ok

American football in a year or so (you have to be 14 or maybe 15 actually); athletics maybe if they are good at running or throwing (they will have done some at school) – ask at your local club if they take on teenagers with no club experience; Scouts maybe but it usually goes to 14; Guides if they are girls (DD was a guide until she was almost 18 (in what her group called Senior Section); yy martial arts could be good; cycling also – DS started this when he was a teenager, tho in the end he dropped it for other sports.

@accomplishment what have they expressed an interest in?

I came on to say Archery… my husband did it pre covid and their were loads of preteens / teens with their parents…was a great community feel and still see some of them years later…x

Martial arts, cricket, hockey, army cadets, rowing fencing and sailing.

This is such a great question. It is weirdly difficult to pick things up as a teenager - there are loads of beginners courses for adults but not so much for this age group. Some great suggestions on this thread. I'd add that my DS used to go to a youth music group where you could learn to DJ.

You know that many children start martial arts at the age of 4 and can be competing at the highest levels by the time they’re teenagers?

O e of mine started table tennis at 12, just for fun and they have been going for around 18months now.

Table tennis is a great shout.

People are making some great suggestions but lots of adults take up new activities and progress well, and it’s good to be humbled occasionally. Passion is the most important thing. Good luck, I hope you find something they enjoy!

Bellringing. 13 an excellent age to start. And looking ahead, most universities have bellringing societies, and wherever they end up living (in the UK) as adults there will be a tower they can join.

Another call for rugby. Lots of children join at every age and catch up quickly as long as they have basic fitness and are prepared to work hard.

I was also going to suggest rugby

I was an Air cadet (had the choice of Air, Army or sea) no contest, nicer uniforms and the chance to fly lol. You do a lot of community work, weekend camps, rifle shooting (under really strict supervision), marching a lot lol, selling poppies and laying wreaths at Remembrance Day.

Climbing, archery, table tennis are all very accessible at any age

You missed the typo

What would they like to do?

I can add to the list Cycling and various forms of dance like Jazz, Salsa, ...

@accomplishment What do they want to do? That's the main thing really. There's no point in sending them to some activity if they don't want to do it. Also bear in mind they might want to do different things.

There's various sports that aren't particularly popular for children younger than 10 or so where your children will be beginners alongside other beginners their age. Archery and rowing perhaps?

Drama club/youth theatre
Kayaking
Choir (if they can sing)
Art club/manga/comic drawing
D&T club
Shooting targets or archery
Scouts

Parkrun?

it totally depends on what type of girls they are. My DD of a similar age does ballet(which she is doing for years )and guitar(which she has just started) but her main love is her drama group and she does debating in school. She’d start crying and be horrified if I tried to get her to join an athletics or running club. It really spends on their interests. What would they like to do?

St John Ambulance. Most areas have youth groups. Great skill set and very sociable.