"Dating for Sport"

[LipsyLo]

DD is 19, about to start her second year of uni. She had a boyfriend but they split last summer.
Im from a very religious family and while I don't practice anymore, I'd say my views on sex and dating are still very reserved. I've only ever slept with my ex husband, and only after we were engaged, been divorced over 10 years and been with no one.
Obviously I don't expect DD to be the same. She is a far more confident and attractive girl than I ever was.
We met for lunch today and I asked if she was dating anyone and she said "I'm dating but just dating for sport". She then got a call and we never got to finish the conversation. A quick google has told me that dating for sport is dating with no intention of it ever being more and dating a-lot of people.
This makes me really uncomfortable !! I'm also thinking it is probably code for sleeping around.
I'm worried she is doing this as an ego boost or something, or need gratification from men to feel good about herself.
WIBU to bring it up to her again? Ask what she meant and express concern? Or do I leave her to live her life?
Also do we think dating for sport means a series of one night stands? Just dating for the free food/drinks/coffee or what?

Interesting. I’d much much rather my DSs had a brace of casual relationships of all sorts in their late teens and early 20s and used that to find someone to commit to who was right for them. If I’d only dated and then married my first boyfriend I’d be long since divorced. It was never about a lack of confidence for me but that dating and sex are fun!

I wouldn’t have used that phrase but this how I dated until my late twenties. Lots of people don’t want to settle down and (if they want them) have kids until late twenties and thirties so might have relationships but never expect them to get super serious. It doesn’t mean you don’t meet people you like, or that you can’t form attachments but you are aware you aren’t looking to live with, marry or have kids with anyone you meet. Some people are promiscuous with it, some aren’t.

Dating is really fun and probably a cheap way for her to fill her time. It will allow her to meet all different kinds of men and work out the good from the bad so when she settles down she can spot when someone isn't long term. Leave her to it and stop worrying, it's pretty normal in today's culture and there is no way she's going to settle down with one man any time soon.

What makes you think that. Does she lack confidence and self-esteem? Did she have good role models for good treatment in relationships? Did you demonstrate love and value for her intrinsically?

I met DH at 11, we didn't become a couple until we were 25, I was too busy dating 'for sport'! I'm very very glad I did, had some great times meet some interesting people and some nightmares.

Much better to be footloose and fancy free at that age, she can do whatever she wants when she wants without considering anyone else, that's what she should be doing! She can also work out what's important to her in a partner before settling down, if she chooses to do that.
Friends who married their school/teen sweetheart very very rarely work out IME.

I also wouldn't worry about her self esteem, you say she's attractive and confident, the fact that she refers to it as sport doesn't strike me as someone looking to a variety of men for validation.