Suggestions for sports for DD12?

[Reservoir13]

Dear readers,

My 12-year old has had a difficult year with the different lock downs. She is currently playing tennis, but doesn't enjoy it. Her 10 year old sister is a quite advanced gymnast with several trainings per week. Clearly, my younger one has found 'her' sport and is excelling in it. It also matches her personality and body type as she is small, flexible and very active. Last night, my older one said she would also like to find a sport she is good at. She is already spending far too much time indoors and alone behind the screen so I would personally prefer an outdoor or team sport. We've tried soccer in the past but "the ball was too hard" . We've also tried judo but she "can never remember all the moves". Now she wants to try basketball but I'm hesitant as the ball is also quite hard there and she is quite small (well, to be honest, like her sister, she has always been the smallest of her year group). I presume that even in kids basketball length will become important soon. What other sports can you recommend? She is currently wearing insoles as the podiatrist says she has some hypermobility - it does seem to be limited to her feet/legs.
I think she has good ball control and is fast. Are we overlooking a sports? Would you have recommendations?

Hockey or cricket?

Netball and basketball would definitely be worth trying out - something she actively wants to do is a good start.

I'd add Ultimate Frisbee, if a throw/catch game is what appeals. It's such a friendly sport!

The other thing that wandered into my mind was kayaking - rather depends on whether there's a club near you. She can race, slalom, freestyle or just go touring. If near water, check out sailing as well

Swimming?

Badminton?

Climbing?

I'm going off piste and suggest ice-skating.
Yes it is individual and indoors but is very active and can also be social.

I think climbing is good for slight dc.

Rhythmic gymnastics? Needs ball/apparatus skills. Synchronised swimming, cheerleading? Ice skating and climbing as mentioned previously- all have a similar skill set. Skateboarding as well, and that can be done more socially.

Boxing. My DD has been doing this for a few years now and loves it.
Climbing is a good call. Women are making really good progress and it's very kid friendly and accessible if you haven't done it before.

Hockey. Not Uber competitive and mixed. Very sociable for adults

I would recommend she tries cricket, cricket clubs are generally desperate for girl players and very welcoming. There has also been a big push on soft ball cricket in case she gets scared of the ball because it is bloomin hard!

12 is really too late to start gym or synchro (artistic swimming now).

It does depend what you have available locally and how much time and money you have to throw at it. Some things, like diving or skating, are just not available everywhere.

Think cricket is a good shout. Or lacrosse?

I second (third?) climbing. Take a look at your local climbing/bouldering wall and see if they have kids clubs/teams. yes, she'll start off indoors, but she could sign up to some outdoors classes too. It's a really fun sport with a great sense of personal achievment - and climbing people tend to be really nice!

I agree hockey is very friendly.
Swimming or climbing good too.

12 is really too late to start gym or synchro (artistic swimming now)

Of course it isn’t. If her goal was the olympics or international competition then yes, it’s too much to catch up on. But for a recreational class or for a bit of fun you can start at any age. Most clubs even have teen or adult beginner classes. Diving and ice skating the same, but if it’s something she may enjoy and you have a facility near you then there should be fun classes to join in.

I was going to say climbing too. The autonomy & responsibility is excellent for self image and you really compete with yourself/the wall rather than others.

@reallyreallyborednow OP says the DD wants to find something she is good at. A recreational synchro class when other U12s already have grade 6 and are competing nationally is not going to give you that feeling.

People suggesting swimming very few swimming clubs have recreational squads, if she wants to find something that she is good at and where she feels good about herself then swimming is not the thing to starts at 12.

@AuntieStella

Netball and basketball would definitely be worth trying out - something she actively wants to do is a good start.

I'd add Ultimate Frisbee, if a throw/catch game is what appeals. It's such a friendly sport!

The other thing that wandered into my mind was kayaking - rather depends on whether there's a club near you. She can race, slalom, freestyle or just go touring. If near water, check out sailing as well

I'd second those ideas. Watersports can be enormous fun (whether you're 'good' at them or not). My unsporty, short DD got hooked on windsurfing and then sailing - it can be great for family participation. The club we belonged to had quite a few kids brought along by grandparents, and ran some women-only courses for mums who lacked confidence but wanted to learn instead of just watching their kids have all the fun.

Does it matter to her if she is "good" or can it just be for fun, like a fitness class?

If she wants to find something she is good at, it's probably best to pick something a bit niche that people don't start at an early age eg fencing, fives, rowing, skiing (dry or artificial snow), soft ball, ice hockey, beach volleyball.

Slightly off piste, but horse riding?

Climbing, sailing, canoeing?

Athletics - try to find one that does track and field.

Rowing - 11 is about the earliest anyone starts and contrary to what you might expect is cheap as coaches are volunteers usually and you do 't but much in the way of equipment.

Or kayaking.

Some form of dance? My oldest was 12 when she started Highland and has done fab and hopes to travel the world with it (they tour to places like China and Russia).

Lacrosse - there are clubs around

Rowing - 11 is about the earliest anyone starts and contrary to what you might expect is cheap as coaches are volunteers usually and you do 't but much in the way of equipment

We need to define “good” at something here. Something she finds naturally easy and enjoys, or something she has ambitions to make elite and/or compete in?

If she’s tiny rowing may fall under the former, but would be seriously disadvantaged if she wants to compete- you need long levers.

I’d maybe let her have a lot of trial sessions with different things, team, individual, discover if “scary” is a factor etc.

If she’s tiny rowing may fall under the former, but would be seriously disadvantaged if she wants to compete- you need long levers.

Then maybe she will make a great cox. She could row for fun (and keeping fit) and cox competitively.