team sport for 6 yearold who's (uninvolved and) bad at sport?

[tokengirl]

Hi, I have a stereotypical nerdish 6 yearold who is uncoordinated and doesn't 'get' football. He'll stand at the edge watching everyone else play, then happily tell you how his team did, without realising he didn't do any of it.... Part of it may be that technically he's not much good, but a fair bit is that he stands and watches other people do stuff rather than get involved himself. Could anyone suggest a sport that might be suited? He enjoys it but doesn't actually do anything. Or am I being too precious and should just let him be, and it'll come good in the end (and he'll stop being such a lazy bugger....)?

Thanks - thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

My PE teacher friends think children should work on individual skills before team sports.How about building his co-ordination, strength, and fitness with gymnastics, trampolining or swimming .this will boost his ability which will give him the confidnce to get stuck in to team games.

gymnastics, judo (our judo club plays a lot of dodgeball!), swimming (more games). Anything that makes him more confident with his own body.

thanks advice very appreciated - I was thinking of adding a 'solo' sport anyway, so this has really helped.

ice skating, balance, posture, stamina tecnique
roller blading, same as above
cycling, balance stamina, depending on what type of cycling tricks or nerve challenges
running/athletics, group social and stamina and tecnique
rock climbing challenges out of comfort zone

I have an unco-ordinated 5 year old (yr 1) who started football this term, last term we did ballet to help his listening and co-ordination (was great and he loved it) he's asking to do gymnastics but no spaces - he's also done swimming since 3.5 years. I wouldn't say he 'gets' football just yet and he's definitely not great (dh and I don't like football so we've not really been taking him for a kick around)
We're still working on really getting going on a bike - he can do it without stablisers but is very stop start.

Anyway not sure if that helps - I'm a very team sport person myself so its annoying (I know that sound harsh ) that he doesn't get it but I would echo what others have said and do a solo sport, good confidence builder plus I have to say my ds can't really run well so we're trying to do more running around at park for example as if he can't be a little speedy on pitch he'll be disheartened by those running rings around him

Cricket - they don't take them from any younger so there won't be a huge skills gap. At this age everyone gets a turn at batting, bowling and catching. Where DS goes it's girls & boys together.

forgot to add dh is taking ds to try golf this week, local golf club do junior 'training', friends dd goes, I think they only start from 5 years, great for ball-eye co-ordination

I would agree with other posters - it is too soon to try to get your 6 year old involved in a team sport. You need to encourage him to build his own motor skills first - he needs to climb, hang, jump, swim, cycle, scoot, roller blade, trampoline etc on his own terms to gain confidence and control of his own body.

As others have said, I wouldn't push it now as he is only 6.

Ds joined the local football team at 7. He is terrible at sports and quite lazy. However, he has devoted a lot of energy into learning how to be a proper goal keeper and has even gone to a goal keeper holiday camp. His team really value his input now.