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Original poster

What would you say is the best sport for boys?

81 replies

isitworthitUK · 19/09/2021 18:42

I'm thinking of putting my nearly four year old into something.
What do people recommend, I am thinking maybe tennis?
Tennis? Rugby? Cricket? Football?

I always liked/thought my sons would do rugby but I feel like it's maybe too dangerous/too many injuries...

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Original poster
isitworthitUK · 19/09/2021 19:38

Thanks for the replies. I didn't really mean it as a boys/girls/a sport that's just for boys type thing. I just have a boy and wondered what other people had found good.
Maybe should have elaborated, sorry.

Thanks for the tips, I hadn't thought of a martial art and would love something like that that instills discipline abs respect. Great suggestions thank you.

He's not in reception yet, good point about being tired. Maybe I'll try and book swimming again (seems so hard to find somewhere at the moment!) and then try out a few others.

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NuffSaidSam · 19/09/2021 19:38

Swimming. Because it's the only sport that can save your life. It's the only sport you need to do.

Ballet is good for strength and flexibility, team work and great for listening and following instruction.

Martial arts are good for similar reasons. Gymnastics. Trampolining.

If he's the sort of child who needs running like a dog then....running or football or multisports.

It really depends on what he likes though.

Original poster
isitworthitUK · 19/09/2021 19:40

He's really high energy but up for the fun rather than competitive. He can also be quite lazy and won't do anything he doesn't want to.

His school does do ballet and his (male) friend does it but he isn't really interested.

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HarrisMcCoo · 19/09/2021 19:45

We stick to only one activity a week. Luckily older three love judo, but youngest is naturally into gymnastics. The child in P1 couldn't cope with more than one activity a week because he is tired from school. Just something to bear in mind. 4yo is really young still. As they get older they should be able to cope with more activities. Depends on your schedule as well.

In normal times, the older ones had judo competitions to compete in as well as regular classes at the dojo. Also consider this if you go down the martial arts route.

NuffSaidSam · 19/09/2021 19:45

Trampolining is a good one in terms of big energy/high fun/low competitiveness.

Peabody25 · 19/09/2021 19:48

DS8 has tried football when younger and gone back to it again now, also been doing taekwondo for a few year and still loves it, as well as loving swimming.

They're doing tag rugby in school and he seems to enjoy that as well.

drpet49 · 19/09/2021 19:49

Hockey

LimitIsUp · 19/09/2021 19:53

Not rugby or boxing.

Rugby because the injuries aren't worth it

Boxing because thumping your opponent isn't a sport

Other than that - whatever he fancies

BikeRunSki · 19/09/2021 19:57

DS(13) has tried a few, and settled on swimming, archery, cricket and mountain biking. He’s a pretty handy indoor climber too.

He didn’t really like football and hated rugby. Ambivalent about judo and karate.

Dd(9) likes pretty much everything he doesn’t.

LimitIsUp · 19/09/2021 19:57

Interestingly my dd (19) who played netball and football and was a sprinter, says that when she has dc she will get them into gym tots because physically as a family we are all genetically disposed towards being strong (build muscle very quickly), and fast but all of us seem to have an issue with flexibility (lack of)

Hockeyboysmum · 19/09/2021 20:07

Over the years my 12 year old has done
Football since 2 and still plays
Ice hockey since 4 and still plays
Swimming
Taekwondo
Run jump and throw
Rugby
Tennis

He much prefers team sports

Didyousaynutella · 19/09/2021 20:20

Socially it’s football. My son avoided for a while playing tennis and gymnastics. But they are all individual sports. His friends were playing football at school and he got left out so eventually was if you can’t beat them join them. Now he loves being on a team. It has helped him immensely socially at school.

Simonjt · 19/09/2021 20:25

It depends what they like really.

My son (6) does rugby, dance (ballet) and swimming, he isn’t a great fan of the swimming as he finds it boring, he likes rugby but dance is by far his favourite.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 19/09/2021 20:25

I think gymnastics is excellent for overall fitness. Not bad to watch either.

IMO learning to swim is necessary for safety but getting into swimming as a sport is tedious for the parent. It means you'll be sitting on a sweaty poolside watching children swimming lengths for 2 hours a night. Boring. (I was a child swimmer. I now realise how much of a saint my mum was!).

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 19/09/2021 20:27

Just give him opportunities. He is 4 he doesn't need to decide what his main sport will be. I know boys (if we are going to go down the boy track rather than just the child track) who dance, swim, play rugby, football, do martial arts, gymnastics, cycle or run. And those who don't really do an organised sport.

At this age I would go for swimming lessons as it is an important skill. Anything else can develop later.

spurs4ever · 19/09/2021 20:37

As a veteran football Mum I'd advise you to encourage anything indoors Grin
Personally, I would get him swimming lessons as that's a sport that could save his life one day. Then you could always try a few taster sessions and she what he enjoys. Maybe a couple of different sports which use different areas - ie football for leg strength and basketball for upper body? Just let him try what he fancies x

Embracelife · 19/09/2021 20:39

He is four!

Just choose something that runs local to you and the time of the class suits and the teacher and kids (and parents) are nice.
If he hates it try another

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 19/09/2021 20:40

As a veteran football Mum I'd advise you to encourage anything indoors

Totally get where you're coming from but Cricket might be the exception. It's definitely a Summer sport and they even call it off it rains Smile

EnjoyingTheSilence · 19/09/2021 20:44

Let him try everything and decide what he likes, although swimming was an absolute must for us

Muchmorethan · 19/09/2021 20:45

Learning to swim was non negotiable for my boys. Hugely important life skill and one that could save his life. Also certain waterparks insist that participants can swim.

Apart from Sports, investigate Scouts, Boys Brigade etc

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/09/2021 20:48

Difficult question. What’s he like? (personality - team or solo?)

GoodnightGrandma · 19/09/2021 20:50

My DS had too many injuries from rugby at school, his knee is still knackered now, so I wouldn’t suggest it.

spurs4ever · 19/09/2021 20:51

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent

As a veteran football Mum I'd advise you to encourage anything indoors

Totally get where you're coming from but Cricket might be the exception. It's definitely a Summer sport and they even call it off it rains Smile

And the plus side is usually a bar nearby.......Wink
WillaWeatherspoon · 19/09/2021 20:51

I enrolled my 4yo at football training because football definitely has social currency at school, the boys (and some of the girls) kick a ball around at playtime. So I thought it would help him to make friends in Reception.
Sadly he is neither good at football nor interested in it so I'm looking at all the suggestions on the thread with interest to see what we could try next!

MyOtherProfile · 19/09/2021 20:53

Football. It's great to do a team sport and be part of something.