Best sports for a 7 year old to learn? He hates football and rugby.

[Nicksschiffon]

I just want to give him some sporting skills for the future if he needs them, and keep his fitness up.

Something he wants to do.

What does he want to do?

Karate or martial arts for self defence, gymnastics for strength and translates well to loads of other sports, tennis, swimming? There’s loads of them! what does he like?

Rock climbing/bouldering
Parkour is very cool
Sailing etc
Dry slope skiing/snow sports
Cricket or other team sports
Martial arts are an excellent one
Street dance classes

Put him in scouts or similar outdoorsy adventure club?

My DS also hated football and rugby. We signed him up for karate, swimming and DH also took DS and his friend indoor climbing at the local climbing wall every week.

Mine love tennis

Play Minecraft. So no, I need to decide

Athletics, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, cricket, ice skating, dance?

What is it he doesn't like about football and rugby?

If he hates those is it team sports he hates or ball sports? Or just sport or competition? Swimming is a useful life skill and doesn't need to be competitive.

It depends what he likes?

Swimming
Park run
Cricket
Judo
Dance
Padel/Tennis
Hockey

Dance? Ballet, Jazz or tap. i would avoud streetdance at this point.

Fencing is fun!

Great! Will add climbing to the list.

He does tennis and swimming outside of school. He loves swimming, tolerates tennis.

We're also planning to take him and his brother to the driving range and let them hit a few balls.

Could you sign him up to a couple of things for half a term and see if he likes them? I’d definitely do swimming if he can’t already swim and one other. Sorry just seen your post re swimming and tennis!

You've brought back really happy memories of fencing on a school sports away week 🥰

He can't bear it. Shame.

If he loves swimming, have you looked at water polo? Think he can probably join from age 8 or so.

Mine hated anything competitive/involving contact/tackling. They’ve loved trampolining!

I think it's the team element (which is a massive shame), he likes cricket, he's starting hockey and tolerates tennis.

He's good at skiing and surfing but can't do those every weekend can we!

We did trampolining in year 1. Went down well and then he got bored. Perhaps I shouldn't have let him cancel

@NicksschiffonWhen DS did climbing, DH had to learn to belay (think it was a one off lesson with an instructor to be signed off). Once DS and his friend were old enough and responsible enough, they also learned to belay and DH just supervised. I know they have auto belaying in some places now but it wasn't a thing back then.

Local junior running club… DS hated team sports, but loves the camaraderie of this.

My son did cyclocross and triathlons. Loved cycling!

Currently he is into golf.

He loves any sport though and has done rugby, football, tennis, squash, climbing, skiiing, various water sports and swimming.

my eldest ‘non sporty’ teenager is now into climbing, canoeing, canoe polo and has been sailing.

Water polo
Sailing
Rowing (when he gets a bit older)
Kids bi and triathlon, if he likes cycling
Fives/handball
Korfball
Badminton

The skiing bit depends on your area - DS1 skis every week on dry slope but we are in Scotland and the dry slopes are council run so cheap!

If you need the childcare in school holidays then check out King's Camp and see if one is nearby. Not the cheapest but can use the childcare govt account and they do a whole heap of sports might be an easy way for him to find something he likes. Also beavers if you have a group nearby where they can try a load of different things.

Would also say check out if there is a kids park run nearby you as well - its free and he might enjoy it

If he’s already doing swimming and tennis that sounds like a lot at 7. Neither of mine did any sports at all at 7. Or we did things as a family. My 12 year old is now competitive in trampolining, so he has plenty of time to find his thing. My 7 year old does things like hiking or biking. We have taken him bikepacking. He’ll do a bit of climbing/bouldering, but as a family activity, not a class.

What about something more skills based rather than sports. Like Beavers, or from 8, Cubs. Mine have done Beavers, Cubs and now Scouts and they do a lot. Kayaking, canoeing, hiking, orienteering, cycling, climbing, archery, high ropes. But something different every week.