American in UK

[Sarmarl]

Hello, I am from the US and living in the UK a little over a year now. I have an 8 year old girl. I'm trying to get my daughter involved in sports. I grew up playing competitive football and softball(baseball). I had practices 3 days a week and games on the weekends. It was a very big part of my life. In the US we simply sign up for a team, we don't have to try out and get picked, only when we are older. I'm looking for sports to get my daughter involved in, that will fill a lot of her time, and that she has real practices during the week and learns to compete and play, and makes close friends, as well as a good amount of exercise. All I have found here so far is Wildcats for football, but that's a sort of free play on Sundays for an hour. I wanted something a bit more structured and more often than once per week. It doesn't have to be football, any sport will do. I just want my daughter to get more active and play on a team. If it's a team sport I want it to be a girls team, not mixed with boys. Also her school clubs are not super competitive. I'm at a lost of where to look. I feel like here in the UK sports for girls is not such a big thing as the US. Or is there a sport you guys can suggest I look into? Thank you

Wow, thanks everyone for all the tips. It is a huge help. This is one of the issues that has been hardest for me to acclimate to living here as a mom. I will try to investigate more in all the areas you guys have talked about. What about for myself? I haven't played group sports for a long time, but feel it could be nice to get into something, to make friends and get more physically active. I'm generally good at any sport, and like anything really if it's competitive. Although I'm very out of shape, and in my early 40's. Is there anything you guys would recommend? Something that has a team vibe for women, not yoga, cycling, or solo type sports? Thanks so much for the help...

You could try netball as well or softball/cricket. I know quite a few women still regularly do netball well into their 40s.

Does she swim? Swimming classes till she can swim, and the look around, there are competitive club, diving ( off a board) clubs and life saving clubs all near you

There are several gymnastics clubs in and around Newcastle that have elite as well as recreational programmes. The city of Newcastle academy operates out of Benfield school in walkergate.

There are two surf schools on long sands beach at tynemouth, and a kids club for kayaking/SUP/coasteering at cullercoats. Not competitive, but active and social. They do adult sessions too (Wednesday evenings I think).

For you, maybe a women’s rugby team would suit you. There is at least one rugby club in Whitley bay. Or hockey? Newcastle hockey club has several ladies teams (depending how good you are).

If she can swim to stage 6 or beyond, she could join a swim team. Tynemouth would be the closest club for you.

Some of the martial arts clubs are open to parent and child in the same session. My kids started with a club local to you this year, and there are parent and children learning together in their group, club has a nice feel

Hockey? The hickey clubs are the most social around here and very competitive

www.whitleybaybarbarians.co.uk/

www.whitleybaysportingclub.co.uk/girls

Are you free next Sunday? A possible day out for you at the monthly "intro" windsurfing session over at Kielder! Although I recommend contacting the club to check it's not full.

My DW is one of the instructors. Parents can learn along with kids, and my DS15 has travelled all over the country for training and competitions.

kielderwatersc.org/activity/windsurfing.html

You can go horse riding and pay for as many lessons as you want.
Try your local leisure centre ( public pool and sports) There’ll usually be a notice board or you can ask one of the staff for help. Unless children are training for competitions it’s unusual to train more than once a week so you might have to choose 3 or 4 sports to fill up the time you want your daughter to be involved.

The horse riding lessons won’t be at the local leisure centre :) Look online for stables, riding lessons for children.

This one is a bit out there but climbing! Climbing is becoming quite big in the UK (it's quite big in the US right?) lots of climbing gyms knocking about, and it's very safe! She could join a juniors climbing class but you can also go when you want (adults too!) it's a crazy workout and also teaches kids lots of patience and determination.

murtonequestriancentre.co.uk/

For you, you could start by finding a running group that is going a C25K programme (or other beginners programme)

That would get you fitter - so if running proves not to be your thing, at least you're in better shape for whatever you do next.

But if you do like it, then there are lots of running groups ay varying levels, plus competitions - you'll be entering the Great North Run entry ballot in no time! And doing the Gateshead Half if you don't get a spot. And parkrun is free every Saturday - you could use it as a springboard to local tourism (and get competitive on all the unoffiicial challenges), plus your DD could do it with you, or she runs parkrun junior on Sundays and you volunteer

Park run would be a good start but obviously not a team event.

If you are completely unfit maybe try 'walking sports'. Basically team sports like football and netball but you are not allowed to run, only walk.

www.justgetactive.co.uk/get-involved/walking-sports/

Orienteering? www.britishorienteering.org.uk/index.php?pg=find_a_club&varAreaSubmit=1&varAssociation=3

It's sort of running and treasure hunting combined, it's usually done on foot but you can also do canoe or mountain biking.

İ agree with what previous posters have said. Sporty kids here tend to do multiple sports rather than loud is training with one sort. Training twice a week + game on a weekend doesn't tend to happen until High School level and it's usually term times only (sometime week long "camps' available).
A good local cycling club might be worth trying, lots of them have good youth development and are quite social.

Just a plea not to push your daughter into team sports if she's a little introverted. She will probably hate it. I know I would. I love the outdoors though and keep healthy and fit with hill walking as well as gym and pilates.

You don't have to be in a team to keep physically active. Horse riding and swimming might fit the bill- both excellent exercise. How about some hill walking with her? You have some fab countryside right on your doorstep.