Sports for non-sporty but love sports DC

[MercedesDeMonteChristo]

DS1 is almost 12. He is pretty academic and loves board games and quizzes etc in his spare time. However, he loves football and in fact PE. He seems to have come to terms with the fact that he can't play in a team because though he tries really hard and loves it he is not as good as his peers. He has decided as soon as he hits 14 to do a referee course to satisfy his interest. But recently he tried rugby and is upset because he really isn't that great and can see it against the others. He really wants to play sport but once you get passed about 10 there doesn't appear to be any fun clubs anymore.

Does anyone have any advice or stories of DC managing to pursue a sport but not be brilliant and still get joy from it?

Lots of bowling clubs run days to let kids try bowling.

Watersports (kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, rowing, sculling) -- all fab for "non-sporty" dc (like mine). Also climbing.

Our local cricket club is very inclusive at this age. There might be some courses on locally at the moment. I know our local County Cricket Board have started some this week. Our DD is a year younger than your DS but essentially the same. She did Karate for a long time and now does climbing and cricket. She did like Hockey but the training clashed with Cricket so she stopped.

DS has tried a lot of different sports through Scouts. Would he be interested in that?

Hockey has a lot of late starters as often boys don't try it until secondary school.

Canoeing can also lead to kayak water polo.

You don't have to be able to win a tennis match with cardio tennis. Lots of clubs run this year round. There is always music!

He sounds similar to my friend's son, who has found great enjoyment with indoor climbing.

Cycling- several different types...

Fencing is a great sport for chess lovers. Ideally try and find a club that offers all 3 weapons. I know a few late starters who have made international teams although there is a lot more focus on athleticism than in my day. Refereeing is great too - very supportive collegiate atmosphere currently in the UK.

Other sports that might appeal if racquet sports work (I was fairly pants at hitting balls but decent with a sword) would be table tennis, badminton and squash.

Give cricket a try, dd likes it and it’s really inclusive.

Dd plays in a football team, holds no trials and just accepts anyone, up to 20 girls. Some are great, some good and a fair few not so much.

Dd has been in the team 7 years and lives it, they compete, haven’t won any trophies but been great for friendships etc.

Shame more teams aren’t the same....

team games are anything but, especially at school. loads of great suggestions on here which you will note do not involve balls - avoid such sports and he can enjoy and improve without the bullying.

been there!

All the 'Outdoor Ed' sports
Climbing
Kayaking
Rowing
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Sailing
etc.

When 1 of mine did triathlon, they were wonderful - don't knowif this was the specific club or if it is the sport as a whole, but the whole emphasis was on improving your own technique / skills / experience / times, and not competing against others, so there were no concerns about anyone being "let down". A really welcoming sport.

Also, take heart from the fact that once he gets to be an adult, there is a standard of football for everyone. there are hundreds of leagues of players with huge variance in their ability. My ds never made it into a team as a child or teen, but is now loving playing Sunday morning league with his mates, at their own standard