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Rachel May
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| Posted: Nov 01 2008 at 2:15pm | IP Logged
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I'm curious how you and your children choose the sports they participate in.
Today Bill and I were discussing that while all of our kids say they enjoy soccer, some are better able to engage on the field. Some get in and play well, others play but are hesitant, and others watch with mild interest and engage at the minimum level required.
I thought that there might be a personality component to choosing a sport. Are certain personality types more inclined towards sports where you perform alone or in smaller groups but support a team (like swimming or tennis) and others drawn towards larger team sports (like football)? Are some suited to the slow play of baseball or golf and others to a faster paced sport like soccer?
Our goal for our kids in sports is for them to learn to love an active/althetic lifestyle. We do not want superstars but rather children who have a lifelong love of...ummm...not sitting on front of the tv.  If we could guide them towards sports that suit their personalities, I think that would be better than our current try-it-and-see method.
Any insights?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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mellyrose
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| Posted: Nov 01 2008 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
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My boys are 6 and 8 (in a couple weeks) We originally chose tball 4 years ago because the price was right ($30 for the season through parks & rec). Both boys have played every fall and proceeded from tball to coach pitch. This year, Nate showed that he has some real skill and enjoys the game, so we're looking at moving him into Little League this spring (more money, more time, but seems worthwhile because he enjoys the game)
A couple weeks ago the boys started a flag football league (through parks and rec again) This is their first year, and so far they're having fun. It's much too soon to tell if either has a skill or real love for the game, so if they like it - we'll likely continue with parks and rec for a couple years.
I didn't grow up doing ANYTHING athletic while my DH was involved in many sports. I want my kids to love activity and sports, so we're trying to make opportunities available to them. We're limited by funds, but I try to provide something when we can. Nate really would like to play soccer and take karate, and Colin would like to play basketball, but funds/time haven't allowed that to happen yet. Maybe next year. I want them to play a variety of sports when they're young so that they can find what they really enjoy.
I think you have to have a "try it and see" attitude when they're little.
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Melanie in AZ
Colin (11/00), Nate (05/02), Lydia (04/07)
My Little Patch of Sunshine
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Veronica's Veil
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 10:15am | IP Logged
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When we had to choose a sport with our boys, we looked at the future of WHERE this sport may lead them, should they turn out to be very good at it. We know that we want to homeschool all the way through high school, looking at Basketball and Football and Baseball, in our area once they reach the high school level, in order to continue to play they would have to attend an area High School, as there is no other league for these sports outside of the school systems.
This, for us, meant these sports were unfavorable choices, UNLESS one or both boys showed a sincere interest in them. This left Soccer, Tennis, Swimming, Golf, etc... We shared our concerns with the boys and the choices we felt were best suited to them and our family overall and as a family we ended up choosing Soccer. It's very fast paced, requires team work, lots of running for our very active boys, and can continue all the way through High School in the city leagues. That was 3 years ago and we haven't regretted it yet! 
All that to say, I would advise looking more at your long term goals for your family. If you are concerned with their abilities in any one area, take them to a park and play a family game of said sport, see how they handle it and their level of interest...take that into your considerations....I hope you find the right fit for your family
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LisaR
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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My oldest two were in Soccer (parochial league, our Catholic churches and schools include homeschoolers)
and really hated it. In fact, they looked so horrible and miserable and slow (and they are in shape, athletically built kids, who can outrun anyone if they want) that we thought for a time that maybe they were uncoordinated.
We let our oldest switch over to football his freshman year. He LOVED it, and is now a starter. he wrestles as well. (for the first time as a freshman)
I've read alot over the years about ADHD boys, Sensory Integration issue boys, etc, and they all mention how contact and pressure are stimulating to those kids (hence the "brushing," weighted vests, trampoline work, etc.)
Wow, a light bulb went off for us.
(none of our kids have been diagnosed anything, but they are all VERY active, and I beleive have those tendencies)
So we let our 2nd ds do JFL this year, as a 7th grader (again, homeschoolers can participate).
He loved learning all of those plays (relating it to secret military missions) and was the runner of plays.
He really felt exhausted and strong and accomplished.
So, he will follow big brother and do wrestling club this winter too.
Basketball was another disaster for these two, and now we can see why, it was too fast paced and too much to think about in a short amount of time.
Our 3rd son was born dribbling a soccer ball. He has had a drive since 14 months, I am not kidding.
He sets up his own trainings in the basement or backyard, and probably works out at least 1-2 hours per day on his own at home besides his teams.
When we see that kind of drive, then we know our son is in the "right" sport! 
All 4 have done well for their own reasons with baseball. They bat left and my third is a lefty pitcher as well..
Personally, I was a dance team, swim team, all more individual type athletic endeavors.
I really felt at a loss and felt I missed out on some comraderie even in college with pick up intra murals, etc.'
It was important to us that our kids be lifelong confident athletes (or at least knowledgeable) and so the basic team type sports seem more "practical" than swimming , etc (no tomatoes, please, I LOVE to swim!! )
My 6 year old son has some vision issues, and so we feel like wrestling will be perfect for him.
He is very strong and of course wrestling is not intimidating to him, with 3 older brothers!!
Maria, our only girl really talks about dance, but I'm inclined in a few years to encourage soccer or something team based (and inexpensive!) as opposed to ballet or gymnastics.
My neighbor was such a good ballerina she was sent to a special boarding school for high school for ballet on the East coast, and danced through college, and then never again.
She feels like it was very impractical, she regrets all of the scars she has due to body image pressure, and laments that she missed out on so much "life", how to cope in day to day realistic (non-dance orientated) environments, etc...
sorry if this rambles!
you might just have to try things out. even the "failures" can be a learning experience.
We were so against football for so long, but I'm glad we had some experiences with soccer or basketball, at least if for the purpose of weeding them out!!
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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LisaR
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| Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 11:00am | IP Logged
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Veronica's Veil wrote:
| When we had to choose a sport with our boys, we looked at the future of WHERE this sport may lead them |
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yes, we had that mindset at first too, but then for other reasons choose to send oldest ds to Catholic high school.
I would be reluctant now, in hindsight, to discourage a true passion or love or interest in a particular sport, thinking to what might be 5 or even 10 years off in the future.
Sports laws could change, or a homeschool league could come to the area, or you might end up putting a child in school for other reasons, and they COULD participate anyway...
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Choosing a sport
