Flu I can totally understand your dilema…. it is a really tough call. My two boys are entirely different… my older one loves all sports but is addicted to baseball. He is really good, all star level and would play select if his mom would let him but she will not. Beyond that anything with a ball he will play…. from organized to pickup including things like dodgeball… kickball… etc… The younger one, by 15 months is entirely different… while he is stronger and faster then the older one, his hand eye coordination is not quite as good. He can be better at sports then the older one but is only lukewarm on them. As much as I would like to push him I am careful not to so he picks and chooses what he plays to an extent. For instance he likes hockey alot but he skates like crap and because of that he doesn’t go hard and at times just doesnt try. So I told him when he wanted to play recently that if he didn’t try hard then he wouldn’t play… so that is what happened, he joined, he didn’t try so we stopped…. Fall baseball is starting soon and my oldest is ready to go, my younger one asked if he could play and if so would I coach so of course I said yes.
The problematic issue with organized sports is that they are competitive quick… By 7/8 the quality of the experience will vary with the childrens ability in most all the teams for most all the types of sports that are commonly available for kids. It is just the way it is. I did practice with my kids alot and have always been good at sports from ice hockey to capture the flag and everythning in between. So getting out and playing with them in the park or at the rink or tennis court or whatever is just something I do with them independent of them playing in any league. Time spent with them is what counts.
I do believe that Allan brought up really good points that sports can help develop positive personality traits and life experiences. Don’t be afraid of individual sports as well, tennis for instance. They are great ways to spend alone time with your child and there are lots of tennis teams and stuff.
Anyways thumbs up to any sport… yes it is a crapshoot about how positive the experience will be but life is that way. Your child will get more out of it when you are there to share it with.
