Is 12 too old to start sports

[tink20]

DS has never shown any interest in any sport. I never forced the issue (because my DH and I never played sports) I did ask several times throughout the years here and there if he wanted to try this or that....the answer was always no.

But, DS just came to us last week and said he wants to learn how to play baseball, and tryout next year for the school team. A lot of the boys in his class this year, play sports. So, is it too late? or do you think with proper training and practice, he stands a chance? I am totally clueless when it comes to sports LOL.

 

[NewRVLady]

Honestly, 12-13 is when many stop playing, because high School is so competative. One of my sons quit after a couple years because he just sat the bench-the other was on a couple All Star teams and the School team, played from 7yrs old-13-so I have seen both sides.

It would be hard to get on team, if there are tryouts. if anyone can join, he would probably not play much. At our school everyone on team had to play an inning-but the really not great players were always in outfield.

 

[ashley0139]

I don't know how good his school team is, but that sounds like a very tall order. Most of the kids he will be trying out with have probably played baseball since they were 4 or 5 years old. He will have a very hard time picking up the sport well enough to be on a try out team that quickly.

 

[Southernmiss]

My kids play soccer. They know that even though they've played since age 5, there's no guarantee they'll make the high school team because there's a lot of talent out there. And my kids play year round rec soccer.

12 sadly is getting kind of old to start a sport because many kids start so young a d stick with it for years.

If it were my kid I would encourage them to start with a rec league. Our local baseball club has fall baseball which is more of a training and skills building season and the spring season is more competitive than the fall.

Ask around in your area to other sports parents about the clubs in your area. Try it out at the rec level before aiming for school teams.

 

[laughinplace199]

My DS12 started playing baseball at 5. He could still play little league this season but won't, he's getting to that age where most kids stop or are too old for little league (ends at 12 here). Also, for baseball around here, you have to try out to be in the "majors." I'm not sure if it's like that everywhere.

DS won't try out at school because he knows he's not that good. He's doing track instead.

 

[sam_gordon]

DS has never showed any interest in any sport. I never forced the issue (because my DH and I never played sports) I did ask several times throughout the years here and there if he wanted to try this or that....the answer was always no.

But, DS just came to us last week and said he wants to learn how to play baseball, and tryout next year for the school team. A lot of the boys in his class this year, play sports. So, is it too late? or do you think with proper training and practice, he stands a chance? I am totally clueless when it comes to sports LOL.

Check your your area. There's probably a recreational league he can get involved in. That's the good news. The bad news is signups are probably too late for the spring season. They may have a fall season though. If he's interested, see if there are any summer camps/clinics for beginning players.

Depending on how the school team is organized, he may make the team and not get much playing time, he may make the team and get playing time on a 'B' or 'C' team, or he may not make the team.

IMO, 12 is not "too late" for sports, but he will be "behind" others who have been playing for 5-6 years. But, as PP mentioned, they'll start dropping out from burnout/lack of skill.

The key right now is finding good coaching. If your DS is coordinated and has good eye/hand coordination, he could excel.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD plays soccer- she started at age 4. She made her JV team for the second year in a row, but there are a lot of girls who tried out who got cut that have played for several years at least. Team sports in general are very competitive and tough to get into at the HS level if kids don't have a lot of experience and play on a competitive club team.

I would say that 12 is a little old to be starting out in a team sport. Encourage him to play rec league to get some experience before he tries out for school ball. Be realistic with him- he might not make the school team, and if he does, expect him to sit the bench a lot.

Is he at all interested in any individual sports like martial arts, cross country running, or tennis? Those tend to be easier to start at an older age.

 

[Art 1]

That would be a very tough age to start playing baseball where I live in Florida. Around here sports are very competitive. But if the child is very, very gifted in sports he could pull it off, you will know if he is in no time at all.

 

[Bluestars]

I think the suggestion to start him out in a recreational league is a good one.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I'd absolutely encourage it. Worst case scenario he gets some exercise, sunshine, and meets some new friends but is disappointed he doesn't make the team and learns that years of hard work pay off. Best case scenario he gets some exercise, sunshine, and meets new friends and does make the team and learns that taking that first step pays off.

I don't see a downside.

 

[ICF]

At 12, he should still be able to play little league -- and most cities around here have "Babe Ruth" leagues that are for 13-15 year olds. If he enjoys baseball and doesnt make the school team, those would still be good options for him to play.

There is no harm in starting now, but most likely he will be behind skill wise compared to the other kids.

 

[Tink888]

Absolutely he'll be behind and competing for a spot against other players with years of experience but I wouldn't let it discourage him from at least trying.

He may be horrible at it or he just may have a natural talent for it and if the latter is true and he's good, his lack of experience won't matter.

It's not baseball, but Michael Strahan has said time and again on Michael & Kelly that he didn't begin playing football until his senior year of high school and went on play in college and the NFL. You never know what you can do or what will happen until you try.

 

[KulaMauiMouse]

I don't know much about baseball but I know that there are some professional soccer players who began the sport at age 10. We coach an 10year old soccer team and there are kids who started at 5 years old who are benching it. It really doesn't matter what age a kid starts.
I would encourage him to play as much as possible when not at practice. He'll becomes familiar with how he interacts with a ball and it makes a huge difference. I would also look into how you can instruct him on the nuances of the game-perhaps you have a friend or relative that can watch a pro game on TV and explain it to him.
Most importantly, have fun!

 

[marthachick]

DS didn't start football til middle school or track til high school and did very well in both. So, if he's interested, I say go for it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

It probably depends on where you live, but if you were living near me, the answer would be no, it's not too late.
The Little League and Babe Ruth leagues are open to everyone who wants to play. There are no tryouts to be on a team. Now, he might not get as much playing time as some others and he would have to be put in a position where he is less likely to be hurt until he gained more experience, but he could absolutely play. If they get more kids than they expect, they add more teams.

I will add that DS18 has played hockey since he was 3. He played fall, winter and spring in different leagues. But, when he was a freshman in High School he decided to do football. He made the JV team and then got moved up to varsity; he had never played before. He only played the one year, and then decided go back to extra hockey, but his inexperience didn't make a difference.

Does he know the rules to the game? If not, he should be watching a lot of baseball because they are unlikely to be going over the basics at this age.

Anyway, I would look into the options in your area as this can vary widely by geography.

ETA: Now that my boys are in high school, I've noticed that the majority of kids who are still playing the sports are not the ones who were the "natural" talents and getting the playing time when they were younger. They are the kids with perseverance who stuck with the sport even if they were not superstars and the ones who have supportive, encouraging parents. Early sports experience seems to have very little correlation with high school sports success.

 

[RitaE]

I have seen kids with large amounts of athletic ability pick up a sport in Junior High or High School and be great at it. Whether or not he can play for the school team really depends on the school. Some have a anybody who shows up makes the team kind of thing, some have extremely competitive tryouts.

If he can't make the school team, your local park district likely has a Rec League.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

In my area there are sports you can absolutely start at 12, or 14 or 15 and play in high school, but swimming, baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse aren't on that list. Even kids who have played for years get cut at the HS try outs.

On the other hand, football, track, wrestling, co-ed volleyball (but I think not women's volleyball) and cross country will take anyone who shows up to try outs.

 

[RunningGirl]

I think it's completely dependent upon his innate athletic ability. If he's really athletic, he will be able to pick it up and have a shot at his school team. If not, then he needs to set his expectations at playing rec ball for fun. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

 

[PizzieDuster]

My father was a high school freshman football head coach for many MANY years. He started in pop warner, coaching my brothers. He's coached over 1,000 kids. His FB is filled with prior players (girl softball & football) who are now coaching their own kids.

Anyways, he wrote a book about coaching. He has always said that his favorite type of kids to coach were the first timers. They were coachable. They worked very hard to be part of the team. The parents were great. If a small player wanted to quit, he'd try to keep them on the team as a manager. He had lots of managers.

He took all the small non starting players and made them their own special team. When the team was ahead, he put those players in (as a group) and the parents and the team would go nuts. Especially if they got a first down or something like that. The school administrators loved it. Those kids felt special and were proud to part of the team.

I say, let him see how he likes it. Baseball tournaments during Spring Break may not sound too great but he'll make lots of friends.

"This is the story of a successful southern California youth and high school football coach. ___’s success was not measured by X’s and O’s or records, even though there were plenty of wins and championships on the field. His successes, spanning a thirty-year coaching career, are in the multitude of day-to-day treasured moments shared by a coach and his team, and in the laughter and tears shed and shared by this coach and the hundreds of young men whose lives were touched, shaped and changed forever through the strength of their wills, the devotion of their teams, and the love of their coach. ____ shares Coach __s story of the daily hardships of two-a-days, the thrills of championships on every level, and the tragedy of losing a young athlete, and a son, far too soon."

 

[NotUrsula]

The likelihood of making his jr. high team is dependent entirely on the competition that he will be facing there. If you live in one of those UMC sports-mad suburbs where every house has kids, and every kid plays club sports, then maybe not, but there is no telling unless he tries.

My DS goes to a school where the teams are perpetually pretty bad (well, except for girls' volleyball, which won State last year.) He decided freshman year that he wanted to swim, and he has been able to do so for 4 years. He has never won a race (neither has anyone else on his team), but he gets good exercise, has made some good friends, and has a sport to put on his college applications. That's enough for him.

BTW, there are some of those suburbs in my area, and some of my friends live there. Apparently, in that milieu, the really stellar kids tend to think high school sports (other than football and basketball) are for also-rans; they put their concentration on club sports.