How to Choose the Best Sport for Your Child

You already know the benefits of youth sports, like teamwork and physical activity, but how do
you know the best sport for your child to play? Some children show interest toward something
specific early on, yet others need a little more guidance. With so many sports to choose from,
helping your child make this decision can feel overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. We created this simple guide to ease your stress and relieve anxiety.
With a few tips and strategies, you can feel confident that the sport you choose will be right for
your child, leading to months (or years) of enjoyment and activity.

What to Consider When Picking a Youth Sport

The first thing to consider is always whether or not you’re projecting your own interests onto
your child. This can be hard for many parents to hear. If you played a particular sport yourself
(and are an active fan), your first instinct may be for your child to play baseball or football or
whatever sport you personally love.

Projecting your own interests, though, will hurt your child in the long run. He or she may easily
lose interest, experience social problems, or be at an increased risk of injury if the sport isn’t
suited for them. Be mindful of what your child likes, even if it isn’t a sport you previously
considered.

Body Type and Activity Level

Is your child already physically active with a lot of energy? Physically demanding sports like
soccer or basketball might be a good choice. Is your child more interested in low impact
activities and/or needs to work up endurance or strength? Dance or martial arts may be more
enjoyable.

Some body types are better suited to particular sports more than others. That doesn’t mean
your child can’t participate in something he or she loves; it means there may be a few more
challenges to overcome. Being aware of your child’s physical limitations will help you offer the
right support when needed.
Interest and Personality
To figure out which sports your child is most interested in, start exposing them to different
experiences as soon as possible. Even though watching sports on TV is a great introduction,
taking your kid to live games will help them understand everything involved and the actual
environment.

After your child is a spectator in a variety of sports, give them a chance to sample each one. Go
play baseball in the park. Swim some competitive laps in the pool. Try some gymnastics moves
or go ice skating. Giving your child the opportunity to try out several activities is not only fun, but
your child will know right away if he or she doesn’t like something.
Personality is also a factor. If your child is more outgoing, team sports may be most appealing. If
your child is introverted, sports where they can rely on their own skills, like golf or gymnastics,
might be best.

Here are some questions you and your child can go over to help gauge interest and personal
preferences:
Does your child like to challenge him/herself?
Do they like to work with others?
Do they like indoor or outdoor environments?
Do they like to compete against themselves or previously set records?
Do they show interest in combat movements (martial arts)?
Do they like to be creative and link together movements for aesthetic quality (dance)?
Do they like the idea of using something to hit a ball?
Do they like water activities?

A Comprehensive List of Youth Sports to Consider
So far, you’ve learned what to avoid when selecting a sport for your child and some ways to
discover what your child is drawn to (and most likely to stick with). To further help your decision,
here’s a list of youth sports grouped by type and personality traits (some fall into multiple
categories):

Highly Competitive / Invasion
Personality type:
● Likes teamwork and being around peers
● Enjoys the idea of attacking or defending
● Extroverted
● Likes competition
● Enjoys outdoor environments
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Football
● Ice Hockey
● Lacrosse
● Rugby
● Soccer
● Basketball
● Field Hockey
● Flag Football
● T-ball

Water Sports
Personality type:
● Loves swimming and playing in the water
● Enjoys being indoors or outdoors
● Introverted
● Likes challenging him/herself
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Swimming
● Surfing
● Diving
● Water Polo
Net and Wall
Personality type:
● Likes more separation from competitors (non-contact)
● Interested in hand-eye coordination games
● Introverted
● Enjoys using a racket
Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Badminton
● Tennis
● Table Tennis
● Volleyball

Non-Competitive
Personality type:
● Likes activity but not competition
● Interested in self-development and personal goals
● Introverted
● Prefers solo activities and indoor environments
Suggested Sports / Activities (can also be done competitively and with a team):
● Dance
● Roller Skating
● Skateboarding
● Water Polo
● Martial Arts
● Indoor Climbing
● Gymnastics
● Frisbee
● Figure skating
● Skiing
● Snowboarding
● Biking
● Cheerleading

Striking and Fielding
● Likes teamwork and being around peers
● Extroverted
● Likes making tactical decisions
● Enjoys using a bat
● Likes being outdoors

Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Softball
● Baseball
● Lacrosse
Skill Based
● Likes refining skills to score points
● Introverted
● Enjoys learning how to use equipment
● Likes indoor or outdoor environments

Suggested Sports / Activities:
● Track and field
● Golf
● Bowling
● Archery
● Racing
● Skiing
● Snowboarding
● Skating
● Biking
● Gymnastics
● Wrestling

Now that you’ve figured out the best sport for your child, you can start shopping for a uniform!
We create custom uniforms for any sport you can imagine - we can even make t-shirts for
parents to support their young athletes.