Kids who don't like sport

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Here are some common reasons for children not liking sport, as well as some ways to remedy the situation.

• Undeveloped skills: if a child's basic skills are still undeveloped, their lack of mastery might make them feel like a failure. If this is the case with your child, you can help him practise and perfect new skills at home where others can't see him or judge him. Your child can also practise with his siblings if he feels comfortable with that.
• Over-competitive environment: the coach, teacher or other players might be too competitive for some children. An aggressive environment or pressure to perform could put your child off. Talk with his teacher or coach about the approach being used, or look for less competitive clubs or activities. Kids do deal better with competition as they get older, so it may be best to wait until your child is older and expresses an interest in playing a competitive sport.
• Fear of failure: some children may feel scared of failure. You can help by reassuring your child that sport is about having fun and being active. Focus on how hard he's trying and teach him to identify his own strengths. Practising undeveloped skills can also help, as it will boost his confidence.
• Wrong sport: some sports just aren't right for some children. Not all kids have the hand-eye coordination for tennis, for instance, and some like organised sports while others don’t. You can help your child find the right activity by encouraging him to try a range of different sports and games.
• Feeling self-conscious: body type or ability to cope with the demands of physical activity can sometimes affect a child. If your child is smaller than other kids, or bigger, or not as muscular or less energetic than other kids, he may feel out of place. If he has a health problem such as asthma, or is overweight, he may even feel frightened of participating. If he does have a health problem, find out how much activity a child with his condition can manage – in many cases avoiding activity is unnecessary. You can help by having a think about your child’s abilities and helping him find an activity that suits him. For instance, if he has asthma he may be happier playing a sport that has short bursts of activity like cricket or ten-pin bowling. Or martial arts – with its emphasis on using your body, whatever type it is, to advantage – may suit him.

If your child really is reluctant to take part in organised sporting activities, it might just be that 'free play' like shooting goals, bike riding or dancing is a better fit. You could also look for other activities that require additional involvement beyond the exercise. Horse riding, for example, is not just about the physical riding — there are horses to take care of and there’s countryside to explore. Skateboarding, dancing, hiking, martial arts and yoga all have interesting aspects beyond the activity itself — many interests and hobbies lead to involement with a subculture, encounters with nature or are based on a wider philosophy.

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