No, Your Teen Is Not Too Old to Try a New Sport

If you attend a larger middle school or high school, the athletics opportunities may be frustrating. Oftentimes, the same kids take up the limited spots for sports, leaving no room on a team where a kid may want to try something out for the first time. Most of the time, a team is comprised of kids who have played together since grade school or know each other through club programs.

There may also be limited opportunities for your older child to participate in a rec league, as these are not as profitable as more elite level or “travel” athletics. Of course, there are exceptions, but if your child isn’t athletically inclined or picked up a sport by age 8, they most likely don’t have the skills to compete.

It is infuriating.

Playing sports of any kind helps teens and tweens stay healthy, boosts confidence and develops leadership skills. With many of their peers playing since they were preschoolers, many adolescents feel like they’re “too old” to try a new sport. Playing with their peers or even younger kids who have had years to develop their skills can be humbling, however with the right mindset and dedication, tweens and teens will find taking on a new sport can be very rewarding. It may just take a little extra effort for both you and your child to get started.

Many “Late Bloomers” Succeed at Sports

When my oldest was almost 11, after spending a week at a local summer tennis camp, he decided he wanted to take tennis lessons. Starting the sport as a middle schooler meant my tween would often get frustrated because other players his age, and many younger ones, were better skilled. Once he learned to focus on his own game and stopped comparing himself to his fellow players, my tween’s game improved and two years later he is planning on trying out for his middle school team.

My tween’s tennis journey reminds me of another player, albeit one (for now) who is much more famous in the sport: Blake Shelton. Shelton, who became the youngest US Open American men’s semi-finalist in 2023, took up tennis at 11, after he gave up playing football. According to an interview in People.com, Shelton, whose parents Bryan and Lisa Shelton were notable tennis players themselves, had no interest in tennis when he was younger. Bryan Shelton said his son followed his own path to tennis without any pressure from his parents.

Shelton is hardly the only “late-bloomer” among professional athletes. According to youth sports organizer, i9sports, middle schoolers are often surprised to learn that many athletes started playing their sport at an older age.

Retired basketball legend David Robinson, who won both NBA MVP award and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, did not try basketball until he was in middle school. Dee Strange-Gordon, who played for the Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals, only began playing baseball in his senior year of high school. The great Alex Morgan didn’t start competing in soccer until age 14 and then quickly became a top youth player in California and led the U.S. team to World Cup and Olympic medals.

Let Teens and Tweens Find Sports at Their Own Pace

After his first year of playing, my middle schooler needed a break from tennis, mainly because he did not vibe with the coach and was developing other interests, including swimming. Although I was a bit upset that my tween wanted to quit, I could see how difficult this was for him and agreed it would be better for his mental health. While my middle schooler was no longer participating with the team, he did continue to take a few private lessons to keep up his skills. After some time, and a great deal of maturity, my tween realized that he needed to play with his peers to improve his game. As of this fall, he is enrolled in group tennis training once again.

Starting Sports at an Older Age May Be Safer for Adolescents

Though many parents boast about their child’s sports training beginning “as soon as they can walk,” evidence suggests rushing to get our kids into organized sports may be detrimental to their wellbeing. Physical Therapist Donna Merkel, in an article published in the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, states that children should be at least 6 years of age before participating in an organized team sport. Merkel goes on to say that if a kid starts a sport before they are ready, they could become anxious, stressed and eventually want to quit. By the time they reach 15 years of age, more than 70 percent of adolescents stop playing sports.

For children who start playing earlier in life, the focus should be on developing fundamentals, building confidence and encouraging positive behavior, Merkel writes. She also notes that, despite many parents pushing their young kids to specialize in a sport, studies show starting at an early age doesn’t guarantee future success.

It Is Okay to Participate in Sports “Just for Fun”

Though some “late-bloomers” can and do excel at their chosen sport, all adolescents can benefit by simply participating. Many middle school and high schools offer “no-cut” sports (especially freshman year of high school), enabling tweens and teens of all abilities to train together.

No-cut sports also eliminate the stress and pressure of having to try out for the team but still get the benefit of participating. In some cases, teams that do have roster limitations will still allow interested adolescents to practice with them, or they may be able to participate in school intramurals.

Recreational sports leagues are another great way for tweens and teens to engage in athletics in a lower-pressure, less competitive environment. Last spring, my younger tween approached me about trying soccer in the fall. I was hesitant because his only experience was kicking a ball around at recess, and I was scared he would have a hard time. Still, I registered him for our local rec league and hoped for the best. When I saw he was placed on a U14 team with adolescent boys ranging in age from 10 to 14, I wondered, did I make a huge mistake? I can’t speak for all of them, but I am fortunate my son was placed on a team with a kind and supportive coaching staff and a group of teens and tweens who play well together.

Finally, if your adolescent has expressed interest in a sport, consider picking up a few used pieces of equipment for them to dabble with occasionally with their friends. Buy a basketball they can use at a local court, pick up a cheap pickleball set, sign up for a YMCA swim class or take them to a local field to kick a ball into a net. The goal is to get them moving and engaged in an activity they enjoy, not to develop the next Michael Jordan.

Financial Barriers May Keep Kids from Pursuing Sports

Although there are benefits to waiting to start sports, many tweens and teens don’t participate because of financial hardship. Between the cost of equipment, travel expenses and other hidden fees, youth sports can add up to thousands of dollars each year. For some families, this cost is too high, and they are unable to let their kids pursue their athletic interests.

To help ease this burden, U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Mike Lawler of New York introduced a new initiative called the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act (PLAY Act) this fall to expand tax credits for families to use on youth sports and other physical activities. The PLAY act also calls for establishing a federal grant program to invest in rec sports.

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