A Novice Approach – What’s The Best High School Sport For Someone New To Sports?

I’m a freshman, and my New Year’s resolution is to play sports in high school. I don’t know why, but I’ve never been on a team before. I don’t think I’m a klutz — at least I hope not — but I was really small until I had a growth spurt in eighth grade. So what would be a good sport to try if I don’t have any experience?

J.C., Pleasant Hill

First and foremost, do not go out for a team sport if you’re just looking to tick a box on your college application. It is unfair to your coaches and your teammates to take up a spot on a freshman or JV roster just because your parents or adviser say you need to have some kind of athletics on your resume.

If you absolutely insist on playing a high school sport (as opposed to taekwondo or fencing or something else outside of school), go for cross country or swimming, where your level of interest really doesn’t affect the team or coaches as long as you show up for practice and give a basic effort.

Team sports, though, require much more of a commitment, as no matter what the level, coaches and players take things fairly seriously, and if you don’t, you just make things hard for yourself and for them.

That said, starting from ground zero in any sport is going to be difficult, as even the easiest-looking game is much harder than it appears. So first, you have to be prepared for a steep learning curve and a fair amount of frustration.

Beyond that, the sports that rely more on athleticism and strength, and less on acquired skill, make the most sense. Baseball, for example, would be on the bottom of the list because it’s a game that requires lots of different kinds of skills, and a fair amount of practice to master them. (Along with a lot of people, I maintain that hitting a baseball is the most difficult skill in sports.)

Football, on the other hand, rewards speed, size and strength more immediately, though obviously there are plenty of techniques that must be learned — not to mention the playbook. There is, of course, the concussion issue to deal with, and careful consideration should be given before signing up for that most dangerous sport.

Wrestling is close behind football, but it’s not really a team sport, and it’s definitely not for everyone. It also requires dieting, sometimes severe dieting, and if you like to eat, you might want to pass.

Basketball isn’t a bad choice if you’re tall — the taller the better, naturally. Though there is plenty of acquired skill involved in shooting and ball handling, getting rebounds and making shots from two feet away are not that difficult, especially if you tower over your classmates. Volleyball also fits in here, and if you don’t like contact, it’s better than basketball. It’s also a more patterned game in many ways, which can make it easier to find a comfort zone.

Soccer does reward speed and stamina, but like baseball, there are lots of skills involved, and experience is vital once you start playing the game. Without a lot of set plays, success is dependent on a feel for the geometry of the sport, and for most, that takes lots of time to develop. Lacrosse falls into the same category, in many ways, but since a lot of people haven’t played it, it’s likely some newbies might be trying out along with you.

Water polo requires a strong swimming background, which might make that a negative, and other sports such as badminton and field hockey might not be available.

Which leaves the two country club sports, tennis and golf, both of which have the great advantage of being lifetime sports. They are difficult at first, but often there are a few newcomers trying out every year, and coaches at most schools are eager to find new players, so I would probably suggest whichever of those interests you most.

But again, please don’t play a sport just because you think it will help you get into college. Play a sport because it’s fun and rewarding, and everyone will wind up enjoying the experience.

Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and coached numerous sports at high schools throughout the Bay Area. His Q&A Column, “Behind The Clipboard” appears monthly in SportStars Magazine. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at claykallam@gmail.com.

photo credit: Carondelet cross country — Bob Larson

photo credit: Miramonte tennis – Jonathan Hawthorne