Are there any sports out there for people who are unfit or uncoordinated? If, for instance, someone can’t hit a baseball, handle a basketball, or ice skate, but still has an interest in competing at something, is there anything for them to do? Ideally, something that qualifies as exercise, but is not an exercise (ie. not weightlifting or running, etc).
I’ve always been uncoordinated, but I’m a pretty good equestrian. Horses take a lot of money though.
Video games?
So you want competitive sports that don’t require much coordination, right? Can you elaborate on the “is not an exercise” part?
It sounds like you want activities that involve tiring, repetitive physical movements without requiring too much limb or finger dexterity. What about:
Crew? Competitive swimming? Dodgeball? Tag? Rock climbing? Wrestling? Laser tag/paintball/airsoft? Dance Dance Revolution? Wii Sports? Jump roping? Geocaching / orienteering / hiking competitions? Sumo? Arm wrestling? Tug-o-war?
Have you tried paintball? The fact that the projectiles have more in common aerodynamically with water balloons than bullets or darts serves as a pretty good equalizer between a natural crack-shot and the average shooter. Shooting on the run can take some practice for the uncoordinated, but can be learned.
I’d have never made it on to my high school basketball team and was easily the least impressive skateboarder in my circle of friends, but for a few years I managed to become a valuable contributor on a tournament paintball team, where tactics and coordinated teamwork are trump.
Often require coordination.
You can probably find a martial art to suit you. That has the additional bonus of almost everyone starting with no experience (as opposed to, say, a softball league where it’s expected that most people have some vague idea of what they’re doing).
Biking actually requires minimal coordination - once you learn to keep your balance, you just have to pedal.
I’m sure there are games that don’t.
Wow, there’s a lot out there that I’ve not thought of.
‘Not an exercise’ meaning a sport or a physical activity usually done for recreation as opposed to usually solely physical fitness. Aerobics=an exercise, hockey=a sport.
It’s hard to articulate. Imagine being completely unable to hit a target with a thrown object, ever. Out of what’s been posted so far:
Too much coordination:
Crew, dodgeball, DDR, Wii anything.
Too much coordination, have been injured while attempting: Jump rope, bicycling, swimming.
Don’t know enough to be sure: Rock climbing, wrestling, sumo, arm wrestling, martial arts.
Sounds promising, but impractical due to lack of opportunities/facilities/competitors: Laser tag/paintball/airsoft, geocaching/orienteering/competitive hiking, tug o war.
Not enough of a physical activity: Video games (non WII).
Sure: you can do many team sports: not as a player but as a linesman, referee, umpire, or whatever. Plenty of exercise (or at least fresh air) there!
Christ, you’ve pretty much ruled everything out. Sounds like you’ve gotta get outside your comfort zone.
What about playing cards?
The question is a bit vague, but if it is practical, how about hiking? It is a fascinating activity, but allows you to set your own goals. If you know you can’t make it all the way to the top of the mountain, then you can try to make it to a particular height. You can stop and take breaks at any convenient area. You can take as little or as much time as you want. You can go solo or with friends.
In my opinion, the perfect outdoor activity.
What is “crew?”
As for a sport that can be done by people with scarcely any coordination or skill, how about bowling with a ramp and bumpers?
If you can lift the ball onto the ramp and let it go, you’re guaranteed to hit at least one pin.
Excuses, excuses. Not born a natural NBA star? Fine. So uncoordinated as to be unable to do anything on that list? Well, do it anyway! You’ll get better over time and your general coordination and dexterity will improve, opening up more and more sports as you go. Unless you’re disabled, less whine, more practice!
Competitive team rowing (as in boats).
You could try golf. Exercise without being particulary onerous and very amenable to competitive play. Granted, it does take a lot of coordination and talent to play well, but many people play (very) poorly and enjoy it.
(Non-sarcastically) Do people even sweat while playing golf? I always thought it was a “sport” in the sense that target shooting is a sport, meaning it’s competitive but not physically demanding. Am I wrong?
Sex.
You probably have all the basic equipment. There is some ancillary gear, but it’s not necessarily costly (though if some of the gear includes paying for a partner, it can be). Heck, if you’re willing to be open minded, it can be considered a team sport. Oh, and while coordination may seem to improve things – as will general in-shapedness – having sex while lacking either is a lot more fun than any other suggested activity.
Or skydiving.
Running can be a sport. You can find a race nearly every weekend.
Man, this world needs competitive sexercise leagues. Do they exist?