# Sports for the uncoordinated?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [April 1, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639 "2009-04-01T21:07:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/1 "2009-04-01T21:07:12Z")
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).
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### Author:  [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/2 "2009-04-01T21:16:29Z")
I’ve always been uncoordinated, but I’m a pretty good equestrian. Horses take a lot of money though.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/3 "2009-04-01T21:23:29Z")
Video games?
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/4 "2009-04-01T21:28:04Z")
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?
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### Author:  [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/5 "2009-04-01T21:30:37Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/6 "2009-04-01T21:30:39Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#):
>
> Video games?
Often require coordination.
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### Author:  [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/7 "2009-04-01T21:33:25Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/8 "2009-04-01T21:53:52Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> Often require coordination.
I’m sure there are games that don’t.
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### Author:  [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/9 "2009-04-01T21:53:58Z")
> [@Reply](#):
>
> 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?
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).
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/10 "2009-04-01T22:00:49Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#):
>
> Are there any sports out there for people who are unfit or uncoordinated?
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!
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/11 "2009-04-01T22:06:22Z")
Christ, you’ve pretty much ruled everything out. Sounds like you’ve gotta get outside your comfort zone.
What about playing cards?
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/12 "2009-04-01T22:06:38Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/13 "2009-04-01T22:14:56Z")
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?](http://www.pilgrimlanes.com/id13.html)
If you can lift the ball onto the ramp and let it go, you’re guaranteed to hit at least one pin.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/14 "2009-04-01T22:16:30Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#):
>
> 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).
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!
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/15 "2009-04-01T22:18:32Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> What is “crew?”
Competitive team rowing (as in boats).
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### Author:  [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/16 "2009-04-01T22:40:07Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/17 "2009-04-01T22:41:51Z")
(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?
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/18 "2009-04-01T22:44:07Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/19 "2009-04-01T22:45:36Z")
Running can be a sport. You can find a race nearly every weekend.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-for-the-uncoordinated/491639/20 "2009-04-01T22:45:46Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> 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.
Man, this world needs competitive sexercise leagues. Do they exist?
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