There's a practical safety value to swimming and it is excellent exercise. Girls should swim (around family, not strangers) as well as boys. Girls can also hike and walk, which are excellent exercises as well. All of these can be done as a family, and aren't inherently competitive.

I see no better age than any other to hike, walk, or swim with ones family (within the limits of the age, for example: several miles would be  too much for a 3 year old without being carried obviously)

Seriously, i think basic cardio and calesthentics are sufficient for everyone's health, but men need to take that further, in order to reach their goals.  Men do get buy without it, but I don't know any man who ever said, gee, i wish i played less sports or gosh, i wish i didn't punch like a jack hammer.  

I don't know why women would need to get involved in sports;  it seems like it would be a diversion (as in not getting closer to their goals).  That kind of ballet p.w. was talking about i could see, because it seems like that sort of affirms that traditional female ideal, of virtue and grace.  

Besides increased stamina, energy and weight control, taking light weights and a lot of cardio...things coming down the pike, need to be in shape....

I also would vouch for martial arts as one of the most utilitarian forms of recreational activity one could do. Not only does one learn to defend themselves, but get into it enough and you can develop incredible balance, speed, endurance, flexibility, and strength all at once.

But yea, all it is is utilitarian in my opinion. I myself have a blackbelt in Karate, but I always hated going to class. I never really enjoyed it.

Personally I think the ideal sport (for men at any rate), is the one that all the boys in the village get together and make up themselves, or the ones that are a community tradition in which all the males compete in at festivals hosted annually (or even weekly). Of course, this isn't exactly what you would find in a typical American town, but more in a village in 13th century France. These days we have lost touch with local and more intimate family traditions in favour of large, almost collectivist national and global sports. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it seems just as colorless as having two candidates running for president. Making up your own games is inventive, on-going, community and family oriented, and creates greater social bonds, "Yea, we made that game up ourselves!" Seeing as children are by their nature highly imaginative and inventive, it seems far more fitting to allow them to make up their own games. Though, I suppose when they get older, they'll be wanting to play whatever the adults are playing, so hopefully the adults are doing more than sitting around watching television   :tv-disturbed:

Quote from: Traditional Guy 20

For boys football, basketball, baseball, and boxing should be encouraged

And swimming and weightlifting.

Hockey