I think some kids are poor at sports, but if it's to the level that you are describing, and it's affecting his self-image, it could be developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia. If that is the case, you could try private physical therapy. I don't know how it works with special needs kids in the schools where you are located, but DS has an IEP in the "physically impaired" category and gets "adapted phy ed" in school as well as regular phy ed with his classmates. They work on things like core strength, ball catching and throwing, jumping jacks and other coordination exercises, etc. so that he is better able to participate in the regular phy ed curriculum. I want DS to be able to keep up with the other kids in gym and on the playground (or at least not look like a fool), but I don't push sports with DS at all. Luckily he likes swimming and I keep signing him up for lessons to at least get him proficient with a few different strokes, but I don't think there is any point in pushing team sports if he doesn't want to do them. He also really likes riding his bike up and down the street. As long as a person exercises in some way (even if it's just walking), I think that's enough. Not everyone has to have a sport that they are good at. I also keep emphasizing the activities that he IS good at, so that he can focus on that and have something to feel good about, rather than dwell on being so poor at sports.
