The younger kid

Heh - we blame ourselves... Child #1 as a toddler we followed him around, made sure he didn't get hurt climbing anything, picked him up immediately when he fell, coddled him, etc. - I think anyone with their first knows what I mean... By Child #3 we would watch him climb stuff, play hard, get hurt, get up, but we didn't move a muscle unless we saw blood. OK, not that bad, but again he had far more opportunity to become coordinated. There are within 5 years of each other and I'm sure that helped on the opportunity side...

By the time #3 was old enough to be on a team he understood the game and was making plays other kids his age weren't (one unassisted triple play - catch, touch base, tag following runner). We believe this was mainly because he'd been around his older brothers watching and learning.  Sports/Athletic jealousy raged from the older ones of course, but things levelled out over time.  Eventually hard work and natural ability have a crossing - if you don't realize it, you get left behind.  #3 ended up playing d2, but only 1 full season... In the long run academics and a shoulder injury did him in. #2 played HA d3 all 4 years, went on to law school, and is a successful lawyer in NC. #1 played 1 year at a HA d3, decided he'd rather focus on school. He used his ability to get into a school he may have been on the edge of getting into without it. He's a successful grinder in many ways. It took #3 a few years to get on his feet and find a passion, but he's seems on the path now.

So yes, I agree the youngest was the most talented athletically early on and certainly looking back I believe that had a lot to do with opportunity and watching. Having watched other similarly situated families in our social circle I saw many with similar dynamics athletically.

My youngest is 8 and 10 years younger.  He grew up in their world.  His 5th birthday he told his mom who he wanted to come to his birthday and they were all 13-15 year olds.  Not a single kid his age because he wanted to play ball.  He was swinging a metal bat at 18 months hitting a pitched real baseball.  His brothers and their friends took little off him.  When he was 6, I was announcing a game and looked down in the bullpen of the varsity game.  He had snuck in there, fit through the hole in the fence, and was warming up the reliever with full catching gear on.  The kid looked at me like should I throw hard.  I said he catches his brothers and both of them throw harder than you.  When the coach finally realized who was catching in the bullpen, he yelled for #3 to get out of the bullpen and at his 2 backup catchers sitting in the dugout.  We laughed about it after the game.

I think he learned from them and became more athletic through knowledge as much as physicality.

Both our daughters played basketball. They are 16 months apart so the younger daughter played up with her older sister until her junior year in HS. It became clear at around 7/8 that younger sister would eclipse big sis. She was faster, taller, more aggressive and more obsessed with basketball. We made sure big sis had her own things outside of basketball but eventually it was both of their main activity. Both played 4 years of varsity basketball in HS at different schools. Cut to college and big sis had D3 opportunities but wanted a different college experience. Went to Notre Dame. Never missed playing but missed the comraderie so managed women's basketball the remaining three years. Graduated 3 years ago and is an environmental scientist with her own condo in DC. She looks back with happiness to her basketball days and has no regrets stepping away in college. Middle daughter had a great career at Northwestern. Starter on a Big 10 championship team. Two time captain, three time all defensive team and all academic team. Was invited to the combine but chose to step away after college. Now  works in basketball operations with the Spurs. The baby boy also played basketball but always loved baseball more so he stopped playing basketball his senior year in HS to focus on baseball.

The key for us was they all picked their path, not us. When they were little, whoever wasn't playing always got dragged to support whoever was playing (fun fact: younger daughter's first summer league game was against her older sister...they had to jump ball and I was a lunatic cheering for both teams LOL). They continue support and cheer for each other and want to spend time with each other. My middle daughter is his sports buddy (like last night she heckled him from right field for not jumping higher to rob a HR) and big sis is more of the soft landing. But the way they are there for each other...that is the absolute best feeling as a parent.

PTWood’s last couple of sentences may be a different topic but one of our concerns as parents was how would the older brothers handle the younger brothers success? I can answer that with ours have been very good and very supportive in every aspect, but it was a fear.  It took a while for them to adjust to Kirby’s brother when he grew up being their brother.  If that makes sense.  

#1 was super-competitive after #2 came along.  They competed and pushed each other to be better, academically and athletically.  When #3 came along, he took one look at that rivalry and decided it wasn't for him.  Was cheerful and grounded and not competitive at all.  Then, after the older two had left for college, a spark was lit.  He realized he could do really difficult things when he put his mind to it.  Discovered that he actually enjoyed competing (when his brothers weren't around), put in the effort and got good at golf, led the varsity team.  I am really proud of the way he challenges himself now.

My youngest is the exact opposite. He was dragged to sports non stop from birth.  Although he enjoyed playing with the siblings, there were some boring weekends as well. He is 15 now, 6 feet tall and 200lbs and hasn't even really gotten started.  He wants nothing to do with sports.  His siblings are irritated because he will likely be the biggest one. Both siblings were stars in HS and have MVP plaques hanging in the gym.  He is always "so and so's brother).  I'm not sure if he just doesn't want to compete with their successes or if he just had enough of sports.  We were told when he was 8 that he had a great arm and threw just like his brother, but he is strictly a gamer.  I don't really know what to do with myself...sports were my entire life for so many years and even though he is here, gamer's don't need their mom to drive them anywhere

Oldest was good.  Didn’t want to go to college. In the carpenter’s union.  #2, noticed from an early age making some good plays but didn’t pay too much attention.  #1 is 4.5 years older so spent more time at his games.  Last year and this year really noticed #2 might be something special.  I’m though on my boys.  Don’t want to be “that” parent.  That being said, #2 has a good chance, he is a 2027 so will,need to work hard if he wants to continue.  Played in a men’s league, killed it in the field, struggled at the plate, but also had some very loud outs.  #3 is 9.  Fastest of the three, but not sure about baseball for him.  He loves it, but doesn’t seem as natural.  He is also very very very smart,  will have a conversation with you for 15 minutes and you would be amazed.  I say that because I think he is afraid to fail.  Any suggestions on that?

@Dadof3 read the "Growth Mindset." It gives great advice on how to help kids focus on the effort and process and not be afraid to make mistakes.

I’ve got two boys, 4 years apart with the more athletic being the younger of the two. I think it’s typical for the younger siblings to push to compete with the older ones giving them an edge with kids their own age. It can be especially frustrating for the older siblings if the younger is physically gifted.

With mine the 4-year gap in age coupled with diametrically opposed interests (gaming vs sports) and social groups didn’t bring them close as kids, but they’ve become closer as adults. My eldest is a senior software engineer, leveraging his passion for computers into a terrific career. I think the goal is to support your kids unique strengths (in my case, coding camps and sports training) and try to help them find their best selfs (meaning being a good people).

I don’t have a lot of video of my kids because my passion is still photography. However, this week I found a video of a pitching lesson at age 9 (18 years ago) – I took it but never watched it until earlier this week. I sent the kid a copy, he sent a small clip back (attached) with a couple comments “I moved pretty well, someone should have got me a lighter glove and I still hate the windup” lol.  

At age nine he throws better than I ever did, lol!

I would say my youngest is more naturally athletic than the oldest. Sports came a lot easier to him than his older bro. The down side he was a brat on the field often and there were more than a few times mom and dad yelled at him on the field or court for his poor behavior and embarrassing outbursts. I had to apologize many times to the coaches and other parents, I begged one coach to apply corporal punishment. as HS Junior he finally has matured and often tested by his varsity FB coaches and he has so far took it and kept his poker face on.  He finally realized the immaturity will kill his recruitment chances. The older kid is a grinder/worker, it has shaped his personality and is praised by his coaches and bosses.