One of the best things that happened to my son in his first year in Texas was his participation in a community based competitive rowing team for high school aged kids.
In the middle of reading his science book for homeschool lessons my fourteen year old paused and said, "Mom remember when I was ten and you signed me up for Yale Community Rowing in the summer and I had a tantrum and said I didn't want to go and you made me?"
Me: "Yes!"
(I knew he would love it, his friends were going, and he loved it the minute he tried it.)
Son: "Imagine it, if you didn't make me try it I wouldn't be rowing on this team now. I would have missed out on all the fun."
This was yet more proof for me that it is good for the parent to be the parent. Sometimes parents know best what activities or pursuits are a good fit for their child even if the child does not agree, before they even give it one try. I think some kids or most are afraid of trying new things. With good judgement a parent who knows their child well can find good matches. Not everything works out but so many things that I have decided that my kids should give a try did work out to become things they loved and that are a major part of their lives, things that became a passion for them.
If you let an immature child or even a teenager lead the way all the time, the fact is they do not always know enough to make good judgements about what is right and best for them.
I don't just force my kids to do things. We talk about it and I logically lay out my reasons why I think it is a good fit and what the program is like and who will be there (kids they know and like). I ask them what their opinion is as well as what they are afraid of. The fear question usually will reveal what they are really thinking. That leads to discussions of coping techniques and discusing what would happen if that thing really did happen. This helps prepare the child or teen for how to handle the negative situations should they arise. The fact is that usually the bad stuff never happens and it is "all good".