I need advice about my child’s sport! He’s played football for the last 2 years, he’s 8. He’s alright but not brilliant at it and he doesn’t put very much effort in at times which frustrates the coaches during matches. He wants to give it up. It would actually suit me very well for him to give up football - training and matches are time consuming and he’s starting to get to the stage in school where there’s more homework and we’ve been rushing homework in the afternoons to make time for dinner and football practice.
But despite all this i just can’t manage to cut the cord. The season is about to start and i have to decide what to do. I think team sports are so good for kids and i love that it’s improving his fitness. The football club is near our home and it’s a community thing too, being part of a club and all that comes with that. And once he’s out he won’t be getting back in.
He does have the opportunity to play football with friends in our estate as we are lucky enough to have a football field nearby. Could this be enough? Should we keep at it even when it feels sometimes like flogging a dead horse?
As someone who was in this position as a kid (wanted to give something dancing/performing but parents didn't) I'd said let your son lead you, kids change, things that were once enjoyed can be lost, if it's something that he's just enjoyed but isn't passionate about then people getting frustrated like the coaches are just going to push him more an more away from it, many sports/hobby's you need to have a passion an it doesn't sound like he has one but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy it at times
If there's a way you can let him miss a season then go back in a year or two when he's ready then do so, it could just be he's feeling a bit burnt out with it, wants to pursue other things, or just in general needs a break
But I wouldn't force it, or go down the route of "if you give this up then you aren't going back" because we all change an sometimes a break it's all that's needed to realise that you either did miss it an want back or it was just something that you have moved on from
But as someone who was forced into dance/performing, it just leads to resentment, I have a hatred now with it all to the point if I had kids I would want them to stay clear from it