Sports - South Bend,IN

I think if you let him quit he will learn a lesson...that when the going gets tough....you quit! He doesn't like it right now because it is hot and practice isn't the fun part...the games are. When my brother was little he begged my parents to play even though he was too young. They signed him up and he hated every second of it but they did not let him quit. The next year he decided to go it again, and fell in LOVE. He was no longer the smallest on the team. He played from 5 yrs old until he graduated high school, and could have played in college if he had done a better job with his grades. Anyhow, to this day he is an awesome football player and even plays in semi-pro for fun. I think once he starts playing in the games he will enjoy it much more (not to mention once the cool fall weather comes in)!

No way should he quit. He needs to learn an important life lesson. Once you start, you don't quit (unless for a health or safety reason).

I wouldn't let him quit. We've got friends in our area who started football last year (our district has tackle and flag options available) and the first year players really got to do next to nothing except the practices. And a one quarter pre-game scrimmage. This year has been a little more involved for them. It's 5 days/week practice and pretty tough. The reality is, if he wants to play football, he'll have to pay his dues! Not a bad life lesson to learn, huh?
My son (7) loves the idea of playing football but we know he would have much the same attitude as your son is experiencing. So we've discouraged it thus far, also my hubby thinks 7 is too young for tackle football, but we might let him do flag next year. Hopefully another year of maturity will help.

tell him he can't quit until he plays 2 games.. then see what he says... good luck

My parents' rule (and one that I am adopting) is that once you sign up for something you see it through. If you dont like it when its over, you dont need to sign up again. Kids tend to not like to 'work'. once the games start he should lighten up about it. Until then it seems like you have explained everything to him, if he keeps saying he wants to quit, just state that he needs to finish what he starts and at the end of the season you can talk about not doing it again. I understand communicating with your children, but at some point, after numerous discussions is seems, being the parent means that sometimes you put your foot down.

good luck

I dont' think that letting him quit would be a good idea. It is a good learning experience that he has to work hard to be good at something. Can you or your husband practice with him?

I would not let him quit. He needs to know and learn with time that he can improve if he puts out the effort. Also, he made a commitment and needs to follow through. Every time I have signed my kids up for a sport, they were committed for that season. After they finished that season, they did not have to sign up for the next one but once committed they had to follow through.

Do not let him quit, for one you have already paid for it and he needs to understand the value of money and that you don't just throw away things you have paid for. I'm a 4-H horse club leader and am really tired of all the excuses kids and parents have for not practicing, completing, or excelling in a certain event. Kids need gumption and a desire to get better at whatever it is they are doing. Letting him quit tells him it is okay to try and then give up. Okay, I done with my ranting. I hope he practices hard and does the best he can during the season.

Definitly DO NOT let him quit. If you let him quit it will be teaching him that once something is hard that he can just quit. My son played for his first year of tackle football last yr and he wanted to quit a majority of the time too (first yr kids don't get alot of playing time). Now this year he's loving it and is a completely different athlete. Make him hang in there-it will be worth it in the end :)

I took my 5 year old to Tae Kwon Do last night to have him cling to me and cry. I was very upset because he knows better and that is not him at all. So we had to go home. He keeps telling us he wants to quit, but he can't. We are locked into a contract unitl January and he signed up for it. So he has to go. You don't want to make him miserable, but you don't want him to think it's okay to quit either. I'd make him stay in it, at least for now. If he is still miserable half way through then I might rethink.

You shouldn't let him quit. You don't want to establish the habit of quitting every time something is difficult or uncomfortable. If you do, he will become a quitter all his life. When a job doesn't go his way or becomes hard to do, he will quit. If a marriage becomes uncomfortable, he will quit.

I like the concept behind sports, but don't like the practice. If you're one of the talented, or one of the coaches' favorites, you play. Most high school football teams are limited to 70 kids. 11 offensive plavers, 11 defensive players and one field goal kicker. The other 47 kids have a front row seat to watch the game from the bench.

Some of my kids played sports, but they all sang in the choir or played in the band. 100% of the kids in the band played. 100% of the kids in the choir sang. All of the kids in the band and choir learned teamwork and to know they were part of the team. There was a lot more camaraderie amongst the band members and choir members than there was among the football players. (The 11 football "stars" had camaraderie, but the others were on the outside looking in.)

Good luck to you and yours

Nope. You paid, he and you made a commitment to the team, and I personally don't think quitting is right. I would say suck it up. It only lasts a couple of months.

I would be hesitant to let him quit. Maybe letting him know that because he signed up, he has to complete the season. After that, and he never has to play football again if he dosen't want to.

I would also ask him what his goals or expectations are for football. If he feels like he isn't good enough or wants to try playing certain positions, then you can talk to the coach to see what options he may have available.

I would keep encouraging him though. Keep telling him how good he looks in uniform, complement him on any nice plays he makes, reassure him when he makes mistakes. This will pay many more dividens in the future for sure.

No. I would just tell him that he made a committment to his team, they are counting on him to be there and quitting isn't an option. Keep encouraging him and practicing with him. Once they actually start playing, he may find that he loves it.
This is an important lesson for life.

It sounds like you talked to him plenty before he made the decision to play. I don't think he should quit. As you said, he hasn't even given the playing time a chance yet and it sounds like a great opportunity to teach him about following through doing something that he said he was going to do. I have a brother who is in high school that my parents allowed him to quit football after the first game. I know the situation is different because of age and the high school team is a bit more structured, but after he was allowed to quit one thing that he didn't agree with he then got upset at one of his teachers so he stopped going to the vocational school he had attended for 2 years and then again got upset with the wrestling coach and decided that he wasn't going to do that after he started it either.

I don't think you should let him quit just because he changed his mind. If he was in danger or if it was not a good environment then that would be another story. Maybe with all of the practice he will get as good as he thinks he should be. Hopefully he will also just have fun at it and realize that it is ok to do things that you are not the greatest at, but just enjoy to do.