Kids and Sports- Football ?

I am all for sports....just not tackle football. Sorry. It is crazy dangerous-esp for boys that young. I know several coaches that will not let their children start until 7th grade.

Even if it were NOT so dangerous I would be against it for their ridiculous practice policies. Around here they practice every single week night in August!! Way too much for such little boys IMO. And they are kicked off the team if they miss. Their parents are actually told to not go on vacation in August. That would be the DAY that I planned my schedule around football practice-esp for my first grader!!!

I'm all for sports if the parents butt out. I have a son with Autism that plays on a soccer team, half the time he usually just stands there or starts jumping (they call it stimming) while everyone plays around him. The first time I heard a parent make a comment about my son you better believe the mama bear in me came out. Every child has a right to play, but when parents start yelling from the stands rude things at their own child or the team as a whole, it's gone too far and then sports is not a place for a young impressionable child.

I think sports are great for kids. All 4 of mine have played team sports since they were old enough including one who plays tackle football and started at 8. I think its good as long as the kids enjoy it, some parents go way overboard with it and forget it is just for fun. My youngest has decided that after playing baseball on the same team since he was four that this will be his last season and he wants to try karate instead and thats ok. If the kids enjoy it it does build character and positive behaviors but I dont think it is good when a child is pressured into playing a particular sport or beomg the best at it.

She is exactly right about football. PBS ran a special about kids and football and the incidence of brain injury - in kids with no history of concussion - was appalling. Aside from the heatstroke and orthopedic issues.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh//pages/frontline/////////football... - please read this and watch the Frontline episode if you can find it before enrolling any child in tackle football.

I think the current trend for younger and younger kids to commit to a single sport which is played close to year round is unhealthy for them - physically and psychologically.

um...sports are great! my baby is only 6 months old, but iw ill definatly be registering him. I think you need to give you kid a chance to do whichever sports they may be interested in.

I played soccer as a kid and softball...LOVED IT...everything about it, the game(s) itself, the exercise, the friends, etc...

My 7 y/o wanted to play tackle football this year too...but we just do not have the time this summer :( I have heard all the negativity like what your co-worker spewed at you and done my own research, at this age football is LESS dangerous than soccer but no one ever talks about that?

~I think sports are great for kids! All my kids have played/do play something. Currently my 2 boys (7 & 5) are in Baseball and Soccer. They both want to play football (like their cousin) sometime soon. My nephew plays football and wrestles in HS and my 2 SS's play church basketball.

My 5 y/o can't wait till he is old enough to take golf lessons and I can't wait till I can make our schedule work so they can get on a swim team too, *fingers crossed* I can swing it this winter!

I can only answer from my experience on this one. My children aren't old enough yet for sports, maybe soon, but anyway, when I was a child my parents put me into sports - mostly softball, and some soccer but I believe that ANY sport is good for a child! Now-a-days children need even MORE reasons to get out of the house and away from TV and electronics and be physical and active! I absolutely LOVED playing sports as a child and only had a few issues with my coach (only one of the years), but that's something that can be remedied by talking to your child and asking how their experience is, how they are getting along with everyone and the coach(s). If they are having a miserable time with the sport, try a different sport. If it's a problem with the people, try getting on a different team, or see if there is a way to solve the problem with those people/children he's playing with.
Either way, I think the co-worker was a little out of line, maybe just concerned that the child would feel like they had to become the next famous football player, and in that case, I'd just suggest that you make sure the child knows no matter who wins/looses, he is just there to have fun, and leave it at that. Good luck! :)

What in the world is wrong with that lady. Sports are a fantastic way to teach your kids sportsmanship, team work, fun, physical skills, exercise, etc. There are so many wonderful things that kids get out of sports. I am with you ]on the scoring part too. They need to keep score - work hard to win. I have no idea who ever came up with this no-scoring concept, it is not how life works and we coddle too much.

All that being said, I think as parents we also need to be sensitive to when sports are right for our kids. Every kid is different. For example, my oldest is very gifted athletically but has not had any interest in team sports until now, he is 11. He tried several teams throughout his short life but never enjoyed them so he didn't continue. Now he LOVES it and wants to play on EVERY team. My second boy has been begging me for a year to play flag football and is on his first team and LOVES it, he is 5. My take on all of it is, if the kid likes it, have them play, if they don't, don't force it, but they should all at least try it, they may like it.

I LOVE sports for kids!! My 8yr old is in baseball now (spring & summer), and then TACKLE football starts 1 week after baseball ends (during the fall), and then in the winter he is in martial arts. I understand some are concerned with the contact. But, as long as you are in a good league, with trained coaches, the worrying should be minimal. My husband is assistant coach for their football league, and ALL coaches are required to attend a mandatory coaches seminar before coaching, and they have to do this every year. This trains them on proper coaching to avoid any injuries.
As you can see, I'm definitely NOT opposed to sports of any kind. It keeps them active, and teaches them responsibility!!

Is it just that she was against tackle football, or team sports as a whole? I take it as she is not a fan of tackle football. I don't know one person who would say they were not beneficial for your kids.

Team sports/activities are one of the best things your kids can participate in. The only negative would be injuries, but that goes with the territory in ANY sport/physical activity not just tackle football. Heck, a girl can hurt herself in gymnastics or dancing just as easily. Sounds like the other mom is one of those modern paranoid, overly protective moms who keeps her kid in a bubble. You are doing the right thing for your son, don't feel bad.

I may be biased, though... my 5 yo DD just started taking Mixed Martial Arts classes this week. It's not violent at all & teaches them so many great skills & lessons. She loves it. She also wants to do soccer & take dance classes, which I am all for.

I think it is great. Although we are not there yet, my oldest is not quite 3.5 years old. When he is old enough (5) he will be in Soccer, Karate, and T-Ball though. And when the time comes he will also be in football. Of course this will all be up to him, but that is the plan.

I have 3 sons (8,7,2 yrs) and I think sports is a great way to be active and build character and team work. My older sons play or have played most sports... soccer, baseball, basketball, karate and flag football. Could it be she was against tackle football? My kids love football and really want to play tackle, we won't let them until they are in middle school. Tackle football (in Denver) has very intense league with 2 hour practices every night in the fall. We feel that is a little much for their age. But if you found a league you love and your son wants to play then I think it will be a great experience for your family.

I think it is good for the kids to be active in sports. If he wants to play football by all means let him. Who cares what others think. My son is only 7 and wants to play football but he can't start until he is 8 so we will see if he still wants to play when the time comes. I feel if you can do it let them choose and try all the different sports and see which one they would like to play. It really does help with team work, working with others, listening, etc. Good luck to you and hope your son really enjoys himself.

I have two sons - ages 10 & 14. My 14 year old started at 8, played for 2 years and took a break to do flag football because tackle was tough and he was on the smaller side. After that year off, he went back to tackle and loves it. We waited an extra year to start my ten year old, so this will be his second year and he's so pumped! Both ways it all worked out! And we love cheering on the sidelines!!