I too have a sport obsessed child - all the sports.
When do you or at what age do you start to narrow them down to 1-2 sports? My son has the ability and desire and determination for them all. He would love to also seek out REP opportunities the problem with this is that means choosing.. he is only 10 - is this too soon to give up 1… or 4 passion to focus on one?
Now I understand that it is all for fun.. but he is ready for that next challenge. But he also doesn’t want to give any up.. it’s a shame that he has to at this age. But alas training clashes means it is not viable.
5 Replies
I think it comes down to practicality.
4 sports is a lot and the fact that the training schedules have started to collide really leaves you with no other option than choosing which of those sports can realistically be continued with.
Making choices and sometimes sacrifices is part of life, unfortunately we cant always do everything we want to do. I think 10 is more than old enough to understand that.
Give him some time to think ot over, perhaps discuss the pros and cons of each sport and ask him to have a think about which ones he feels the most passionate about.
He can definitely decide the problem is the two favourites are the ones that also clash.
Stepping out from one for a season also puts his skill behind his peers.
Both sports compliment each other also in terms of skill development and athleticism- such a shame
I have 2 sport obsessed kids, my 14yr old plays the 1 sport now (footy) as preseason starts in Jan and season finishes Oct so he gets a few months break where he bike rides, swims etc for fun.
My 10yr old plays footy in winter and basketball in summer (they overlap slightly) as his main sports. He also does boxing weekly (only once a week class, no weekend). Physically I don't think I could fit anymore trainings and running around between them so this is all they are allowed as main competitive sports. My 10yr old also goes out riding to the bmx track, skate park etc for fun which I guess is sportish also but I don't need to attend that!!
Most kids have to choose and narrow down wether it's sports or something else. Wether that for financial/time/acedemics/ family life balance.
10 is not too young
My son is good at all sports too but he only does one. He gets to do a couple more representing his school for fun. He made a rep soccer team in the U9s. They train 3 days p/w and play a game on the weekend. It is expected they do a bit of training at home every other day such as juggling or ball skills. I think you can tell the kids who do as their technique improves as well as the amount of juggling they can do is way higher than others. Coaches know. I think joining other sports in this same season would take away from this time. Saying that though, rep seasons are longer seasons because trials and training starts earlier than club level.
My boy plays summer soccer in the off season for fun but even then you take a risk because rep training may clash and then you let the team down because rep takes precedence.
Also getting into rep is much easier at a younger age. It's his 5th year and you don't see many kids trialing successfully from club soccer level.
Lastly their bodies need a rest to heal and recover from training and especially from a massive game (sometimes two) on the weekend.