Advice PLEASE! I'm really second guessing myself.......
Hello Everyone! I joined tonight specifically because of something that happened to me today.......and I would love to have some thoughts/advice from other parents! My oldest child, Dylan, recently finished the fourth grade. At the end of the year, all of the parents of boys his age were given information on signing up for a school sponsored football team. He attends a very small, Catholic school and I knew that it may be an issue for them to have enough kids to field a team. I told him that it was his decision whether or not to play but that he had to choose either football or soccer (he currently plays for a club about 1/2 hr away) for the fall. While I really would love for him to be able to do both, it is just not possible for me to allow him to make a commitment to two teams. In addition to this, I personally believe that if he commits to play for any team, he needs to be present at all practices and games unless there is a valid reason. If he were to do both, there would most definitely be overlap which would make choosing which team to support nescessary. Anyway, he chose to stick with soccer. Personally, I feel that this is the right decision for him.
Today, when talking to one of my friends (whose son is in Dylan's class and also plays on his soccer team) I got the impresssion that she (and possibly other parents) feel that I have something against football, or Dylan playing on the team. While that is not the case at all, I can't help but second guess myself. She told me that Dylan and only one other boy in their class were the only ones not playing and how important and what a great bonding experience it would be etc....... I agree with her but I don't know if that is enough to allow Dylan to play (if he even wants to). In addition to my hesitation of commiting to both teams, I also worry about Dylan's size. He is very small for his age (although he is one of the older kids in his class, he is one of the smallest). However, he is very fast and a good athlete. I am concerned about him getting injured during football and not being able to play soccer......I have also noticed a lot lately about football related head injuries. At the same time, I don't want him to be an outcast or left out if he doesn't play football. We live in a pretty small town (where football is adored) and neither our school nor the the city school offer soccer; so if he eventually wants to play in highschool we will have to send him elsewhere. So would it be better for him to have some experience with football now, in case that is the only option later? I'm just really not sure what to do........ Thanks for any words of wisdom!
Don't let the other parents try to manipulate you into having your son play. I also believe that young kids should focus on one sport at a time especially when the commitment like driving 30 minutes away is a factor.
Let them know you support them but as a family you decided soccer is best in this situation.
I agree with the ladies above, don't let the other parents manipulate you into agreeing to do something you don't want to do. You have to do what works for your family.
I understand how you feel. When my oldest was in 7th grade he had to choose between football and soccer too. He had played soccer since he was about 3, but he wanted to play football for school instead of soccer. In hind sight, I probably should have encouraged him to play soccer instead. He bairly weighed 75 lbs. and the following year he did choose soccer, but since he didn't play the previous year, the coaches barely played him.
Varsity
- DanceMom1181
on Jun. 11, 2012 at 12:22 AM