Thumb of Michigan | Expensive Hobby - 3/25/2024 07:24
I'm not anti sports at all, but I am anti knocking heads together at 8 years old. We told our son he couldn't play until Jr high, and so did the parents of some of his good friends. Then those parents all folded, leaving our son as the only one in his friend group that wasn't allowed to play. He's about to finish 6th grade now and is pretty sure we have ruined him athletically, socially, mentally, financially, etc. Luckily, I am his parent not his friend, and I am not going to let his whining change my mind. He can start knocking heads together next year - that's plenty soon enough.
Excellent answer IMHO, I spent decades officiating pee-wee, HS, Semi-Pro football. There can be vast developmental size/strength differences also in those age groups. Way too many little guys/ (girls too), were playing only for their parents too. |