What age did you stop staying for kids practices?

[Anonymous]

For reference my child is doing a sport this season. This is for 5-6 year olds. My child told me after the first practice that another kid, let’s call him Tim, said that his parents left during practice to go home.
This seemed so not okay to me so during the first game that week and subsequent practice, I looked out for Tim’s parents. Sure enough, Dad walked him up, stuck around for a minute or two, then left and came back towards the end of the game/practice.

I brought it up to the coach to see if they knew (my kids been playing with this group of kids for over a year now, so we’re friendly). Coach had no idea and said Tim’s parents did not tell him they were gonna do this.

Coach said he’d handle it.
Seems pretty insane to me to leave a 5 yo alone at practice/game for almost an hour, especially when you don’t know the coach or any other parents.

[Anonymous]

I personally wouldn't do it but it wouldn't bother me if some other parent did it. My kid rode the school bus for an hour each day and that was way less supervised than soccer practice.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s totally fine to leave during a team practice. I usually went for a walk with other moms during little kid soccer practice.

[Anonymous]

My boys played multiple sports starting in K. Even a decade and more ago, some parents left. The worst was when my youngest was in 1st, I stayed just for behavior management since the volunteer soccer coach had no assistant. Many of the kids’ behavior was outrageous and since I knew all of them I was able to stop kids who were wandering away, kicking balls intentionally into the woods or engaging in dangerous behavior. The parents actually had the nerve to complain that the coach didn’t have the behavior under control but she was doing everything right. She was just outnumbered and the kids lacked maturity. The loudest parents were the ones with the worst behaved kids. DH was also a coach for multiple sports over the years and saw a lot of parents drop off so I don’t think it’s egregious to drop off. But if you have a child with a behavioral issue, you should stay. And if you leave, you have no business criticizing a coach. Finally, DS is now a coach himself. He coaches 8 year olds and 100% are dropped off. I guess it’s the norm with busy parents.

[Anonymous]

7--my kid was swimming for RMSC. Parents were not allowed to watch practice.

[Anonymous]

I only stay for the first one, to make sure they know how to get where they're going. By 5 they don't need me there. That's like saying "do you stay for all of kindergarten or drop them off and pick them up?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only stay for the first one, to make sure they know how to get where they're going. By 5 they don't need me there. That's like saying "do you stay for all of kindergarten or drop them off and pick them up?"

It's not the same thing at all if it's a volunteer coach in some random ass field with your kid. Does the coach know how to get a hold of you if there is an injury or emergency or illness with your kid? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t leave my kids tball — to many kids get a ball to the face, minor scrapes, need to go pee etc. Maybe by 7 I would?

We do often take walks around the park and everyone kinda watches out for everyone’s kid, but I’m not more than 5-10 mins away.

Same for my younger kids dance class. Parents wait in the waiting room, but often pop out for coffee next door and if a kid needs help another parent can text their parents or let the kid know their grownups will be right back.

I’d say when I trust my kid to follow all the rules and manage a minor injury or potty break without a grownup, I’d be comfortable leaving. But usually at this age games are so short, I’d barely get home before I’d turn around again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I only stay for the first one, to make sure they know how to get where they're going. By 5 they don't need me there. That's like saying "do you stay for all of kindergarten or drop them off and pick them up?"

Are you serious? Of course you stay at a sports practice run by a volunteer with a 5 year old. Not even a question.

[Anonymous]

I tried to sit in the car once when my daughter was 5, but I noticed she stopped participating so I got out. A year later at 6 in the same sport, she is completely fine with drop-off. It's only an hour. I have an older kid in sports as well and those have been drop-off for years.

[Anonymous]

Yeah no as a volunteer coach for soccer I am not playing this dumb game with you parents. Ive got my own life to get back to.
And its actually in our rules that you cant drop off and need to be present. Want to walk around the park- sure! Work in your car- great!

Need to take a quick trip to go pick up your other kid, let me know and I need a contact for you. Otherwise, get comfortable.

Does not apply to kids over the age of 9/10. But a 5 year old? GFY.

[Anonymous]

There is no blanket answer. It depends on the sport and organization. Some require parent/guardian to stay on the premises at all times, some don’t.

[Anonymous]

I started dropping off for soccer practice around 2nd grade, I think. Maybe once or twice in the latter half of 1st grade, but only to run a quick errand and come back. By 3rd grade, no one was staying.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your kid
I do think 5-6 is too young though. That poor volunteer coach that got roped into that age group might need a hand.
My DD did martial arts for a while and the Coach had a couple of boys who the Mom would drop off who were terribly behaved. It affected my kids learning because the coach had to talk to them so often. She should not have been allowed to leave her kids.

I left my kid around 8 I think. To walk the dog around the park/field

[Anonymous]

I never left my kids for practice. The coach was there to coach, not to be an unpaid babysitter.