Is my son being unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

Kids have private coaches nowadays? Holy smokes.

Oh absolutely. It is hard to improve as an individual player without one (vs. learning to better work with your teammates), unless you have a parent or other adult who knows a lot about soccer and can work with you for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s unreasonable gor him to say “it’s not fun” without the 2nd child before he tries it.

It’s like… “I don’t like Brussel sprouts” but you’ve never eaten brussel sprouts.

It’s reasonable for him to go 2-3 times snd if he is not enjoying it to ask to stop.

The best athletes want to be there… where ever there is.

My son plays in college and always wanted to play… so when he told me “this isn’t fun anymore” I actually respected his opinion because it wasn’t his default… it meant something wasn’t working fir him.

You know you kid.

Totally agree with this approach, must try it 1-1 before declaring he doesn’t want to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP please just stop.

Let your kid be a kid. Soccer? It's not like that's going to be his career. Much less get you that much money for college.

Listen to him.

Calm down. Not really sure what you seem so upset about. Do you always get spun up so easily? OP seems to want to do what is best for their kid, is seeking advice, and seems to be actually listening to what is being said. I'd much rather see posts and responses like these than the constant bickering between clubs.

[Anonymous]

Without looking at your post, I assume the answer is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a great private coach at a reasonable rate. My son worked with him with one other kid, who doesn't want to do it over the summer. Coach says he will still do it for my son at the same rate we paid before (we do not have to take over the other kid's half of the cost). My son says he does not want to, because it is only fun if another kid is there. Of course, we are trying to find another kid interested in working with him, but no luck so far (we would need the other kid to be appropximately at his level of play, meaning does travel on some level). I feel like my son is passing up a good opportunity to work with this coach. Would you require your kid to do so?

If my kid had a private soccer coach he'd be all over it whether there was another kid involved or not. My kid just loves the game and works out on his own on non-practice days. I'd question how much passion your kid has for the game.

[Anonymous]

If my kid had a private soccer coach he'd be all over it whether there was another kid involved or not. My kid just loves the game and works out on his own on non-practice days. I'd question how much passion your kid has for the game.

Yes, OP, I would waterboard the kid to get the true answer to this question, if necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP please just stop.

Let your kid be a kid. Soccer? It's not like that's going to be his career. Much less get you that much money for college.

Listen to him.

What does "let your kid be a kid" even mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a great private coach at a reasonable rate. My son worked with him with one other kid, who doesn't want to do it over the summer. Coach says he will still do it for my son at the same rate we paid before (we do not have to take over the other kid's half of the cost). My son says he does not want to, because it is only fun if another kid is there. Of course, we are trying to find another kid interested in working with him, but no luck so far (we would need the other kid to be appropximately at his level of play, meaning does travel on some level). I feel like my son is passing up a good opportunity to work with this coach. Would you require your kid to do so?

My kid is the same, prefers small groups over private. Like pp i would try a session or 2 alone but of he doesn't want to go, don't waste the $. The coach will be there in a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP please just stop.

Let your kid be a kid. Soccer? It's not like that's going to be his career. Much less get you that much money for college.

Listen to him.

What does "let your kid be a kid" even mean?

It’s like, “let bygones be bygones” or “it is what it is” or “and there you have it”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Kids have private coaches nowadays? Holy smokes.

Oh absolutely. It is hard to improve as an individual player without one (vs. learning to better work with your teammates), unless you have a parent or other adult who knows a lot about soccer and can work with you for free.

This shocked me too. There is a thread on it somewhere. Soccer has become a sport for the rich kids unless you come from a soccer family. Personally I hate that much competition at such a young age.

[Anonymous]

Kids have private coaches nowadays? Holy smokes.


Oh absolutely. It is hard to improve as an individual player without one (vs. learning to better work with your teammates), unless you have a parent or other adult who knows a lot about soccer and can work with you for free.


This shocked me too. There is a thread on it somewhere. Soccer has become a sport for the rich kids unless you come from a soccer family. Personally I hate that much competition at such a young age.

I am willing to pay for sports stuff, because unless my son is playing soccer or tennis, he is on video games or annoying me about why he can't be on them. It would be great if there were more pickup games etc. locally, but I don't want to organize them, and no one else does.

[Anonymous]

Kids have private coaches nowadays? Holy smokes.


Oh absolutely. It is hard to improve as an individual player without one (vs. learning to better work with your teammates), unless you have a parent or other adult who knows a lot about soccer and can work with you for free.


This shocked me too. There is a thread on it somewhere. Soccer has become a sport for the rich kids unless you come from a soccer family. Personally I hate that much competition at such a young age.


I am willing to pay for sports stuff, because unless my son is playing soccer or tennis, he is on video games or annoying me about why he can't be on them. It would be great if there were more pickup games etc. locally, but I don't want to organize them, and no one else does.


Music.

Reading.

Khan Academy.

Respectfully, it sounds like you're hiring a babysitter rather than a private coach. You have to drive this kid anyway, so how much time and aggravation are you really saving?

He does read some, and does some jigsaw puzzles and Lego Mindstorms; I was exaggerating. He's not interested in music or Khan Academy. I'm a single mom with more money than time, I don't enjoy playing soccer or tennis, so since he likes both and I can afford it, why not?

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a great private coach at a reasonable rate. My son worked with him with one other kid, who doesn't want to do it over the summer. Coach says he will still do it for my son at the same rate we paid before (we do not have to take over the other kid's half of the cost). My son says he does not want to, because it is only fun if another kid is there. Of course, we are trying to find another kid interested in working with him, but no luck so far (we would need the other kid to be appropximately at his level of play, meaning does travel on some level). I feel like my son is passing up a good opportunity to work with this coach. Would you require your kid to do so?

Generally, I listen to my kids and if not necessary than I dont force them. Do you want him to get a scholarship for college? Become pro? Why is this so important? Is it more for you? You can brag how good he is or wished you had that opportunity? Don't live through your kid.

Kid is not being unreasonable.

This kids goals are none of your business and irrelevant to the question. If you get a math tutor are you living through your kid? Piano lessons? Are they worth it if the kid doesn't play at Madison Square Garden?

I'll tell you simply what kids get out of things like personal training.

1. They learn that with extra work comes improvement.
2. Improvement in anything doesn't always come easy.
3. If you set goals, work at them you can achieve them.
4. In spite of all the hard work put in there is always going to be somebody who is better.
5. Life isn't fair and doesn't owe you anything.

These are lessons kids who dedicate themselves to SOMETHING and work at it will learn, even if they are unaware of it at the time. It could be math, piano, soccer, art or any form of creative or intellectual outlet.

Can these things not be done in a team setting rather than an individual setting?

That’s like saying all the training a musician would need would be with band or just the orchestra.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Kids have private coaches nowadays? Holy smokes.


Oh absolutely. It is hard to improve as an individual player without one (vs. learning to better work with your teammates), unless you have a parent or other adult who knows a lot about soccer and can work with you for free.


This shocked me too. There is a thread on it somewhere. Soccer has become a sport for the rich kids unless you come from a soccer family. Personally I hate that much competition at such a young age.

I am willing to pay for sports stuff, because unless my son is playing soccer or tennis, he is on video games or annoying me about why he can't be on them. It would be great if there were more pickup games etc. locally, but I don't want to organize them, and no one else does.

Music.

Reading.

Khan Academy.

Respectfully, it sounds like you're hiring a babysitter rather than a private coach. You have to drive this kid anyway, so how much time and aggravation are you really saving?

Respectfully, STFU

[Anonymous]

I know nothing about sports but a lot of classical music.

You cannot attain interesting levels of achievement in music without sustained individual attention from a teacher. Period. End of story. Gymnasts and ballet dancers also have one-on-ones at a certain level.

So I imagine that it's the same for sports.