When should my kids stop being so silly and actually listen and practice at sports?

[Anonymous]

At 6-7 I’d expect then to listen NOW, with occasional redirects. Especially if practice plan and coaching method is fairly engaging and age appropriate (sometimes this is the problem….for example, putting 10 6 year olds in a line to wait their turn to field one ground ball in baseball- Of course the kids will be more prone to goof around.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do I mean by congregating on the highway? I’m talking about all the people who speed up only to sit right behind someone else while driving. Seems like most people like to drive in groups with others. Except when it make the most sense and you give yourselves a whole car length at a red light. In your big SUV. If we all thought the same way and acted like that then there would be so many traffic Jams. Thankfully there are people like me and my child who have an independent personality. So yeah: you ain’t better

Sir, this is a Wendy's

[Anonymous]

9

[Anonymous]

They aren’t gaining strength by fooling around in little kids soccer time.

Gaining strength at this age is from riding bikes, playground apparatus, hiking, rock climbing, roller blading, throwing a ball around with his family, swimming.

Keep going to basketball courts and soccer fields, buy bats and balls but maybe wait another year or two. No matter what people say you do not need to start a sport early to be able to learn the rules and play. The sports aren’t that complicated.

[Anonymous]

At this age, many kids goof around, which doesn’t make it any less frustrating as a parent. Or a coach. From a child’s perspective, it can be hard to focus after being in school all day/week, and they might view sports practice as an opportunity to be silly and let loose with fewer consequences, rather than a time to buckle down and pay attention. They are used to associating paying attention with sitting still in class. Running around and being physically active is associated with playtime, so they may not get it yet that sports practice is a time to focus with their brains and their bodies. Even at age 12, my son occasionally complains about a couple of kids who don’t listen to the coach and play around.