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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DS loves soccer, but doesn't feel good at it.  He didn't start until this school year (3rd grade) & he's playing with kids who have been at it since preschool and many are quite good.  All of his teammates are trying out for developmental and/or travel and will likely make it.  He is afraid to try out because he doesn't think he's ready for it.  (He's not completely wrong, but I'm also sad that he's discouraged.)  I'm tempted to make him at least try out, but also want to help him find a new sport to try where you can start later and not feel so far behind.  He also tried basketball and feels behind there as well.

What other sports should I encourage him to try where he won't feel so far behind?  It's hard to have a sense of competence when you are behind your peers in a sport you are playing....He is tall and has a great throwing arm, is great at throwing a football, so we suggested flag football, but I don't want him to play the real thing in HS... [/quote]

He's 8 (or 9)!  Why can't he just play rec soccer?  Why can't he just play rec basketball?

I think this is a life skill - you will not be the best at everything.  There will always be situations where someone has done something longer than you have.  My kids are 7 and 9, and you know what?  There are plenty of kids who have never played soccer, baseball AND basketball.  I know because my kids have played all three of these sports.  Forget playing - at least half of our rec team this past season looked like they hadn't even seen a basketball game.  You have to put in work to be good at most things - even cross country and track.

Find some teams where kids are in a similar spot - trust me, there are plenty of kids who are at the same skill level as your son.

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Rec sports are definitely the appropriate level for kids who want to try sports and just have fun and learn.  Don't worry about what other people are doing with travel sports that costs thousands of dollars, have multiple practices a week and way too many games on the weekends.  Another way for your son to get better at soccer, if this is what he wants, is to go to soccer camps in the summer or to just play at school during recess.  [/quote]

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