Anonymous wrote:Saving face for the tryouts, "they could have made it if they had really wanted to. They were more interested in other things." Unspoked but implied.

This. My DD has a friend who will always tell you she hasn't touched xyz ball since last xyz season. I know their neighbor though, and the neighbor has mentioned multiple times that she is constantly practicing.

Anonymous wrote:My kid doesn't practice. He's the best hitter on his 10U team. He's also the best shooter on his basketball team and the best running back on his football team.

My biggest fear is he will be lazy and it will catch up to him.

Where does his age fall?

My kid doesn't practice. He's the best hitter on his 10U team. He's also the best shooter on his basketball team and the best running back on his football team.

My biggest fear is he will be lazy and it will catch up to him.

3 all the way

1. They want their kid to appear as if they are successful with minimal effort--it's a weird flex
2. They are sandbagging and feeling insecure about their kid's chances.
3. They are genuinely annoyed with their kid because they don't self-motivate/do what they ask them to prepare and still expect parents to shell out the money.
4. They are clueless, don't care, aren't reading the room or don't understand what is required.

Anonymous wrote:I would have had a similar response - just impressed that your kid is practicing, mine does not have the maturity to do so.
It's not a brag at all.

This. And my kid's going to learn a hard lesson, but so be it.

I would have had a similar response - just impressed that your kid is practicing, mine does not have the maturity to do so.
It's not a brag at all.

Anonymous wrote:In my son's case, it's true and I'm not bragging- I'm annoyed.

+1

I get annoyed with my son when he won’t practice for something before a tryout despite not having played since the previous season. He’s been getting by so far but I have to assume that it will eventually catch up to him…

In my son's case, it's true and I'm not bragging- I'm annoyed.

Saving face for the tryouts, "they could have made it if they had really wanted to. They were more interested in other things." Unspoked but implied.

They secretly practice.

If it is any comfort...if these kids want to play for strong HS and 15u+ travel teams they will have to practice...and nobody brags about not practicing.

You're upset because you now feel inferior - your kid is not as talented, he needed to work harder for something others do effortlessly.
Well maybe your son, by honing all his techniques, will end up a better athlete in the future. Or maybe he won't, but he'll learn the value of practice for other subjects, academic or otherwise. Or maybe all this practice is worthless.

It doesn't matter as much as you think, OP.

People like to succeed effortlessly. "You work hard at this and I don't have to, but I'm still better than you" is a common flex.

I do wonder, though, are they bragging? It's probably true. I had a baseball mom tell me the other day that her kid was not in the shape he needed to be for an upcoming something or other. Sometimes people are just being honest about their kids.

I’m pretty close with the other moms on my son’s baseball team. They have an upcoming tryout. My son has been practicing for it and I mentioned it and multiple people have laughed and said “Oh Larlo hasn’t picked up a bat for months”
Why is it bragging rights not to practice?