Doesn't this sound too much for a 6yr old?

[luvmy3]

It really depends. I think its too much for a kid (any age) who is just playing the sport for some fun and recreation. If they are dedictated and serious about the sport, which at 6, I really don't see how they are (parents maybe, but not the child) and you can work it into your schedule and school work doesn't suffer I don't see any problem with it.

 

[dawson5]

Is it going to be that way for the whole season? Two of my boys play football (full pads, not flag) and their seasons always start off with two weeks of 5 (sometimes 6) days of practice. After that (usually it's when school starts) it's backed off either in the amount of time practiced or the amount of days practiced. My DS13 at the beginning of football season practiced M-F 8-12, now that school started he goes M-F 4-6 (Fridays they end at 5:30). DS 12 was the same, now practices M & Tr from 6-8. That does seem intense for just flag though.

That's a fine line to walk though, letting them quit or making a commitment and sticking with it. I understand if it's not fun but a lot of things in life are not always fun. I guess it depends on how much he wants it? My DS12 lives for sports, he would love to have 2 hr practices 5 days a week.

I think it would be best to speak with the coach and find out his plans. I can't imagine you are the only parent thinking this way.

 

[pozey]

For a 6 year old...yes, I think it's too much.

I have played sports since I was that age, plus I have coached kids of various ages...

The first thing that comes to mind, is that a 2 hour practice is a LONG TIME to try to keep the attention span of a 6 year old. Practices for kids that young should be shorter and fast paced and FUN! You have to make the practices FUN for them so that they can enjoy coming to practice and playing in games.

The second thing that comes to mind is that at their age, that is a lot of strain on their young bodies.

Football is king here in the state of Oklahoma. And the league in my area limits the rec league flag football teams to 3 times a week, 1.5 hours each practice.

 

[Trish5768]

Pretty standard stuff for us here in western pa. My DS practices 4 days a week 6 - 8, in full pads. Games on Sat evenings.

I could see where that could be too much for a 6 yo. DS started when he was 8 and loves it. (he is now 12) If he doesn't love it, I'd pull him and let him try again in a couple years.

 

[pozey]

Pretty standard stuff for us here in western pa. My DS practices 4 days a week 6 - 8, in full pads. Games on Sat evenings.

I could see where that could be too much for a 6 yo. DS started when he was 8 and loves it. (he is now 12) If he doesn't love it, I'd pull him and let him try again in a couple years.

Standard for what age? 12? Yeah, maybe so. But do the 6 year olds in western PA practice the same way?

With younger kids (10 and under), you really have to watch out and not burn them out before they are able to enjoy the sport.

 

[declansdad]

At that age, this is way too much and I would question the coach's philosophy. There is no way in the world a 6 year old needs to put in 8 hours of organized practice per week in any one sport.

I can't believe the number of cavalier attitudes being displayed on this thread.

 

[Trish5768]

Standard for what age? 12? Yeah, maybe so. But do the 6 year olds in western PA practice the same way?

With younger kids (10 and under), you really have to watch out and not burn them out before they are able to enjoy the sport.

For our team, you have to be 8 to play. The 8 yo practice 3 days a week, 2 hour practices. The 9/10 yo team practices 4 days a week 2 hours a practice same for the 11/12 team.

I'm not saying it's right or that it's wrong. I believe that lies within each individual family to decide whats best. That being said, if my son didn't like it, was struggling with grades or was burnt out. I'd pull him in a second.

 

[luvsJack]

My oldest played flag at 6 and they did practice every day except Wed and Sun (church) and game days. I want to say they practiced about 2 hours a day.

Now, my oldest was born an athlete; he LOVES sports so this was not too much for him even at 6. He loved going to practice, loved playing in games, loved every thing about football and baseball (became just baseball later). He knew he had to get everything else done in order to go to pratice so he did because he wanted it.

My younger son just wasn't that into any sport except soccer, it would have been a chore to him to practice football for 10 minutes every day. He would have liked the games but just wouldn't have wanted it bad enough to practice that way.

My point is that it depends on your child. If he truly loves the sport and is willing to give up other things to do this and is willing to get homework and chores (if he has any) done to go; then no its not too much. But, if its a struggle to make him go and he falls behind on other stuff; then yes it is too much.

 

[declansdad]

Practicing that much,every week, at such a young age will cause the child to burn out. They will stop loving the sport and possibly quit all sports.

 

[luvsJack]

Practicing that much,every week, at such a young age will cause the child to burn out. They will stop loving the sport and possibly quit all sports.

Not always. You have determine it for your own child. Some will burn out, some won't. Every kid is different.

 

[dawson5]

I wonder if at that age, how much of it is true practice?

OP have you stayed to watch? Again, I would talk with the coach and get an idea if he plans this for the whole season or just for a little bit to get the boys into a cohesive group. Even at this age, I wonder if he's just trying to figure out who goes into what position and there might be a lot of watching and not practicing going on for part of the group.

Granted my kids are older and in pads, but quite a few of our parents stay and watch the whole practice. I don't always, often I will stick around for 30-45 minutes to get an idea of what is going on at practice and I ask him questions at the end.

 

[babynurse1]

My youngest boys are 9 and 10. They have been playing for a couple of years. They practice M-R from 5-7:30 with games on Saturday and sometimes Sunday too.

At first I thought it was a little much, but my boys absolutely love it. And there is so much to learn in football. Only one time has one of the boys not wanted to go to practice and that's because school had just started and I think he was exhausted.

My oldest son has absolutely no interest in playing football and we never signed him up. I think each kid is different. If my youngest did not want to go and weren't excited about playing, we would find something else for them to do.

 

[luvmy3]

Standard for what age? 12? Yeah, maybe so. But do the 6 year olds in western PA practice the same way?

With younger kids (10 and under), you really have to watch out and not burn them out before they are able to enjoy the sport.

Not all kids. When my 1 ds was 5-6 he played soccer. The 2 weekly practices (sometimes in the pouring rain) and the whole saturdays at the soccer field burnt him out. He reluctantly made it through the season and hasn't played since. My dd on the otherhand was the complete opposite, she loved it and played for 4 years. I suspect my ds (almost 6) will be the same as dd.
I do think the amount of practice for the OP's 6 year old is excessive. Its only 6 year olds playing touch flag football, its not like they are training to be Navy Seals

 

[shortbun]

You asked so here is my opinion and it's only meant for the op. Let him quit, find a rational league or try it again in a couple of years. Your coach is nuts. He's living through his team instead of making it fun. Bad coaching form imho. At that age, any sport should be about fun, sportsmanship and learning some skills. A few years later there will be plenty of opportunity to give your whole life to sports. Six years old is NOT the time. Follow your intuition.

 

[declansdad]

Not always. You have determine it for your own child. Some will burn out, some won't. Every kid is different.

I have been involved in coaching for 20 years and when you push kids like this at a young age, they will lose their love for the game and eventually stop playing. Typically they will stick it out for awhile because of parental pressure.

 

[pozey]

Not all kids. When my 1 ds was 5-6 he played soccer. The 2 weekly practices (sometimes in the pouring rain) and the whole saturdays at the soccer field burnt him out. He reluctantly made it through the season and hasn't played since. My dd on the otherhand was the complete opposite, she loved it and played for 4 years. I suspect my ds (almost 6) will be the same as dd.
I do think the amount of practice for the OP's 6 year old is excessive. Its only 6 year olds playing touch flag football, its not like they are training to be Navy Seals

I know all kids are different. However, burnout can come at various stages of a kids life. You just have to make sure at THAT AGE, they are having fun.

But my opinion goes back to the original topic...It is my very humble opinion that a recreational leage flag football team consisiting of 6 year old kids....that 2 hour practices, 4 days a week is excessive. Practices are to be used to help train an athlete repetitive actions. To help them to become instictive and to do things naturally. A 6 year old does not have the mental or physical capacity to train their bodies in this manner. Most 6 year olds...

 

[5 'LIL *TWINKERS*]

DS(8) plays Rocket FB right now. Practice started 2 weeks before school started. Practice was 4 days/week from 6-8pm. Once school started, 3 days/week from 5:30-7:30 and Saturday afternoon game. He has his days that he doesn't want to practice though. Tired from getting up for school and the long school day. He is an excellent student and plays youth baseball in the summer too.

DD#1(12) plays on a 14u travel softball team all year long and rec softball during the summer and is also on the 8th grade "A" volleyball team right now.

DD#2(9) plays rec softball in the summer, rocket football cheerleading and rec volleyball right now and actually is trying out for a 10u travel softball team tonight.

DD#3(6) played t-ball this summer and is now rocket football cheerleading w/dd#2 for ds's rocket football team (did you understand all that!)

IM SO BUSY running kids back and forth to games and practices. It gets hairy when they practice/games at the same time in different cities DH has to get outta work early to chauffer kids too.

The kids want to do it and enjoy doing it. They all have excellent grades and we are willing to get them where they need to be. Its hard on me alot of the time but so worth it for them to be involved and be a part of a team and to be social and outgoing. I missed out on that when I was a child and think that I would be a different person now, if I had those experiences.

DC's school district makes lots of $ off of us being involved with all these sports and swimming lessons on top of it. But so worth it IMO. Wish my school had extracurricular programs like this when I was a kid. Sure would have kept lots of kids outta trouble, thats for sure


Sorry for the book...lol

Good luck OP.....Im sure your son will enjoy flag football once into the routine. I know its hard at first for everyone, you kinda get used to it though. You gotta find what works for you. I very often make a meal ahead of time and we dine in the van. Or pick up cheap pizza (Little Caesers $5.50 lg pepperoni) and eat on the way. Our van is kinda our home away from home so to speak I stash a hard sided cooler in the back too.

 

[undertheradar]

OP, what were the guidelines your league provided when you signed up? For flag football the schedule sounds like the coach thinks he's coaching for the NFL Championship! Check your league website and verify the practice rules. If the coach is within guidelines, perhaps this season is not for your son. If the coach is violating guidelines, contact the league directors and get problem solved. My son is in his 12th year of full-contact football and we have seen many players walk away in that time, no shame in deciding that other activities are more fun and less involved.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are these boys planning on going pro?

If they are, at this rate they'll be broken down physically even before college!

 

[luvsJack]

I have been involved in coaching for 20 years and when you push kids like this at a young age, they will lose their love for the game and eventually stop playing. Typically they will stick it out for awhile because of parental pressure.

Oh. Ok, well, I guess someone forgot to tell my son and most of his teammates this.

He played baseball starting with t-ball at 4 and started flag football at 6. He continued to play both sports (plus basketball for awhile) until high school and baseball through high school. He quit football because he was injured and his baseball coach wanted him to. He practiced the way the OP described at 6 years old and more-much more. He still loves sports and would be playing right now if at all possible. The boys he grew up playing on the team with are almost all the same way. You would have to know my son and these other young men, but there was absolutely no parental pressure involved. In fact there were times I would have loved for him to choose to quit, but he just loved playing too much; it was and is too much a part of him.




OP, if my child was asking to not go back; I wouldn't push him. It really should be up to him on that. And if he does go back, just watch him and you will be able tell if it is too much for him. If he just seems overly tired or stressed then it very well could be too much.


These "practicing" may not be actually running up and down the field and running plays. At 6 years old, they have a lot to learn about football. The coach has to start with the very, very basic skills of the game. This practice may not consist of as much physical activity as everyone is assuming it does.