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

[Magic Mom]

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

Not really.

 

[Rora]

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.

Hi. This was me.

Every summer my mom would force me to go to a sports camp-- tennis, soccer, volleyball, etc-- that I absolutely did not want to go to. I wound up really resenting all of those sports and actually, sports in general. Thankfully, I have learned NOT to do that to my unborn children.

OP, I know my situation isn't your situation but, that does sound like a lot for a 6yo. If he doesn't want to go back, I really wouldn't make him until he's a little older (if he even wants to go back then!).

Good luck and buy yourself a BIG planner/calendar!!

 

[declansdad]

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.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I have seen too many kids get burned out and develop a dislike for a sport simply because they did too much too soon.

Practicing with 6 year old kids needs to be active. They will not stand around to watch, they want to play. If they don't, they will do their own thing.

 

[BabyTigger99]

I think it sets a bad precedence for you to just pull him. I would go to the next practice, observe, talk with the coach if needed about your concerns. If you pull him out now, what happens the next time he doesn't want to stick with something, or the next, or the next.....??

 

[luvsJack]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I have seen too many kids get burned out and develop a dislike for a sport simply because they did too much too soon.

Practicing with 6 year old kids needs to be active. They will not stand around to watch, they want to play. If they don't, they will do their own thing.

I am not denying that some kids (even many kids) do burn out; I am simply saying that not all kids burn out and I have living proof of that in my household. It just depends on their love of the sport and how much they want to play.

But agreeing to disagree is fine by me.