MOOKS whose kids have played team sports

[musiclover]

charlielove

ugh...please tell me that some of your kids did not click with it at first.....

I was almost in tears yesterday at Adam's soccer lessons/game because he was 1 of the only children out of like 40 kids who was not trying at all.  Like, the other 8-10 kids on his field would run after the ball and try to play, whereas Adam was seriously all the way on the other side of the field, kinda spinning around in circles by himself (with a pretend jet pack on).     This was his 3rd (maybe 4th) lesson so I thought that by now he would give it some effort.  I was a little embarrassed.  He did okay with the drills, but was being a turd when they started a game.

The coach would ask Adam to run, and he would not

Adam was so distracted and would focus on things like finding a bug in the grass, or get distracted by emergency vehilcles going by......he would just not play.

I'm not the kind of parent that expects her child to be a sports star, but at the minimum I would hope/expect some effort.  He is 4.5yrs and he couldn't (or wouldn't?) even run on the soccer field, it gave me major sads.  I sometimes wonder....if he has some type of attention problem.  Deep down I don't think it's that because he can sit and do projects and can focus on things like that, he is smart, does well in school etc... ....but I wonder what was up with him.

DH thinks that maybe he just does not like soccer....... :^) I hope that is it...

[thedahliharpa]

Don't worry! I too either think he's not into it, yet, or that the distractions are just cooler right now.
How is the coach? Does he have a type of personality that A is used to/would normally relate to?

[ashleydl83]

Both the boys are playing baseball for the first time. The boys on Eli's team are 5-6 and most of them don't pay attention. A lot of them are playing with the dirt in the infield or picking blades of grass in the outfield. Micah's team is 7-8 and most of them pay attention, but I think it all has to do with age. I'm sure he'll take to it eventually, or maybe even another sport.

[cat19]

It took me until this year to find something that fit for Lindsay. We just kept trying different things until we came upon swimming and little angels came down from heaven and started singing - we knew we found the right fit for her!

[EnchantedSoul]

I wouldn't worry. My 7 yr old played in the dirt at his game this morning. Adam may be intimidated, it's hard to go after the ball when 10 other kids are too. I can remember E playing soccer at that age. He'd be the one picking grass and talking to opponents. I'd say that stopped around age 6.

[charlielove]

Oh no, don't worry about it. There were a LOT of kids doing the exact same thing at Claire's soccer games. Claire got distracted by a gopher hole with a group of kids for a good few minutes in the middle of her game once. lol There were even kids whose parents had to be on the field with them.

Maybe the game part is a bit overwhelming for him and he isn't really sure what to do, also. Claire and most kids just kind of ran in the general direction of the group. Or soccer may just not be his thing, but it's great that he is being exposed to different activities. If soccer isn't his thing, you will find something that is!

[cat19]

Have you ever seen the picture of the little girls at ballet class and they are all pretty and calm, but then there's one hanging upside down on the bar? That was Lindsay. Dance lasted all of a month. You'll find the right thing in time!

[musiclover]

Thanks ladies, this REALLY makes me feel better!!!!

  He did take some classes at the Y when he was 3-3.5 and loved it. He enjoyed superhero gymnastics and a cooking class. Perhaps he is too immature for soccer or it's just not his thing. Perhaps he believes that you should only be running if someone is chasing you  I just wish he had at least given it some effort, argh.. 

[musiclover]

Apr 28, 2013 12:02:43 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Don't worry! I too either think he's not into it, yet, or that the distractions are just cooler right now.
How is the coach? Does he have a type of personality that A is used to/would normally relate to?

The coach is nice enough, but very direct.  I guess they don't coddle you anymore at 4, lol.

[redmonkeystomper]

My stepson started soccer when he was 9. He would stand on the field and pretend to have sword fights during the game. He was in his own little world the first season. That is just his personality any= he marches to his own beat. He played soccer for about 6 seasons and he did improve and start to focus and really play. I don't think you should worry about his attention based on how he was at soccer. Have you told him what he is supposed to do at soccer (watch the ball, run, etc.)? I would not be too worried.

[kkfeb04]

A lot of K's friends are in itty bitty soccer this year. I didn't sign him up and I was a bit disappointed at myself at first. Until I realized that he would be the one with his head towards the sky running in circles not paying attention to the fact that they should be playing soccer. I can let him do that at home without spending the $50 for the league and then whatever the equipment/uniform costs.

[Deleted]

I didn't read all of the pp's, but (even though I'm not a MOOK), it sounds like he's just not into it maybe. My nephew was the SAME way with soccer - refused/wouldn't run, wasn't engaged, and didnt really care about it. So my sis took him out, and then they tried t-ball/softball. He was completely different - loved playing, concentrated, and really got into it. He just didn't enjoy soccer. Maybe soccer is just not Adam's thing!

ETA: And my nephew was 5 at the time, so just slightly older! 

[Deleted]

My DS1 does soccer too, he is almost 4. There are plenty of kids who don't pay attention and/or need their parents nearby to keep them focused.

Also the coach is a real drill sergeant (which is great, imo) because as you say, they don't coddle them anymore at this age. He will call out any kid who is not paying attention or mucking around. Maybe your coach wasn't authoritative enough? That was my first thought. Just like the preschool teachers, coaches have to command attention when it comes to small kids.

charlielove I am laughing at the gopher hole.