Do you let your child quit youth sports? (1 Viewer)

[Clayton Gray]

If a kid signed up/tried out/whatevered for a team because they wanted to play, they should finish the season. If they want to do jiu-jitsu/Taekwondo/whatever and their parents sign them up to a 6-month contract, they should finish the six months. If the kid wants to play Chutes and Ladders, they should finish the game no matter how many chutes they have to slide down. A kid shouldn't be allowed to quit when things are difficult or boring. Lots of things in life are difficult or boring, but they still need to be finished.

 

[Politician Spock]

I think this is where there is a big difference in my views to yours.  Not every person part of the TEAM can be starters or play the majority of minutes.  People on the bench are just as important as the starters and have a particular job to do for the team.  These sports we are discussing are team sports and the fact that you didn't like sitting the bench and quit after the season tells me a lot about your view of team sports and why you think it is ok to quit mid season. 

Being part of team and sacrificing together is one of the best experiences I have had in life and has taught me many things like perseverance.  Working hard to help the team get better to achieve their goal is part of the process.  Quitting because you weren't playing and didn't want to work  hard if you didn't get to play in games is a selfish attitude which tells me you aren't cut out for team sports.  Some people aren't cut out for team sports.  It's not for everyone.

Kids should not be forced to play but they should be forced to keep their commitment (assuming the kid wanted to play originally - parents forcing their kids to play when they didn't even want to sign up is different altogether).  Kids also need to learn that if they want to play more they need to work harder and practice more.  They need to learn that being part of the team is more than being the one that scores the most or plays the most. 

We're talking about 7 year olds. The only reason teams of 7 year olds have bench players is because more people signed up to play than can start on the number of existing teams, and there's not enough players to increase the number of teams. Don't give me this crap about how teams of 7 year olds need bench players. Every team of 7 year olds with bench players I have seen has 7 year olds who are forced to sit on the bench because everyone needs a chance to play. The 7 year olds would prefer to play every inning or every quarter. The bench serve no "team" purpose at that age. 

 

[Gally]

We're talking about 7 year olds. The only reason teams of 7 year olds have bench players is because more people signed up to play than can start on the number of existing teams, and there's not enough players to increase the number of teams. Don't give me this crap about how teams of 7 year olds need bench players. Every team of 7 year olds with bench players I have seen has 7 year olds who are forced to sit on the bench because everyone needs a chance to play. The 7 year olds would prefer to play every inning or every quarter. The bench serve no "team" purpose at that age. 

I was actually referring to your overall mentality that if you couldn't start you weren't going to make an effort to be a part of the team.  Your mentality was all about you and not being part of the team.  It's a different perspective and shows that team sports aren't really your thing.  It helps me to understand your perspective.

Learning that some players are better and being part of a team can start at 7 years old.  I don't think  you are giving enough credit to the 7 year olds.  I don't think it's necessary to have bench players at young ages but it isn't a bad thing either.  I don't think it's ever too early to learn that people have different skills and if you want to be one of the better people at anything you need to work hard to get to that spot.  If you are on the bench and want to play more start striving to get there.  Life isn't fair and you have to work at things you want to have.  Whether that is starting on a basketball team or getting good grades in school. 

 

[Politician Spock]

I was actually referring to your overall mentality that if you couldn't start you weren't going to make an effort to be a part of the team.  Your mentality was all about you and not being part of the team.  It's a different perspective and shows that team sports aren't really your thing.  It helps me to understand your perspective.

Learning that some players are better and being part of a team can start at 7 years old.  I don't think  you are giving enough credit to the 7 year olds.  I don't think it's necessary to have bench players at young ages but it isn't a bad thing either.  I don't think it's ever too early to learn that people have different skills and if you want to be one of the better people at anything you need to work hard to get to that spot.  If you are on the bench and want to play more start striving to get there.  Life isn't fair and you have to work at things you want to have.  Whether that is starting on a basketball team or getting good grades in school. 

Not sure why you think I don't understand team mentailty. I finished the season. When it was time for tryouts as a sophomore I decided not to try out. I didn't owe the team anything, as the team didn't exist yet. The team hadn't been selected. I didn't try out because I didn't enjoy it last season. If you think not doing it again because I didn't enjoy it the first time selfish then #### you! Obviously they didn't need me given they went on to win state the following year.

 

[Joe Summer]

Make him play. Kids need to learn that "I want to do that" is a legally enforceable verbal contract.

 

[Gally]

Not sure why you think I don't understand team mentailty. I finished the season. When it was time for tryouts as a sophomore I decided not to try out. I didn't owe the team anything, as the team didn't exist yet. The team hadn't been selected. I didn't try out because I didn't enjoy it last season. If you think not doing it again because I didn't enjoy it the first time selfish then #### you! Obviously they didn't need me given they went on to win state the following year.

I never said you didn't understand team mentality.  I just said it wasn't for you.  What I meant by you not fitting the team mentality is that it wasn't enough for you to work hard in practice to push your teammates to stay on the top of their game to make your team better.   For you, if you weren't playing in games it wasn't worth it to be part of the team.  You equated playing in games as being worth it.  For you, just being part of a team wasn't worth it. Because working hard in practice when you wouldn't be playing in games wasn't fun you stopped playing at the end of the year.  That was your choice but to me that is selfish (and nothing wrong with that decision since it was after your committed time).  If you weren't going to give it your all in practice because you weren't going to play you should quit but by doing so you gave up the chance to be part of a state championship team.   

I just think it's wrong to think if there enough subs it's ok to quit on a team. You don't feel that being part of the team as a bench player is meaningful if there are other bench players available which is why you stopped playing and why you said if there were enough players then go ahead and quit if you don't like it.

 

[Workhorse]

Being part of team and sacrificing together is one of the best experiences I have had in life and has taught me many things like perseverance.  Working hard to help the team get better to achieve their goal is part of the process.  Quitting because you weren't playing and didn't want to work  hard if you didn't get to play in games is a selfish attitude which tells me you aren't cut out for team sports.  Some people aren't cut out for team sports.  It's not for everyone.

Truth is, you can develop admirable qualities like teamwork, sacrifice and selflessness in many places other than team sports.  Sometimes the "anti-participation trophy" crowd seem to ignore this.

 

[Gally]

Truth is, you can develop admirable qualities like teamwork, sacrifice and selflessness in many places other than team sports.  Sometimes the "anti-participation trophy" crowd seem to ignore this.

I completely agree.  I just stated that I got a lot out of playing team sports.  In general youth sports is a readily available resource that is built to cultivate those qualities if you approach them in that way.

 

[Politician Spock]

I never said you didn't understand team mentality.  I just said it wasn't for you.  What I meant by you not fitting the team mentality is that it wasn't enough for you to work hard in practice to push your teammates to stay on the top of their game to make your team better.   For you, if you weren't playing in games it wasn't worth it to be part of the team.  You equated playing in games as being worth it.  For you, just being part of a team wasn't worth it. Because working hard in practice when you wouldn't be playing in games wasn't fun you stopped playing at the end of the year.  That was your choice but to me that is selfish (and nothing wrong with that decision since it was after your committed time).  If you weren't going to give it your all in practice because you weren't going to play you should quit but by doing so you gave up the chance to be part of a state championship team.   

I just think it's wrong to think if there enough subs it's ok to quit on a team. You don't feel that being part of the team as a bench player is meaningful if there are other bench players available which is why you stopped playing and why you said if there were enough players then go ahead and quit if you don't like it.

Dude, you're so off the mark it's not even funny. I played baseball most of my youth because it was fun to play. In high school, they didn't play to have fun. They played to win. And some of them were even playing to earn college scholarships. Our catcher even went on to make it to the show, albeit only for a few weeks (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duranmi01.shtml). If it's all about winning, like it was to them (who went on to win it all), then you'll have your perspective on things. To me it's not all about winning. Who cares if you won if it wasn't fun doing it?

 

[Gally]

Dude, you're so off the mark it's not even funny. I played baseball most of my youth because it was fun to play. In high school, they didn't play to have fun. They played to win. And some of them were even playing to earn college scholarships. Our catcher even went on to make it to the show, albeit only for a few weeks (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duranmi01.shtml). If it's all about winning, like it was to them (who went on to win it all), then you'll have your perspective on things. To me it's not all about winning. Who cares if you won if it wasn't fun doing it?

You stated you quit after your freshman year because you weren't playing.  I took that to mean if you couldn't play in games it wasn't worth it to you.  If you don't have fun practicing the game, then by all means stop playing (as you did).  That was your decision. 

The only point I was trying to make is that being part of a team is more than just playing in games.  It is hard work and camaraderie of being part of the team.  For me it was fun putting in the work (as a team) and winning.  Obviously, it wasn't for you.....which was my point all along.

 

[Politician Spock]

You stated you quit after your freshman year because you weren't playing.  I took that to mean if you couldn't play in games it wasn't worth it to you.  If you don't have fun practicing the game, then by all means stop playing (as you did).  That was your decision. 

The only point I was trying to make is that being part of a team is more than just playing in games.  It is hard work and camaraderie of being part of the team.  For me it was fun putting in the work (as a team) and winning.  Obviously, it wasn't for you.....which was my point all along.

These guys ended up winning, but it wasn't fun for them either. They were expected to win. We were a private school, and the catcher I linked above was the principal's son. The principal basically recruited a team to win around his son, and probably did a few under the table deals to get some of them to come aboard. Losing was not allowed. We would win, but it sucked. 

 

[Gally]

These guys ended up winning, but it wasn't fun for them either. They were expected to win. We were a private school, and the catcher I linked above was the principal's son. The principal basically recruited a team to win around his son, and probably did a few under the table deals to get some of them to come aboard. Losing was not allowed. We would win, but it sucked. 

I understand.  I had a teammate in high school that got a full ride to Cal St Fullerton when they were a powerhouse in NCAA baseball.  He quit after a year because it became a job and he didn't like it.  He got burned out.  It happens and playing at that level isn't for everyone. 

I also coached a guy in high school that was a 3rd round draft pick out of high school and is now in the Majors.  He works his ### off and enjoys every minute of it.  He has worked incredibly hard to get where he is now and wouldn't change a thing.  He loves every minute of it. 

I am sure many of the guys on your high school team enjoyed the work it took to get to that level.  There were probably some that hated the pressure and didn't have as much fun and stayed for various reasons.  Those guys probably didn't go much further.  Stopping because you don't like something is what life is about.  Try many things.  find what you like and don't like but don't quit in the middle of your commitment (I am not saying you did....I know you did the right thing and fulfilled your commitment before stopping).    

 

[Politician Spock]

Stopping because you don't like something is what life is about.  Try many things.  find what you like and don't like but don't quit in the middle of your commitment (I am not saying you did....I know you did the right thing and fulfilled your commitment before stopping).    

The bolded is exactly what the thread is about. Like I said, if a 7 year quitting a team would leave the team with not enough players, then he should stick it out so the team is still a full team. But if the team can play without him, then stop doing it if you don't like it. 

 

[Gally]

The bolded is exactly what the thread is about. Like I said, if a 7 year quitting a team would leave the team with not enough players, then he should stick it out so the team is still a full team. But if the team can play without him, then stop doing it if you don't like it. 

But if everyone did that then they wouldn't have enough.  So if you are first then it's ok but since you did then I can't because then people couldn't play?  If you commit to something see it until the end and learn from it.  Learning to quit in the middle of a commitment is a bad habit to get into.

 

[Politician Spock]

But if everyone did that then they wouldn't have enough.  So if you are first then it's ok but since you did then I can't because then people couldn't play?  If you commit to something see it until the end and learn from it.  Learning to quit in the middle of a commitment is a bad habit to get into.

If everyone wanted to quit, then why the hell do the teams even exist?

As for those that took too long to decide to quit and can't now because the team wouldn't have enough without them, that's a lesson for them about the problem with being indecisive. If you're going to quit, do it before you lose the chance. 

 

[Gally]

If everyone wanted to quit, then why the hell do the teams even exist?

As for those that took too long to decide to quit and can't now because the team wouldn't have enough without them, that's a lesson for them about the problem with being indecisive. If you're going to quit, do it before you lose the chance. 

Hurry....be the first quitter.  At least you are first at something.  Terrible idea.

 

[Judge Smails]

If everyone wanted to quit, then why the hell do the teams even exist?

As for those that took too long to decide to quit and can't now because the team wouldn't have enough without them, that's a lesson for them about the problem with being indecisive. If you're going to quit, do it before you lose the chance. 

OK, this thread has officially jumped the shark.  Next.

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Offer to help coach the team.  

Drill the little ####er making fun of your son with a full-step, two-hand chest pass right to the face ...from about 5 feet.  

Then make the little ####er flinch every time you fake a pass to him.  

http://i.imgur.com/7if1rbB.gif

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Offer to help coach the team.  

Drill the little ####er making fun of your son with a full-step, two-hand chest pass right to the face ...from about 5 feet.  

Then make the little ####er flinch every time you fake a pass to him.  




 

http://i.imgur.com/7if1rbB.gif




 

Nice, but not the face shot I was looking for.  

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Nice, but not the face shot I was looking for.  

A few other possible contenders: 

http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/21-ncaa-basketball-ref-hit-in-head-by-ball.gif

http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TROY-MURPHY-BALL-FACE.gif

https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-05-2015/GM7Zup.gif

http://s586.photobucket.com/user/countkenshin/media/Think-fast-basketball-face-pass.gif.html

http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/11-d-wade-hit-in-head-by-ball.gif

https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/taj-gibson-hit-mike-dunleavy-in-the-face-with-a-ball-during-game-5-against-washington.gif?w=1000

https://media.giphy.com/media/PiIUf4kweYVtm/giphy.gif

Not with a ball, but don't rule this one out:

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1024923/bruce_bowen_kicks_wally_szczerbiak_in_the_face-584-1.gif

 

[Binky The Doormat]

A few other possible contenders: 

http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/21-ncaa-basketball-ref-hit-in-head-by-ball.gif

http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TROY-MURPHY-BALL-FACE.gif

https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-05-2015/GM7Zup.gif

http://s586.photobucket.com/user/countkenshin/media/Think-fast-basketball-face-pass.gif.html

http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/11-d-wade-hit-in-head-by-ball.gif

https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/taj-gibson-hit-mike-dunleavy-in-the-face-with-a-ball-during-game-5-against-washington.gif?w=1000

https://media.giphy.com/media/PiIUf4kweYVtm/giphy.gif  WINNER!

Not with a ball, but don't rule this one out:

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1024923/bruce_bowen_kicks_wally_szczerbiak_in_the_face-584-1.gif




 

 

[Tick]

https://media.giphy.com/media/PiIUf4kweYVtm/giphy.gif  WINNER!

It was nice of JPP to run the basketball juggs machine.