Topic: Sports and Competing
Following are the questions our readers asked on this topic. To view our expert's answer to a question, just click on it.
- My daughter (13) absolutely loves soccer. She follows all the European teams and has been talking about trying out for the school team. I love my kid, but she’s not really athletic. I know there are students who can kick circles around her. How do I keep her from getting terribly disappointed when she doesn’t make the team?
- There just isn’t enough time in the day for the training and practice my son’s football coach insists his team put in. Jon is 16 and really needs to buckle down and work on his studies. All the parents feel the same, but the coach doesn’t listen to us. What can we do?
- I have a daughter who is 13. Basketball tryouts are coming up. Normally, she shows some resistance when going into a sport. Once she is on the team and playing games, practicing, she loves it. My husband and I feel that we need to push her to play a sport due to her lack of motivation. But we have seen from past experience that she has so much fun once she is in it. My question is, should we continue to push her? (Its more of a nudge, than a push.) We want her to be involved in something other than boys. :)
- My daughter just turned 18 and will be a Senior next year. She is extremely athletic, but I cannot get her motivated to play sports. My thought was this: pay her. She finds this attractive. There would be a contract with a signing bonus, salary and bonus incentives. Is this crazy??? Thanks Steve
- my son is a good athlete....with very good raw talents and skills....however, he doesn't perform as well in games as he does in practice...he says he gets "nervous".....any suggestions? my husband ans I do not pressure him.....he just wants to do better...and we don't know how to help him he is 13.....
- I am a subscriber to your newsletter and I wanted to know if you had an article about sports and when a teen doesn't make the team? Or do you have references or material for suggestions of what I can get my daughter in to now? My daughter is 15 and did not make the volleyball team and she is very disappointed. She keeps making remarks about putting on weight because now she wont be active and what will she do now with her extra time. She is going to try for a job but she is actually just turning 15 so it might be hard to come by. She is involved with Campus Life a Christian organization on Monday nights. I think when school is back in to session she will get busy but I wanted to know what other parents have shared with what works well for this big disappointment. Thank you.
- What is the best way to help my son deal with the "cut throat " competition of high school football? He missed the first game week so when positions were decided, he was not there due to a severe migraine headache x 7 days. Now, he is on the sideline waiting for the occassional opportunity to prove himself (7 plays at his first game) I thought 7 plays was pretty good considering he is a freshman who missed a whole week of practice and alot of players ended up with absolutely no play time. He is a good player and is frustrated by this. He also gets very frustrated with his friends "being cocky" about the positions they have. He is pushing himself very hard with everything in general. He is a freshman taking AP classes, practicing everyday for football and taking 2 online classes. All of this is his decision, I do not push him hard at all. He told me yesterday that he wants to graduate in the top10 in his class in 2012. I am glad he is driven but I don't want him to stress himself out or set himself up to be disappointed. He has mentioned quitting football. Should I allow that or encourage him to stick it out and see what happens? There are 4 games left.
- My son will be turning 13 soon, is now the time for him to start lifting weights?
- My son is in the 10th grade and on the JV football team. he has played for his school for the two previous years. He isn't an all star, but has always enjoyed being part of the team, and telling people that he was on the team. He attended summer workouts consistantly, and trained for his position with another coach (he's a kicker) He is frustrated and wants to quit the team, since he doesnt seem to get much playing time. I'm ok with him not playing next season, but I think he will regret quitting mid-season. He thinks it's just a waste of time and wants out now. There are six weeks left of games. How should this be handled?