Should you let your child quit sports or finish what they started? Well, it depends. Just because your child wants to quit the sports team does not make them quitters. It can be so innocent that they simply don’t enjoy playing. On the other hand, sport or sports may not be their forte. Maybe it is the coach, or perhaps it is not fun.

Here are some ways to discover why and help your child understand whether to quit or not to quit.

Here are some reasons why your child may want to quit. Possibly:

• They simply are not interested and prefer another sport or activity.
• Your child lacks the skills to play and does not feel like they belong or are good enough.
• Their heart is not into it.
• They are not getting enough playing time on the field.
• It is not their passion. It is yours
• They don’t get along with the coaches, players, or teammates.
• You are forcing your child to play.
• The coach emphasizes and always wants to win, and the sporting games and practices lose it’s fun.

What’s The Reason?

You have to encourage your child to play. But when they push back against you and don’t want to play, you have to discover why. Your child has to understand their emotions and feelings and why they want to quit or no longer participate. Most importantly, you don’t force them and help them discover their interest and passion. You have to guide them to understand why they dislike something.

For example, if the coach is associated with quitting to play soccer, and they love the game, then help them understand. One, you can change the team. Two, maybe they need to learn perseverance. Or three, the coach takes the fun of playing. If it is not fun, don’t force your child to play. Instead, establish a rule that says they can’t quit until after the season is over when they sign-up. Bertrand Russell said, “Children who are forced to eat acquire a loathing for food, and children who are forced to learn acquire a loathing for knowledge.”

What’s Most Important Is The Growth Factor

Is what your child doing and playing inhibiting them and creating bad behavior? Are they lashing out for no reason? Or, is it helping them develop the great qualities sports offers like leadership. If it is causing bad behavior, you probably need to rethink the situation. If your child is goofing off, not paying attention, becoming disrespectful at games and practices, or, on the contrary, becoming anti-social, then it is time to adjust. It is not fair for your child to disrupt the fun for other children.

It Is All About Balance

Sometimes it is not about quitting but about finding the balance that works. If it is not fun and challenging, you have to make it fun. If the coach is difficult, he needs to know how to understand the sport. Some situations are in your power, and unfortunately, some are not. So, it is essential to understand the cause to adjust the result. It may be that your child loves soccer, but the coach puts too much pressure on the team; making your child want to quit. Fun is the primary factor when it comes to anything your child does. Understand, kids never want to quit anything fun.

There are so many recreational activities and clubs for your child to experience. If they don’t enjoy playing sports, help them find their passion. Passion is very difficult to extinguish because, passion is done with sincerity and honest feelings. Follow the feelings to the heart; they will not steer you wrongly. And that is important for your child to understand whether they should quit or not.

Quitting for specific reasons is ok; forcing them to stay and play is not. If your child is happier shooting hoops than scoring goals in soccer, then let it be. Let them discover their passion on their own. Just make sure your child is whistling to their own tune, following their intentions, and not being influenced by their friends and others.

Read More

• Coaches: How To Effectively Handle When Players Quit
• There’s More Than One Reason Girls Quit Sports