My son wantts to quit....

Playing football.   He is 9 yrs old and has never played a sport before. As a single mom, I just have never been able to afford it. Anyways, he complains off and on that he wants to quit. Not all the time though. When he is at practice and afterwards, he doesn't want to. It's so hard sometimes making decisions on my own. I just would like everyone's opinions on what I should do. It's very frustrating and part of me wants to say "OK, quit!!" then again, I don't want him to quit because I know he does like it. I also don't want him to get in the habit of starting something and then thinking he can quit.

Quoting heather03:“ Playing football.   He is 9 yrs old and has never played a sport before. As a single mom, I just have ... [snip!] ... because I know he does like it. I also don't want him to get in the habit of starting something and then thinking he can quit.”

I would find out why he wants to quit, maybe it's bully thing or something...I wouldn't let him give it up to easily

I would make him finish out this year, and then if he doesn't want to do it again, that's fine. My brother did this once he started playing in H.S. because the practices were so long and required so much. He ended up playing through H.S., college, and he is now a coach for a H.S. football team. If my mom would have let him quit when he wanted to (he actually tried to walk out during practice) I doubt he would have gone this far with it. I plan to implement a rule with my boys: Once you start it, you finish it. If you didn't like it, then you don't have to do it again.

Quoting heather03:“ Playing football.   He is 9 yrs old and has never played a sport before. As a single mom, I just have ... [snip!] ... because I know he does like it. I also don't want him to get in the habit of starting something and then thinking he can quit.”

my 8 yo did the same thing.. i made him s tick with it.. If you have a POSITVE male role model for him.. like GPA/ a bother of yours.. that can kinda DO the MAN talk..or ILL COME watch you thing.. that will help.. thats what I did.. since my husband isnt very HANDS on and acts like he gives 2 craps less about MOST THINGS.. even tho he does care.. itsj ust how he comes across..
so i had my B.i.l and my brother.. come hang with him and watch him etc.. when they could of course.. NOT DROP everything for my sON type of thing.. that encourages him.. without you having to be the EVIL parent making him stick it out type of monster that they think we are..

Hd the same problem with my step son. It was decided that since he made the comentment to play he needed to finish out the season, and his mom paid a lot of money for him to play also. It was hard for him, football just did not hold his interest (his step brother liked football so he wanted to play too). Ever since then he has been with same pair of coachs for soccor. They do spring and fall, indoor during the winter, and baseball during the summer. I think the main reason he didn't like football was because of the coachs. But the ones he plays for now are great.

I would def find out why first but if it is just cause he wants to quit I would find the good and fun things in the sport and have him stick it out until the season is over. If he just ends up not liking it then thats one thing and you can put him into something else. Make sure he is in something he likes though. It will help him so much now and in the future but dont let him quit just cause.

Good luck!

Thanks Ladies! I am going to make him stick it out! I guess I can be a push over sometimes (ok, most of the time) so when they beg to do something, I tend to let them! I am sure when they start winning games, he will love it!