AIBU to feel overwhelmed trying to get my son into sport?

Yes. Sadly you need social media.

are there sporty summer camps locally? Are you on social media I get most info about stuff like this on targeted adverts on Instagram. Do you live somewhere rural with not much choice?

What does the bairn want to do OP? Does he want to do football?

I think in your position. I'd set up a Facebook account just to use to find these places and get the info about them you need. Just see it as another irritating app that comes in handy.

My son plays football without shinpads. He just wears a football shirt, Astro trainers, football socks.

You do need to be persistent in my experience of trying to get hold of the right people to sign them up. You can always ask in advance what they need and go to a sports shop and ask to be kitted out.
at his age it’s good to do some different sports so football and something really different like climbing or athletics; so he can see what he likes best and develop different skills.

dont be put off by lack of a male role model!
people generally are badly organised imo and need prompting.

I’m another mum who found rugby much less full of dickheads friendlier than football. Also if you have a local climbing centre, they often do kids’ classes and groups.

I wouldn’t want him in that club either, the coach sounds awful.
I found my kids clubs on local FB pages, I’ve seen a lot also through our community centre and the leisure centre too. It’s a good time to look as some kids will be aging up so there may be spaces.
neither of mine are arsed with football or martial arts. We’ve had success in parkour though which is great fun and while DC haven’t got any play date type friendships from it yet, they have a good run around with the others and chat while waiting for turns.

Is there not a leisure centre nearby? The swimming pool by us does a kids membership that includes swim lessons and then you can sign them up to the clubs they run as well (depending on age what there is, it's not football though at ours if that's what you want your son to do).

I think a lot is advertised on social media though, so maybe you need to sign up. No need to post but could be good for researching groups.

Football can often be tricky if you’re not in a club very young. My son started at 4 in his club and at 7 they played in a league and could only take so many players. Then at 8, it was trials at start of season to “stay on” team to make sure that keeping up
to standard of team and all playing similar level.

Youll need to find a club accepting new players and then potentially have a couple of sessions to trial (never feels like a trial for the kids, always just like a group train with drills to see if struggle with skills or pace).

it’d be worth finding out what teams your sons friends play for and reaching out to see if they’re taking new players.

Predictable typical Mumsnet response. And what’s wrong with boys having a male role model? Lack of decent male role models is partly why our society has descended to level it has in this country.

Junior parkrun is wonderful. I volunteer at ours regularly, I get teary almost every time! You’ve got some very speedy teens at the front, but tiny tots tootling around in wellies, and everything in between. The fast teens almost all stay to cheer on/jog in with other children of all ages and abilities. It’s such a wonderful supportive atmosphere.

Definitely take him back to the football with long socks and shin pads. This would be a good example to him ⚽️ especially as other parents were saying don't worry. It will be more familiar next week.

It sounds like an awful experience, but I would say take it on the chin and try again next week for your DS. Try call them again maybe in the meantime time, to see if there's anything else you need to know? Sounds obvious but you need sunscreen & water to participate too.

Most sport clubs near me advertise primarily on social. Setting up and maintaining websites is a loads of work and a lot of the coaches are volunteers that don't have the time or skill set.

They also fill up fast before summer term; early spring tends to be when most open.

Tae kwan do, jiu jitsu, swimming are all worth a look too if your DS is interested.

Perservere but at a few sports, not just one if football isnt right dont force it else he will grow up hating sport.

Overlooking the fact that MN is 'social media' that absolutely is a problem. You are excluding yourself from a whole load of information and communication.

I'm not suggesting you download every possible app and start posting family photos and the minutiae of your life every 20 minutes. Just joining some local groups and lurking quietly in the background might give you some info about clubs and activities you haven't heard of.

Do you have a junior parkrun near you? Great way to meet other kids and parents and get some tiem
outdoors!!

Oh yes and tae-kwon-doe! Ds got a bit fed up of having to learn all the Korean history.

Do you have any martial arts clubs near you? My DS started kickboxing at 6 and really enjoys it.

Would recommend getting on social media as that should help you find what's on locally.

Right honey!! Don’t get worried so much!! Sports people can be like that.. the base message was he needs socks and shin pads right! It was very good of you to take him along. Just get the right gear and go again!

Get your kid immediately into martial arts and avoid all the cliquey football shite (i know some are great too, but it can feel like that). If hes not obsessed about football already just dont bother.

Mine do martial arts (judo but theyd have done any of them). It is so good. I love the ethos, atmosphere, amd he can train at home using youtube just being in his bedroom, work through the belts at his own pace.

I expect youd find a dojo very approachable and you can even mention the male role model thing, some coaches are lovely at looking out for kids.

My 7 year old son does cubs (look up details for local group online and send an email, may be a waiting list), gymnastics, stagecoach (drama lessons) and dry slope ski racing. He’s keen to try rugby next year, which is generally a bit more inclusive than football.

I agree that posting in a local Facebook group is great idea, especially if you ask for ideas of teams that actually have spaces. Martial arts, trampolining, tennis, cricket, sailing, there all sorts.

Please don’t be put off by one nasty comment, you’re just trying to do the right thing by your kid. I would try and get signed up for a couple of things, with the aim of giving them a go for a term to see if he likes them, he can always swap to something else if not, it’s often a bit of trial and error.

I’d put that down as his issue not yours