DS1 (11) got hassled at the lesiure centre - now doesn't want to go....

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We're beginning to try to give DS1 (11) a bit of independence, as he'll be off to senior school in Sept and walking to school etc.

He went to the local leisure centre to play squash on Sat with a friend. In the past we've always gone with him and stayed, but this time we dropped him off.

When we picked him and his friend up they looked a bit shaken adn said they'd had some issues on the court. Apparently two boys, same age, or slightly older, had come into the court and said 'could they play' with my son's racquets. He'd stood his ground, and said they'd booked the court etc. The boys disappeared, but then came back with four other friends - so suddenly there are 6 of them and my son & his friend.
They somehow extricated themselves unharmed and went to the cafe, but they've obviously been upset by this.
DS says no one was hurt, and he wasn't threatened or anything, but he & his mate obviously felt unnerved by it, as he says he doesn't want to go again.

I'm really that this has happened, as it's knocked his confidence, and too.

• What should I do - should I bother calling the leisure centre to report this (they lost about 20 mins of their court time)?
• How can I prepare DS for situations like this (and worse ) in future?
• How can I build his confidence again?

Oh what a pain - especially if it was one if his first chances of 'independence' !

Can you not go and do something else in the same complex next time (although I suppose squash courts are usually a bit out of the way aren't they?)

What did the centre management say?

Tell your boys that if they ever have a problem like that again, to go and speak to an adult at the leisure centre. It would be good if you get him there again before he builds it up into a big and scary thing in his head.

Your poor DS.

Teach him to walk away and report straight to a manager. I would also let the management know. If kids are pressurising others to give up their court time, they would want to know.

Yes, report it to the leisure centre. They can't do anything about it unless they know about it.

I think going back there and having a better game would rebuild his confidence - if you can persuade him back there. Can you go with him and sit in the background while they play? Or you could be just outside and he could ring you on a mobile on the small chance the boys turn up again?