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Original poster

If your son doesn’t play football, do you feel he misses out on life

157 replies

GingerKittenTail · 22/10/2022 13:15

?

OP posts:
Original poster
GingerKittenTail · 22/10/2022 13:17

My da used to live doig. Football when he was a toddler then schoo started etc and I didn’t always have transport so didn’t carry it on

now he’s older 9 and he says he doenst like it that much
but I thjnk it’s a confidence thing as other kids that do play football
are obviously better and I suppose k feel bad and guilty that, that’s something he’s missed out on
due to not always having transport

OP posts:
Pandora2011 · 22/10/2022 13:20

I don’t understand the question. What would they miss out on life? I have 2 sons who have never shown an interest in football but do have lots of interests and bonus having time to do other things at the weekend as a family and with their own friends

lljkk · 22/10/2022 13:20

no. I don't feel any of them missed out. And I am very grateful I haven't had to spend every Saturday morning driving around the county, hours of boredom, freezing feet standing on the sidelines. Politics of who did & didn't get chosen to play. I had a few tastes of the freezing Saturday mornings & am very grateful none of DC took to football for more than a few taster games.

Hopalongnancy · 22/10/2022 13:21

Yes. My son struggled all through primary school because he didn't like and was rubbish at football. Was so sorry for him.
If you a primary school boy there's no other options at lunch and break.
My son into board games and quieter activities.

Ringbling85 · 22/10/2022 13:22

No….because football is not life and anyone who thinks that is a twat!!

Invisablewoman · 22/10/2022 13:23

My DS (now 11) gave it a try for a while but wasn’t keen on competitive team sports generally so we stopped. He’s happy to have a kick around in the park with his friends but just interested in the competitive side of it.

He now does martial arts and loves it.

Football where we live is quite a ‘thing’ - there’s cliques and overly competitive parents - so I was glad to be out of it!

Pandora2011 · 22/10/2022 13:24

Completely agree!!

Snugglemonkey · 22/10/2022 13:24

I hate football. My son has no interest and it is great.

BHRK · 22/10/2022 13:24

I did in primary as that was what the boys did.. now it doesn’t matter at all! And I’ve managed to skip hours and hours on the sidelines. Let your child be who they want to be

SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2022 13:25

No.

Because even for men there's more to life than football.

NameChange30 · 22/10/2022 13:25

Eh?! No. What a ridiculous question.

FourTeaFallOut · 22/10/2022 13:26

Missing out on what - a sport they aren't interested in?

edwinbear · 22/10/2022 13:26

Nope, not at all. DS plays rugby, swims and runs with a local athletics club, that’s plenty of ferrying about. He still plays with his mates at lunchtime which is more than enough for him.

JanuaryPinks · 22/10/2022 13:26

DH and I are not interested in football at all, but we’ve been sending DS (4.5) to Saturday football for about a year now. I think it teaches great skills - teamwork, following instructions, being active, social skills, and will mean he’s able to join in in the playground later if he wants to.

He’s naturally quite a reserved boy but this is really bringing him out of his shell. Any team sport would be just as good, but football is the most accessible where we are.

Original poster
GingerKittenTail · 22/10/2022 13:27

He was interested in it though when he was younger
I just wasn’t able to carry it on due to lack of transport

OP posts:
NC12345665 · 22/10/2022 13:28

NameChange30 · 22/10/2022 13:25

Eh?! No. What a ridiculous question.

This

SirenSays · 22/10/2022 13:29

No I hate the sport its a relief. But it can be sad watching all the boys erupt into footie talk and they can't really join in.

ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler · 22/10/2022 13:29

Yes, my DS is 9 has never been into football. The other boys seem to all be obsessed and he has been made fun of for not knowing certain football facts or who plays for who etc. A lot of other boys socialise together playing football and he is left out. Even boys who were not into it when younger are now turning into obsessives.

He has recently started playing at playtime and has admitted that he doesn't enjoy it but there is no one to talk to otherwise as all the boys are playing.

We are in the west of Scotland and it is such a cultural thing here, in our town anyway.

TokyoSushi · 22/10/2022 13:29

I do find it makes his life easier, especially in terms of friendships. Football around here is very, very popular and DS having just moved to Yr7 with 'the football lads' has undoubtedly made the transition easier.

Original poster
GingerKittenTail · 22/10/2022 13:29

BHRK · 22/10/2022 13:24

I did in primary as that was what the boys did.. now it doesn’t matter at all! And I’ve managed to skip hours and hours on the sidelines. Let your child be who they want to be

Interesting to hear that as my dad is primary age and football does seem to be such a huge thing

OP posts:
Chikapu · 22/10/2022 13:31

Literally millions of people all over the world don't play football, and not one of them is missing out on life. What nonsense.

saltrock123 · 22/10/2022 13:31

God help us ! What a daft question ! No my kids did not do football and don't even like watching it. They have many more interests in life.

Cafog · 22/10/2022 13:31

2xDS here, for my eldest I was really keen for him to play football. His main interest was gaming/coding so I was keen to get him outdoors more. We live rurally, and really the only thing going on for youngsters is football and the activities linked to the club, so it's a social thing. He's 11 now and still goes, but really only for the social side of things. DS2 (8) refuses to go. I haven't pushed it, he's a child much more comfortable in his own skin and his interest lies in farming so he's out with DH a lot, plenty of exercise and fresh air for him.

DancingInHisShirt · 22/10/2022 13:32

Misses out on life because he doesn’t play football? Confused

There’s lots of other activities for children. By the time my kids hit 11/12, most of them preferred gaming to anything else anyway. As long as he’s getting plenty of exercise, he’ll be good.

CookPassBabtridge · 22/10/2022 13:32

Why on earth would they miss out?