My DS (8) is the youngest in his year. He plays a team sport every weekend, absolutely loves it, is very good at it, can happily handle the highs and lows of winning and the parents and kids are great.
However he is now just old enough to go away to a national tournament. This tournament has a team for his year group AND the year group above to play together - in this particular sport that is a big gap due to strength, co-ordination etc.
He had the first training session y'day which they stressed was not a trial however on turning up it so clearly was. The atmosphere was weird/tense and it was obvious the coaches and lots of the parents were watching the kids closely. It was horrible in all honesty.
DS for the first time ever got teary at the beginning and said he did not want to do it but he got in there and carried on and by the end he was happy enough. However in my gut I don't think he is ready for this tournament or going through "selection" if that does happen. It is two nights away (we go too but don't stay in the same place) and he's so young. DH says he doesn't want him to miss out and it will be a good experience. I am worried it will kill any love of the sport and I feel like at the end of the day if you're good you're good - that can be sorted out later in life (this sport isn't the type where you need to be noticed at a very young age). If he went next year he would be in the year above and even then still young, but not as disadvantaged by his age as he is now.
Hoping for some advice from people with older children on this as I am totally torn between not being over protective vs not being pushy - if either of those things! I think he would just go along and wouldn't think too much of it. He has friends going. I am just worried about the after effects when he is doing so well as he is.
Thanks.