Sports lesson - putting DS with the young kids

[Seawaver]

DS(8) has just started going to basketball classes (has had 4) after doing a trial class twice. He was offered a second trial because on the first one the coach sent him to the class for 5-6 yo and I contacted the office to ask why, they apologised, said that should not happen and offered another trial.

The website has you book classes by age so for him 8-9 years, except that today after the initial warm up and about 10 mins of a few drills the head coach split the class up and sent DS to the class for 5-6 year olds. The kids in this class are tiny - all of them look no older than 4, and behave like this age, so I was surprised when I checked the website during the class and it’s for 5-6 years.

I queried this with the assistant coach at the end and he said it was the Main coach who decided on the split and it would be because he’s new and needs to learn the basics. I said I get that but how demoralising for an almost 9yo to be put in a class with kids so much younger and he’s tall so he absolutely towers over them. He said he would feed back to the main coach.

I also question why mixed ability can’t be taught in one class for each age group. I know it’s not ideal and may be frustrating but then shouldn’t they offer beginner classes? In his kickboxing class the kids are split within the class for the age group according to belt level, so no one is sent to a class with very young kids in it.

The website says nothing about beginners may be moved to a different age group class either.

In basketball like most sports many talented kids are on track for pro by 8. Depending on who hosts the class it’s possible they want the older classes to be kept as highly skilled as possible to attract scouts. I think you’re being a bit unreasonable expecting the other kids to ‘dumb down’ to suit yours when he doesn’t know anything about basketball.

'shouldn’t they offer beginner classes? '

It's a business, so it's entirely up to them what they offer, and they will go where the demand is.

The flip side of what you want, is a parent saying 'my ds, 8, has been playing basketball since he was 0 and is awesome. Aibu to say that I get cross when a beginner joins their class and has to go through the basics again. It's a waste of time for my dc.'

The solution to both of those is for the company to do away with the ages, and go with beginner/advanced classes - but it sounds like you'd still be upset and want to be put with the more experienced players anyway?

I wouldn't be happy with this and would look for a different club.

Find somewhere else for him to go. If this is a high level club their normal sessions for 8/9 year olds will be no good for an 8 year old beginner.

@JustAMinutePleass at no point have I said I wanted the class ‘dumbed down’ for my beginner DS. The head office also said DS should not have been put into another class and apologised, so presumably the main coach is going against HO. His kickboxing class splits the kids by ability/belt within the age range without issue.

@arethereanyleftatall why would you think I’d want my child to be put into the experienced class if it was split between that and beginners? He’s a beginner and should be catered for, as per the company website.

The website states: “X company welcomes and caters for all levels of ability, from absolute beginners through to experienced players.”

At no point does it state if you are an absolute beginner should you book the class TWO classes below your age group (they go 5-6, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10 etc). In the trial class a very small child crashed into DS and actually bounced back off him, hit the floor and began crying hysterically. In today’s class the coach spent so much time repeatedly trying to get the small kids to stand in a line because they just couldn’t seem to follow the instruction, two of them lay on the floor fighting over possession of the ball, one had a tantrum because he wasn’t getting the ball enough, and another kept running off and the coach chasing him to get him back.

Is it not really inappropriate for a tall almost 9th to be matched up with very small kids who were barely reaching up halfway between his elbow and shoulder, and show behaviour that DS left behind several years ago?

@Hellocatshome it’s not a high-level club, it’s a bog standard basketball chain for up to 18 years old. There is no mention on the website of members going onto play for national teams etc.

I would try a different club.

Being harsh - can he actually throw & catch etc?

Hmmm sounds like a franchise and often with these things what the website says and what actually happens on the ground are two different things. Do they compete at all or is it just to learn skills?

@sillyuniforms yes he can. The coach today said he did very well, and he’s able to score a goal sometimes. His control of the ball has improved a lot in the four weeks so he’s not losing it often at all.

@Hellocatshome no competing, it’s just tuition. There is 19 locations so I guess it’s a franchise.

I’d understand if this was a competitive club but it’s a tuition company.

OP, this club sounds poorly organised. I agree that for a sport like basketball it's inappropriate to be putting 8-year-olds with 5 and 6 year-olds. It sounds like the club doesn't genuinely welcome beginners (other than in the youngest age group), but adverises that it does because it wants to rake in as much money as possible. I would withdraw your son from the club and provide feedback as to why you are doing so.