AIBU by not introducing our DSs to football?

[4fingerKitKat]

I have two early primary age DS. Neither DH or I have any interest in football (watching or playing), as a result football has never been any part of their lives. I discovered recently that the oldest (7) doesn’t even know the basic vocabulary of football (to score a goal etc). They are active in other ways but never kick a ball around (and don’t do other team sports other than at school).

I worry a bit that we’re depriving them of something which is almost a basic life skill, especially for boys.

YABU - yes they should at least have basic footballing skills

YANBU - just let them run and climb trees and the things they already enjoy

DP parents never cared for it. He played with mates at high school and now likes watching it at 26. Not mad for it but doesn't miss out.

Competitve football starts at age 8, before then matches can be played but no results or league tables.

www.football-development.co.uk/index.php/running-a-club-help/156-age-related-rules-in-football

@RockPainting

Yes *@jay55*

I think some PPs underestimate how prevalent all things football are in some places! Social easing. Exactly, nothing wrong with it.

I agree. I remember in my last job I was looking after a young male volunteer on his induction day. He followed me into our office to find a football related conversation going on. He said to me "As a woman don't you find this intimidating?" One of my colleagues immediately said "Does she hell. She's as much into football as any of us." There were some men who weren't into football but it was a common bonding interest for both sexes.

Boys don’t need to like or understand the rules of football, I certainly don’t, but thats because I play a proper sport.

Lots of men aren’t into sport, lots of men aren’t into football, it will not have a negative impact if he isn’t interested.

My son isn’t a fan of football, he goes to my rugby tots but isn’t overly keen, he does like being active though and at the moment his sport of choice is dance which he really enjoys.

I think it’s good for them to know the basics of football and be able to have a kick about. Which is why my boys do football although me and DH not into it. In my experience, a ‘kick about’ features heavily for boys/men over the years (e.g. school lunchtimes, uni, 5 a side after work). I wouldn’t force them if they didn’t want to do it though.

Boys don’t need to like or understand the rules of football, I certainly don’t, but thats because I play a proper sport.

What does that even mean?

Doesn’t matter either way it depends on what they like?

I have two sons who adore it though. Keeps them super fit, and they’re very popular inside and outside of school as they know so many other boys through their sport.

They both get on with their school work one being super academic also, so it’s win win in this household ⚽️ .

Don't worry about non-football boys being bullied. They find their tribe elsewhere. Both DSs did at secondary school - it tended to be the clever kids at their school. Although I know that isn't always so.

It bored them rigid and they weren't afraid to say so, the other DCs left them to their own interests. No bullying at all. Their interests bored the footie lads.

@Sparklingbrook

Boys don’t need to like or understand the rules of football, I certainly don’t, but thats because I play a proper sport.

What does that even mean?

Rugby joke

@SimonJT

Boys don’t need to like or understand the rules of football, I certainly don’t, but thats because I play a proper sport.

Lots of men aren’t into sport, lots of men aren’t into football, it will not have a negative impact if he isn’t interested.

My son isn’t a fan of football, he goes to my rugby tots but isn’t overly keen, he does like being active though and at the moment his sport of choice is dance which he really enjoys.

Ah finally the anti-football bias comes through. Those pesky working class loving the biggest game in the world.

Statistically football is huge. It's viewing figures on Sky dwarf all other sports and the BBC figures back that up even more. It's extrapolated even more across the globe barring AFL in Australia, cricket in India and "USA only " sports across the pond.

I played rugby too. Noticed football isn't called "kiss ball" anymore by rugby players since rugby got a bit more popular.

Well, it does depend slightly where your DC are going to school, doesn't it?

If they're going to Eton, football is probably less important .

I have two sons. Eldest is football mad and has been since old enough to kick a ball and my youngest hates it and rarely takes part in a kick about.

Both have found their own friends that share their interests. I would never force a child to do a sport they didn't enjoy. Sport is supposed to be fun, not a chore.

Rugby joke

Oh.

I think it is part of cultural life and that boys do need to know the basics.

It's not a big deal. If your boys & their friends have other interests & your boys aren't excluded, I don't see a problem. I know plenty of guys that couldn't give a flying monkeys about the beautiful game. I, however, think it's awesome! 😉⚽👍🏼

Bit not knowing what the phrase means to score a goal is a pretty basic lack of knowledge.

My , now adult, son wasn't in the slightest bit interested in football. Neither is my husband nor I. When my son was at primary school, he bemoaned the fact that there was too much interest in football and that football and kicking a ball seemed uppermost at school.
Luckily for him, none of his friends were interested either .
Football seems to be a sport that is often foisted upon mainly young boys.

There are so many, many different sports out there that don't involve kicking a bloody football.

And thank goodness for that.

And no, he didn't suffer from a lack of football or football knowledge.

I have 2 boys, 15 and 10. Neither like football, won’t watch or play it. I loved football as a child, was on the school footie team, went to games etc, had 2 brother who were die hard fans. It’s odd to me that having 2 boys, neither like football and I tried to encourage it, but they are their own people and just aren’t interested.

@DancesWithTortoises

Definitely isn’t always so. It’s down to parenting a lot of the time. My son plays at the highest level possible but his school work comes first, and he knows this. He is also very academic, a good all rounder really.

I agree it can happen when boys, particularly when they’re playing at level 1 lose focus on their school work. It’s usually the parents (dad) massaging the sons ego, so he thinks school work is pointless because he’s going to play pro.

It’s sad, seen that happen to many a clever lad.

Balance is key.

Ds is nearly 30, never played football, or had any interest in it, has a full life.

I think it is part of cultural life and that boys do need to know the basics.

They really don't.

I think it's perfectly normal to not play or follow football, I know very few people who do.

@iklboo you think they do not need to know what scoring a goal means or how to kick a ball?

I doubt any boy would go through all of High School and never have a game of football as part of PE.

I have DT's aged 19. My late DH wasn't interested in football at all and the DT's didn't play it in the early years . DT2 never became interested . However when DT1 got a male football mad teacher at around 8, it all changed and he became really interested . DH then got interested /obsessed and we spent many a Saturday traipsing to matches. In fact he tried to get to one the weekend before he died . DT1 still plays and watches every game going . In fact if Chelsea don't win the Champions league in 3 hours time, there will be much wine consumed by me .

My point being that just because you or DH isn't interested doesn't mean that your DS won't ever play nor does it mean that if he does , you will remain disinterested.