AIBU to feel overwhelmed trying to get my son into sport?

[Worklifebal]

I’m feeling really overwhelmed trying to get my son into sports. He’s 7 years old and I don’t know where I’m going wrong. Everywhere I’m trying is telling me either they full or I need to email so and so but then I never get a response! I chase up but no one replies.

I’ve even asked the mums in his class about contacts for sporting classes but people are so vague and don’t really give much info, for my daughter it was so different when people would ask for example ballet I would give them the contact number of the person.

I embarrassed myself last week by taking my son along to a football class his friend mentioned. I couldn’t get hold of them by phone on the website or email so decided to go and the guy turned us away and said I was supposed to put long socks and shin pads on him, I really feel lost, I feel if he had a suitable male figure in his life things would be different but I’m trying my best and getting nowhere. Feel really tearful. I am not sporty at all and how did I not realise for football you have to wear long socks and shin pads.

Don't let that stop you. Seriously, don't. It sounds like some of the mums there are supportive which is a good thing.

ffs everyone asking why the OP wanting to get in to sports… 🤦🏻‍♀️

It's because she mentioned football. If it had been tennis it'd be met with "Oh how lovely! What a fabulous skill!"

Come on ….
the answer is right here staring you in the face !!
get him long socks and shin pads and go back next week -
the other women were fine to you
coaches in sport are often gob-shites
so u gonna be a sports kids mum, put your thick skin suit on and get back out there !!!

• don’t bother snapping back at me, I’m giving u good advise !😬

Sport England run tennis and cricket things for kids in summer - my daughter tried both, might be too late in the season now. What about climbing? Cubs? Start thinking about winter sports - tag rugby, hockey? There’s also cycling - often youth schemes on mountain bikes?

Does he want to do football ?
Are there any cub / scout groups in your area
my youngest loved it ( many moons ago)

You sound so oversensitive! Just chill out. Why do you want to cry just because someone told you to get proper kit? Why is it relevant that he has no men in his life?

Yes you'd be better to go on social media to find them. But there's shitloads of after school options: running, hockey, football, sea cadets, scouts, judo, young farmers, swimming, choir, cycling .... the list is endless. You do however need to be persistent and find a spine. Who gives a shit about being embarrassed? Who cares that you don't get emails back. Suck it up and pester people. It's they who are at fault for not replying not you.
You're doing it for your son so stop fannying around and be a little braver.

Agree with this -
a lot of sports organisers / coaches are volunteers so yes, pester put yourself out there and be nice to people !!

It's coming up to the school holidays and I anticipate that you will have lots of clubs locally who will do holiday clubs. Could you try booking him on to a couple of holiday clubs? Don't restrict yourself to football as there's so many other sports to try. Some sports can have waiting lists for clubs, don't be too upset.
Pop a post up on some of your local Facebook pages. Any neighbouring town you can try?
Also message your local sports clubs theorugh social media if you've had no response then try again over email, don't give up. It may just be a case that coaches are busy, many have day jobs alongside coaching evenings and weekends

What a stupid, mean post. Are you like this irl too?

Why do you want him to join an activity run by some horrible shouty man? That wou be a hard no from me. No one talks to me like that.

Also there are loads of opportunities for kids his age. They don’t all have to be team sports. What about Beavers? Or martial arts? A climbing club? Gymnastics or parkour? Art classes?

Social media and word of mouth is the way to find things. But don’t sign him up for something awful and shit like this football club just because it seems like a boy thing to do.

Sometimes an incident like this can just be the straw that breaks the camels back. I'm sure we've all been there where something trivial upset us more than it perhaps should have.

Have you asked the school? They can normally recommend clubs and potentially have contact details? I've found rugby teams are more approachable than football teams, maybe contact your local club

Honestly, if this was his approach to a new potential team member (or mum of), I wouldn't take your ds back there, there are usually plenty of junior football teams.
There are some shitty junior football coaches about who actually harm the confidence of kids, he sounds like one

Firstly does your son want to do this.
Neither of mine were interested in team sports until after they left secondary.
Now between the two of them they golf, play field and ice hockey, had a go at 5 a side and have started with padle.(paddle?, not sure)

If yes put a message out on your town Facebook page if they know any team that wants beginners In September.
Put a message asking the same on your socials.

If he doesn't what about cubs?
Mine 2 went throgh the scouts system from beavers to Explorers snd fid a couple of voluntary years.
Dont force things, it'll only back fire on you.

I don't understand what having no dad has got to do with anything? I've found rugby and football clubs for both my sons and I have a very capable sporty husband who has played sports for donkeys years, I dont get why you think a man would be more capable of messaging/ringing a few clubs or asking on the school class chat? Bizarre.

Is your child even asking to take up a sport? Unless they are keen I really wouldn't bother, the hassle of taking them every single week (bad enough with 2 parents) if you have to take them everytime think wisely do I want to spend my evenings/weekends sat watching my kid play sport in all weathers? Our kids do rugby, football, swimming, tennis and dance, it's a lot.

I'd suggest junior parkrun and cubs. And swimming if he hasn't learnt already.

Football is a massive commitment - training and matches every week and the season doesn't seem to end anymore (I still see people training when I do my outdoor fitness class, whereas we did get mid May to late August off when ds was playing). And although the mums might have been nice - the coach showed you what he's like. If your son fancies football there might be summer camps he can do instead.

I would not want my child involved in a team where the coach shouts at the parents - imagine what he’s like with the kids!
My son was big into sport but I’m not sure if we did anything at that age other than ball skills type thing. He did rugby from age 9. We just googled it and there was info on the website. He also rowed for a couple years as a teen. He started football but said the coaches swore a lot and the kids weren’t nice so stopped that. He did running club for a while too.
Hes 22 now and plays footie Monday nights just casually. He does kickboxing another couple nights which is more organised and structured.
I think you just need to research more. Unless you’re in the sticks there should be more than one choice.
To add, my DH passed away when my son was six. I did all the toing and froing.

Google if you have a local BMX club near you. Ours does a weekly free session where you borrow bikes and helmets. My sons is addicted now and does the paid training too. He’s making loads of friends

I’ve had 2 boys go through youth football from a young age, and honestly, if the coach spoke to me like that, then I’m not sure I’d want my son playing for him. Nothing wrong with what he said, but there’s a reasonable way to get your message across. Can you imagine what he’s like when it gets to match day!

There will be lots of local teams and at age 7, they’re unlikely to be established and will be on the lookout for new players. If you ask on Facebook, I’m sure you’ll get a few responses.
Good luck, you sound like you’re doing a great job 👏

What? The coach from a kids football grass roots team yelled at you? This my friend is not where you want your kid to learn sport. After school clubs are great sign him up for those. Yes Google and you’ll come up with your local teams for all kinds of sport. Try a few things they all let you come for a trial. Basketball,Tae Kwondo, Hockey the listens endless.
No decent club would speak to you like that. But don’t stress about it and if you find something he likes great if not he’ll eventually find his tribe. My son had a horrible experience with crap coaches in primary and chose hockey over football at secondary and loves it.

@Worklifebal google your local football club and search community sports/juniors. Most football clubs run mini sessions for all levels. The leisure and amenity sectuon of your local authority shpuld also be able to provide you with information.

Good luck.

I wouldn't go back then, absolutely would not put any child in the care of a coach who shouts and is known for being like that. As others say, try Fb pages for local recommended clubs

Honestly i think football is shockingly organised where we are. Unless you know someone who goes, you never get a reply ot any answers to anything. Even when you are in organisation is so bad

Just get him the socks and shin pads and go back. You need to harden up to be a football mum to be honest.

Most sports, even grass root sports need basics. So yes, for football they do have to have socks and shin pads.

Your best bet would be to post on your local Facebook groups and see who responds to you, as they be actively recruiting.

Of course there is football, but you also have tennis, badminton, athletics, swimming, rugby, hockey, martial arts, gymnastics, park runs, cricket.... so many! Then you have things like art clubs, computer clubs, coding, Chinese school etc.

What does your son fancy trying? What's he into?