Ice Hockey

[Criteria16]

Not sure what I am asking here, probably just to hear from someone who had the same issue.
My DS (7) has been asking to start ice hockey for ages. We finally agreed and signed him up, bought the super expensive kit and we have rearranged our busy diaries to make sure we can take him to his practice sessions every week.

Today, after only few weeks, he said that he finds it very hard as the kit is heavy and bulky compared to simply skating without.
Bearing in mind my DS is a VERY active and energetic boy, who never stays still and needs moving his body every day. On the other hand this is not the first time he 'complains' about a sport being 'too hard' and we let him stop two other activities after he said this (but the investment in time and money was way less, and one he really tried after we asked him if he was sure).
What do we do?!?!?

Reasons not to stop:

• we don't want him to get into the idea he can give up on anything so easily, specially after he committed (he asked and asked, we went to taster sessions and explicitly reconfirmed with him this is what he wanted to do).
• we believe it's actually a good sport for him! he's got two of his best friends attending the same sessions too and he seems to enjoy playing/training - I had no idea until today!!
• we invested quite a bit of money and time already
• if he doesn't do this he will need to pick another sport, but how do we know he will not feel like giving up again at the first difficulty? we really try to teach him that 'hard work' can be rewarding

Reasons to stop:

• I hate the idea of forcing him to do something he hates. but does he hate it or is it just he had different expectations and he's getting used to it (every activity is more difficult at the beginning, isn't it)?
• is it really so hard on him? he's an active, sporty child, always running and climbing, with great motor skills. He never runs out of batteries and we are not under the impression he's so very tired after ice hockey...

What would you do or what have you done in a similar situation?

Insane you invested in loads of expensive equipment for a 7 year old stating a new hobby

I’d say he needs to finish the term and that’s fin.

if he still doesn’t want to after a full term - then reconsider

What other activities does he do? 7 is very young to put the responsibility of needing to be committed because of money invested?

Could you sell the kit on?

My view is that life is too short to do hobbies you don’t want to do.

I am not sure how your comment is helping me in any way, but thanks for posting it.

This is very sensible. I took that approach with an afterschool club and he gave it a go until the end of the paid period. Thanks.

To make you pause and think next time he’s keen to start a new club

Absolutely. And I have no intention to ever say that he needs to go as we invested money. That was my decision, not his.
And, yes, I can resell the kit as I bought the million different pieces needed on Vinted or eBay so there is a really good market for them.

No problem. Give it a term and hopefully he’ll get in to it. If not, you’ll know he gave it a good go

They aren't wrong though
I appreciate its too late for this hobby now but the best thing you can do is learn from it
In your shoes I would keep encouraging and gently pushing him and then say if he gives it a good go but feels the same by X date he can stop

You are actually right!
In my defense, that was totally my choice and in no way I ever even hinted that this investment means he needs to stick to it. Also, I bought a lot of it used and I can resell it

But how do you judge what sports will stick or not? Surely you go by an initial show of interest rather if the kit is expensive or not? Or do you write off anything expensive until they are grown ups? Do you see what I mean :)? So tricky!

The vast majority don’t require a commitment to spend extortionate money before they’ve even started!

Did he skate already? If not that would have been a cheap and easy start
Its very unusual that any club expects you to fork out loads before establishing that your child and the sport suit eachother
And yes, I would write off any expensive hobby on the basis that it might not stick. Its why DD doesn't have a horse

I agree with making him stick it out until the end of term.
Maybe the Winter Olympics could help him reengage. Does he follow an NHL team? That might help as well.

Yes, he does skate very well - he's been wanting to play hockey for a very very long time and the pre-requisite was being able to skate at a certain level. He's been having weekly lessons for the past years.
And at every single lesson he's been asking if he was good enough to play hockey. Also, two very close friends of roughly same age go as well, so he knew all about it. And we booked a tester session.
No, the club didn't expect to spend a lot of money. They can still play without protecting gear at his age if you want to. And he did go without most of the gear for few lessons and then got enthusiastic about wearing the bits we were purchasing. Until his comments today!