DD can run really fast....I'm a really mean mum because......

[Katymac]

....I have decided not to find her an athletics club

I think she is too young (8.5 yrs) and does plenty of other stuff (Gym, ballet, ballroom, brownies, youth club & piano)

Her teacher thinks I should add athletics to the (already extensive) list of activities

Which of us is right?

What does she want to do?
Could she drop another activity to do athletics?

She doesn't consider running an activity - it's jsut what she does to get somewhere

I can't get her to give anything up (I think she does too much anyway)

Depends on which activities DD prefers I guess? Does she want to do athletics? If so, is she willing to drop something else?

I'd ask her.
If she really liked running and wanted to join a club, I'd say yes, but she'd have to give up one of the other activities.
Or maybe she's good but doesn't want to train, just likes running. I have been asked to send dd to swimming club, she won't go because she just likes her one lesson a week and then doing the rest for fun. Training is time cosuming for both of you.
Thats mt opinion anyway, if it was us!

It's up to you really as you know her limitations but her teacher obviously see's that she has talent,could she drop one of the least favourite activities in favour of athletics?
Or you could just cut her activities right back anyway!to allow her to develop and focus on one or two thing's.

it might put her off running altogether!

She sounds like Dash in The Incredibles

I'd try it. If she has a natural bent for it, she might really love athletics. She can always choose to drop something else later but at the moment she can't judge whether she'll like running more than ballet for instance. If the teacher recommended it, I think it's worth a try.

Is there the option of doing a summer course where you live? Here, some athletic clubs offer 3-4 week summer programmes. In any case, you can generally do a 4 week trial. Is the situation similar in the UK?