Competitive sports at age 7/8?

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DS1 is 7 and young for his age. He has played football on our village's team for over a year now, but alas isn't very good, luckily this doesn't bother him. What does bother him is that the coach (17 y.o.) is more preoccupied with the "good" players and scoring goals, and my son isn't getting a chance to get better. I have spoken to two parents (whose children are in the coach's good graces) and they feel that the stronger kids should be on one team, the weaker ones on another (with the possibility of working their way back on to the Alpha team). AIBU to think that at this age they should concentrate on having fun and developing basic skills? I have asked DS1 what he likes about football practice (seeing friends or actually playing football) and he answered football.

Unfortunately, due to other obligations, he would not be able to participate in the other (beta) team's practice sessions, so our only options are to accept things as they are or to leave. Or should I talk with the parents of the other weaker players and try to get a dialogue going? Or let DS1 finish the year and then bail? I am the parent who does the team mailings (when and where the matches are, maintain all lists, etc.) which apparently everyone loves, so I guess I may have some bargaining power.

I'm just so frustrated that DS1 is being made to feel that he's not a valued member of the team.

Go and play Rugby instead, it's much more inclusive.

I forgot to include that we live in Germany. Alas, no rugby here!! :(

It just sounds natural to me to have an A and B team so they play according to their ability, and move up or down. Sorry.

Having said that, I don't think it's fair if there is only one team, and your DS doesn't get a chance to play much in the matches, at that age.

Bowlersarm, when he started there was one team. Then so many boys joined that they had to split it up. As it stands, they really need to create a third team, as our has 15 boys and the other one has 18 or 19, but they can't because no one has stepped up to coach.

The crux of the problem is that when they made the split, the coaches decided to let the parents decide according to when their boys had time, so that's how we got the hodgepodge teams. I find it unfair a year down the line to suddenly declare it's all about ability. That being said, I also agree that if that is how the COACHES decide it will be from now on, all the parents who have scheduling conflicts will have to make a decision. We will have to withdraw, and DS1 can continue with swimming (to be snarky, my son is already in the top level swim class for under-10's, and our goalie dropped out of swim class after his dog paddle certificate).

QTPie, funny you mention fencing. We just started watching "The Princess Bride", and DS1 was fascinated by Inigo Montoya...