What should I do??

[MummyOf1Boy]

So basically my 8year old goes to football training once a week. Over the past few months ive noticed him become less interested in going and wanting to stay off training.
However, now its got to the point were he is crying the night before training as he doesnt want to go.
My only concern is that he doesn't do any other social activity outside of school and im keen for him to keep up for the physical activity benefit.
He has a swimming lesson once a week and also goes to a after school football club for 1 hour a week which he seems to enjoy.
My hearts telling me to just stop him going to football training because he must just not be interested in it anymore and no longer finds it fun.
But my heads telling me it might be just a phase and he benefits socially and physically.
What would you do?

I'd be asking if there is any bullying going on and having a chat with the club welfare officer and then making a decision whether to stop.

Ask him why he doesn’t want to go.

Ive asked him and he just says he doesnt like it and doesn't want to go.
I dont think there will be any bullying he's been with the club for 4 years and all the children are good kids, plus theres always 2 coaches plus parents at training so it would of been picked up if there was anything untoward going on.
Maybe hes just outgrown it? xx

I'd stop him going- he clearly doesn't want to and find something else for him to do later in its place but I'd stop it immediately to be honest

Why not look into alternative hobbies for him. Are there holiday events near you where he could try new sports?

Does he come away after training happy and having enjoyed it or is he down and saying he wants to quit? I think sometimes my two would say they didn’t want to go to activities because they couldn’t face leaving the house again.

I used to say we’ll go today and if you have a horrible time we’ll not go again. Some things they ended up carrying on with, other things we stopped.

@Smurfy23 Thats what my guts telling me to do is to just stop him going, i hate seeing him upset and dont want to pressure him into going if he doesn't want to.

Thanks for all your advice i appreciate it.

@Tulipsarefab He finished training and isnt really anything if that makes sense. He just says it was orite. Never voluntarily tells me what he done i have to ask him, he just doesnt seem bothered about it xx

Honestly- follow your gut. Find something else social for him to do later xx

He's 8, he can stop and go again in a year or to another club it's not like he'll never be able to play again. Could he try cubs or something else more social?

Find something else. We went through Cubs, football, drama group, table tennis, and a few more until we found something that my Ds loves and still goes to, a self defence class. My opinion has always been that extra curricular clubs should be enjoyable and add something extra to your child's life, if you've reached the stage of tears then you need to stop and look elsewhere.

@Orchidflower1 & @jay55 He's quite a shy child and struggles to engage in new social settings he feels awkward. Ive tried to get him into holiday sports clubs before and he didnt want to go.
He enjoys his after school football club because he likes to just have a kick about with his friends.
I think with his football team its more serious now that the kids are older, so it's not just going for a game of football, its 2hrs and they do some physical activity at the start then a game of football and skills practice.

If he's swimming and doing after school football, yard two social activities, surely?

drop the second football activity, life's too short!

I'd let him stop but find an alternative (cricket, tennis etc). What about Cubs?

If he's not enjoying it then I wouldn't send him anymore. Kids football tends to be pretty competitive, it's not for everyone. There's plenty of other activities he could try instead.

I agree. If he doesn’t enjoy it, don’t force him to go.