10yo DS and football teams

[Loobieloo27]

Hi my DS is 10 and has just joined a football team, however he is struggling with the matches due to not being the fastest and no confidence with the ball, scared he's going to get hurt.

He's never been part of a team before so it's all relatively new to him but he comes away deflated but he does enjoy the training sessions.

I want him to enjoy his hobby but due to the differences between him and the others it's hard to see.
Is it worth persevering or should I slowly encourage a new hobby?

[Kite22]

If he is enjoying it, then I would carry on.
Reiterate that he is just learning and some team mates will have been playing for 4 years or so, so he is bound to be a little behind in some skills and some knowledge of the game. If he is enjoying the training, then let him carry on.

[TokyoSushi]

If he's enjoying it, let him carry on, but make sure he's in the right team.

DS isn't the most skilled but joined a lovely team that is in quite a low division of the junior league. He really enjoys it and it's not a team where everybody is miles better than him. He's massively improved since he started too!

[waterrat]

Its so hard with sport nowadays...so many kids start very young and I think we have reached a point where ita difficult to start later on. I think if the coach is encouraging him then keep at it. Could he practise more outside the team ?

My 10 year old has been playing football competitively since he was 6 but he plays for hours in the garden or park or literally anywhere he can kick a ball. He will go in our garden goal and his friends fire balls at him for hours on end. I think this to be honest us where the confidence then comes in on the field


It's great your son wants to keep going and I think just encourage him to see it as something he can only get confidence in through keeping at it ..sport is and should be about taking part not just winning

[CurlyTop1980]

Well done on your son for finding a team! I agree with the others. Look at the division the team is on. If they've been playing together as a team the competitiveness will be higher. If he's just started it maybe worth looking at a lower division team as then he won't feel under so much pressure.

Good luck!