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U7s football question

27 replies

Mumof317 · 14/01/2024 22:36

Hi, my son who is due to turn 7 very soon plays for a local football team at the weekends.

He's been with this team since November and has played football for around a year (was in a different team prior to this one but changed due to lack of training).

So my son absolutely loves football, he watches football and goes to games etc. he also goes to a football academy once a week to help with skills etc. and he's generally good at the sport but as soon as he's in a match, he crumbles.

As a mum I find it very hard to watch as he just turns into a different child during a game and loses all confidence and won't get stuck in at all. Almost as if hes scared of the ball and you can see he's always mad with himself after. I've tried speaking to him about it to find out what's stopping him in the matches but he doesn't really seem to say much.

I guess I'm hoping someone who's had a similar experience with their child at this age might be able to tell me that it will just click at some point? Or is football just not for him? (Matches anyway).

Also just want to point out that I don't push him at all, as long as he's happy I'm happy but it's just hard to watch 😟

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

OP posts:
Starlightstargazer · 03/02/2025 23:09

Mumof317 · 14/01/2024 22:36

Hi, my son who is due to turn 7 very soon plays for a local football team at the weekends.

He's been with this team since November and has played football for around a year (was in a different team prior to this one but changed due to lack of training).

So my son absolutely loves football, he watches football and goes to games etc. he also goes to a football academy once a week to help with skills etc. and he's generally good at the sport but as soon as he's in a match, he crumbles.

As a mum I find it very hard to watch as he just turns into a different child during a game and loses all confidence and won't get stuck in at all. Almost as if hes scared of the ball and you can see he's always mad with himself after. I've tried speaking to him about it to find out what's stopping him in the matches but he doesn't really seem to say much.

I guess I'm hoping someone who's had a similar experience with their child at this age might be able to tell me that it will just click at some point? Or is football just not for him? (Matches anyway).

Also just want to point out that I don't push him at all, as long as he's happy I'm happy but it's just hard to watch 😟

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi 👋. I’m having exactly the same thing with my son and I wondered how this resolved? Thanks!

Starlightstargazer · 06/02/2025 10:25

mrstambourinewoman · 04/01/2025 18:48

Ah my ds can be a bit like this and he's U10's now.

Something I've found really helps ( I watched a video on TikTok about it) is telling him to do the easy things well (and quickly) at the beginning. Like a simple pass. This really worked for ds cos it gets them into the game without the pressure.

Maybe not your thing at all, but sometimes I 'paid' him a small amount for passes / tackles .. stuff you know they can do, then I think they can get out of their heads a bit more and think of the 'prize'. Certainly wasn't every time but I was always hearing kids being rewarded for goals so why not the other stuff?

Anyway, hope he finds his confidence , I'm sure he will, he's only wee. Good luck !

Thank you 🙏

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