Oh, I think you’re confused between baseball and soccer. I thought I had registered for school volleyball and school baseball at the same time. Turns out, I never completed the baseball registration. Realized the day after signups were over.
So, another catholic school graciously and thankfully took him on one of their teams. We are in the same division and the two teams played each other.. I sat with the opposing team because the parents are my friends. They teased me, the kids teased T calling him a traitor, (he pitched against them) but it’s all in good fun. I have a precious group photo from after the game, of T in his “traitor uniform” surrounded by his school friends in their school baseball uniforms. We’re having an amazing baseball season and the kids and coaches on his team have all been welcoming and supportive. I couldn’t be happier.
My conversations with my kid about sports are -
“signups are open. Do you want to play x sport?”
“There’s a camp available, do you want to do it?”
or “no T, you can’t play lacrosse unless you give up baseball or soccer”
Or “no T, you can’t play hockey because it’s too much time.”
He gets input and can make choices, he does not get to demand what he/we will do.
What I don’t discuss is the behind the scenes stuff that goes along with playing for an academy. I don’t think a 9 year old needs to grasp the politics of it, the cost of it, or whatever drama is going on with team movement between players. It should be simple for them- Playing a sport they love, giving it 100%, enjoying their coach and teammates, and being confident in what they do. Kids play, parents make the big decisions when it comes to what behind the scenes philosophy is best for their child’s total development. Most of these kids will not play professionally, some won’t even play in college. I realize a lot of people think that’s the goal, but it’s silly. You could save your money instead. The reasons should be because your child loves a sport, loves the competition, always wants to get better, loves the bond built with teammates, and has fun along the way. Any stress over what’s being seen with the academy should be on the parents shoulders, not the child’s.
I don’t know what you’re saying in your posts, letting a 9 year old dictate what’s best for them when you have more information than they do?
This is not “parent interference” with a coach or club staff, this is a decision of a parent for their child. These are very different things.
I hope more than anything that the past 2 years have more to do with their age and not the club itself, if so, we will stay. If not, I think there’s more to life than being at the club with the most signings, trophies, and titles. I am raising a total person, not just a soccer player.
)
I was too shocked to even say something directly to her, plus with my dog passing I need to be careful with what I say. There will be 16 or 17 on the team which is big. There were 9 last year. So she asked me “what do you think?” 16 kids. I said “That’s fine” (in an uninterested way). She said “Are you not happy about that?” I said “It’s fine. I am just thinking of something else.” I kept myself from snapping.
