Should he try out ?

Training Advice/Discussion Youth

15 years ago 10/29/2008 8:41pm EDT

My son is 12 years old and a 7th grader. He is a smart kid who isn't really into sports. During Boy Scouts he went from a 11;50 mile{150lbs} down to 7;50 and has dropped weight but he is still big, 5 foot four and 140 pounds. His size and weight come from my wife's side of the family where all the men are like 6ft4 and heavy.

The Scoutmaster said he thinks he should go out for Track and Field this spring. My wife also thinks he should try out and train all winter and maybe he will drop more weight. They say its only middle school track and it will do him good.

Trouble is, my son would just as soon stay home play video games and read{he is in a gifted and talented program}. He really doesn't like to run much and only does so because it was something he had to do to get towards his Eagle Scout which he wants badly. [yes he is a proud geek, straight A's loves the Scouts} I am torn because if I was a coach I don't know if its fair to send a kid out there who is doing so because his parents want him to. I would just as soon have him run on the treadmill every night like he is now. Any thoughts ?

I am sure I will catch hell from Letsrunners and thats ok,

any advice ?

15 years ago 10/29/2008 8:54pm EDT

re: Hey coaches or Parents

Encouraging your son to take on a new endeavor is different than forcing him to do something. I'm sure you understand the line there, since you seem to be a conscientious parent. With that in mind, encourage him to give it a shot. Remember, a lot of kids would rather, as you say, stay home and play video games, than try something new. But it might turn out to be something he really enjoys over time. He dropped his time considering over a short period of time. Did he feel good about that? Is he glad you lost alittle weight? Does he feel better on a daily basis being a little lighter? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then just imagine the positive impact joining the team would have on his entire life.

Have him try out and if he's hesitant at first, make a deal that he can quit the team after a month is he doesn't like it (or something to that effect).

15 years ago 10/29/2008 8:57pm EDT

re: fall down drunk

seriously mate. He is your boy right? You know him better than anyone here, so why come into the public domain to ask how treat your son?

Why not sit your son down and ask hium what he wants to do?

15 years ago 10/29/2008 9:03pm EDT

re: Hey coaches or Parents

How the hell did you let your kid get so fat and unathletic?

You are a failure of a parent (and runner) and people like you are the reason why the obesity rate is so high in this country.

15 years ago 10/30/2008 8:06am EDT

re: Hey coaches or Parents

15 years ago 10/30/2008 8:19am EDT

re: Hey coaches or Parents

Hey coaches or Parents wrote:
Trouble is, my son would just as soon stay home play video games and read{he is in a gifted and talented program}. He really doesn't like to run much and only does so because it was something he had to do to get towards his Eagle Scout which he wants badly. [yes he is a proud geek, straight A's loves the Scouts} I am torn because if I was a coach I don't know if its fair to send a kid out there who is doing so because his parents want him to. I would just as soon have him run on the treadmill every night like he is now. Any thoughts ?

Is it fair to the coach? MS athletics are about participation and trying new things. It's his job. I say this as a coach (and one-time MS coach). In fact, even as a HS coach of a pretty successful team, I take kids like your son. Why? Because athletics is primarily a learning experience at the scholastic level. If I'm not teaching a kid to enjoy the sport and do it safely and get better, then I'm not doing my job. And maybe, if they enjoy it, they'll work hard and get better. 5'4" 170? Those are exactly my numbers from 7th grade. I'm no world beater, but I did alright by any reasonable standard and ran in college. Largely because I had a coach who was open to giving me attention in return for my hard work.

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Should he try out ?

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