Sometimes in a parent’s life, they will find themselves in a situation where a child wants to quit a certain sport or other physical activity. Sometimes this can come as a surprise to a parent and sometimes the warning signs can show from an early stage.
There are many reasons as to why a child would want to drop out of a youth sport, hobby, or other physical activity. Mostly this can be due to loss of interest or a shift of interest onto another activity or sport.
A lot of times children will quit sports altogether due to negative experiences in playing in a team. In school and as youngsters, bullying plays a big part in children’s lives with sports and other activities.
Besides bullying, there are other negative experiences that a child may experience in the sport. Not getting enough playtime can reduce interest in a sport or team as the child may feel unneeded in the activity. Sometimes there may be a bad relationship between a child and coach or teammates, which will reduce interest as well.
Over trying to win or being the best in a team creates stress and reduces the amount of fun that a child should have in sport or other physical activities.
A parent needs to listen to a child when they do not want to carry on in a specific team or activity, but also give good advice and guidance towards the situation. Some parents opt to produce a contract when a child wants to get into a sport. The contract may include the specific terms.
Committing to a team is an important decision and you cannot let them down in a season. If the child wants to quit an activity due to physical or emotional hurt, then they should be allowed to quit.