I took TechnoBoy and The Mercenary for their very first sports physical today. At the tender age of 10, they’ll be starting football practice in a few weeks. I have to say, the whole thing is a little unnerving. I didn’t start any formal sports until I was in the 7th grade. Okay….I’m realizing that was only a couple of years older than the boys are now. It sure feels like I was older than they are now. I wonder if my parents felt like I was hurtling through childhood faster than they could catch their breaths.

And football. It sounds so, I don’t know, official. Big men play football. Not my little boys.

Right?

No, I guess not. The weird thing is that I am looking forward to part of it. The part where they pursue a goal, overcome obstacles, and work with other boys as a team. That part I like. The part where they might be injured? Not so much my favorite.

I don’t have issues with kids playing sports. In fact, I encourage it. I was just plain awful at sports in school and my self-confidence suffered every time I was the last kid chosen for teams. I want the boys to have some basic skills, to be able to keep up and play competently with kids their age at whatever sport they choose. I also like how kids have so many opportunities to try out different sports at a young age; it’s good for them to sample and have a wide variety of experience.

At the same time, I’m concerned that they’re already approaching an age where the competition gets so serious that if they’re not downright gifted in a sport they won’t be able to make the team. Kids are able to play soccer as young as 5 years old (full disclosure: MY five year olds played soccer this year). By the age of 10 or 12, a child who’s chosen to play the same sport has a tremendous amount of experience under his/her belt.

What do you think? Are sports for really young children a good idea? Are we broadening horizons or adding stress to their little lives? Do sports build their confidence and competence, or push them along toward adulthood too soon?

by AmyL

Photo graciously provided by Kathy~, through a Creative Commons license, some rights reserved