7 year old son and football training

sooty&sweep

Hi
My son is 14 when he was much younger I took him along to try football at some of the local junior clubs & he hated it. However he discovered judo & is now a keen judo player & trains 3 times a week.
My daughter who has just turned 9 does football skills every sunday morning & loves it. What she does is more aimed at learning technique & fun. She would happily join a team if we could find a girls team that fitted in with everything else that she does.

What I'm trying to say is find a sport that your son enjoys. Visit yiur local sport centres & see what they do for children. Talk to parents of children in his class etc & find out what they do. Talk to him & ask him if his friends are doing anything he'd fancy trying. If you want him to stick at it he's got to enjoy it.
Jen

tyllwyd

I've got two girls, and kicking a ball around in the back garden made a noticeable difference to their skill and confidence, so I would definitely recommend doing that, if nothing more.


I've come away with the impression that football is a difficult sport for teachers to manage at primary school, because some boys will have much more experience and training than others, and are not at an age to feel obliged to include other people in the game! My younger daughter did an after-school training football session for years, so she had a certain level of skill, but when they played mixed games at school the boys would never pass to her. I guess it would be the same for boys who were not considered sporty.


Socially, I would have thought that being happy to take part kicking a football around would make it much easier for a boy join in with what his friends are doing, so I think it is a good idea to find him some training - at the age of 7 there is lots of scope for him to improve if he's interested.

DUTR

bigmaz wrote: »

Hi guys

I have a 7 year old boy, and worrying about him not playing football. I took him football training when he was younger, but he didnt really seem interested, so thought I would wait, but never really done anything about it since. We played a game of footy with some other kids at the weekend, and he didnt have a clue what to do, felt really bad I have left this. I like to play football, but have not played for many years so not really thought about it. Just wondering if I have left it too late to get his confidence playing footy and getting some sort of football skills. He said after the game he wants to do football training to be as good as the other boys his age. Any one else with similar experience? I feel so guilty as a father for neglecting this as it should be a big part of a boys life I have contacted the local sports centre to ask if they have classes for his age with no experience.

Thanks

I'm surprised you have not found something he is interested in.
I was not interested in football when I was younger and only got interested in it since 2000, he can still excell in other things. That is what you should seek in what he likes. He may not even be a sporty person .

heartbreak_star

bigmaz wrote: »

He has seen how good the other kids are, so wants to do training. We are going to a tennis coaching class tomorrow, he is looking forward to that also. So not just restricting him to football. I am not going to force him inot anything, dont worry, its him that wants to be better at footy I was never really that good, but I got by, playing with friends, but never a team. But at a level I can enjoy it.

Good to hear

HBS x

wenger08

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Just to flip it around a little, is it possible he's only saying he wants to be good at football to please you, because he knows you like it so much?

Football shouldn't have to be a big part of a boy's life.

We had a lot of kids like that at my dance class - mum had decided they were going to be a little prince or princess when all they wanted to do was roll around in the mud

Maybe try and encourage him into some other sports too? Footie isn't the end all and be all, even though it seems to be (ridiculously, IMO) treated like some sort of religion!

HBS x

I know your trying to offer good advice but i think you are taking rubbish here mate

Its obvious you don't like football that much

Kids in general look up to their parents, if dad likes football "most" of the time their sons will like football. Because they want to be just like their dad

Also this perceived notion that kids have their own mind and do what they want is nonsense......kids copy olders or people they look up to or friends

Its how kids work

Its why they all watch the same programs on tv and how things like "cars" and "in the night garden" become favourtites amongst the majority of kids....its because they copy each other and their friends

bigmaz, just keep encouraging him and help him to make more friends who play football. The more he hangs around with them the more he will like it and want to do it.

Sure he might not be the best but he will always be fit and healthy and have a common ground to meet new friends with for his entire life. Football is great exercise at the end of the day and i started playing when i was 3. and i still play today over 35 years later.

I started my nephew kicking a ball when he was 1. he has just turned 4 and hardly watches football or has much interest in it. But if we take him in the garden he will kick a ball and run around and be happy.

They dont really play football in nursery but we dont push him to either. Maybe he will take it up, maybe he wont, but the seeds have been sown and if he wants to he will and he will be able to...because he has been kicking a ball for so long now, it is already becoming natural.

Make football a game. not a sport. Kids love any kind of game.......anything with a prize at the end of it......they will love.

Buy him a sponge ball so he can play at home. Use the front door as a goal and play in the hall way, stuff like that. Let him work out technique for himself, dont be too pushy, and always encourage. "unlucky" "good try" "i bet you cant score a goal past me"

Things like that will trigger his own reactions and he will work things out for himself.......kids hate being told what to do and how to do........never forget that. In their minds they are already grown up and know everything!......its all about being subtle in the way you encourage and triggering the right reactions in them

good luck and i hope your son plays football for years to come because he will lead a fit and healthy life and make many friends along the way.

do not listen to heartbreak star......or your son will end up liking balle and wearing pink to school lol

DUTR

wenger08 wrote: »

I know your trying to offer good advice but i think you are taking rubbish here mate

Its obvious you don't like football that much

Kids in general look up to their parents, if dad likes football "most" of the time their sons will like football. Because they want to be just like their dad

Also this perceived notion that kids have their own mind and do what they want is nonsense......kids copy olders or people they look up to or friends

Its how kids work

Its why they all watch the same programs on tv and how things like "cars" and "in the night garden" become favourtites amongst the majority of kids....its because they copy each other and their friends

bigmaz, just keep encouraging him and help him to make more friends who play football. The more he hangs around with them the more he will like it and want to do it.

Sure he might not be the best but he will always be fit and healthy and have a common ground to meet new friends with for his entire life. Football is great exercise at the end of the day and i started playing when i was 3. and i still play today over 35 years later.

I started my nephew kicking a ball when he was 1. he has just turned 4 and hardly watches football or has much interest in it. But if we take him in the garden he will kick a ball and run around and be happy.

They dont really play football in nursery but we dont push him to either. Maybe he will take it up, maybe he wont, but the seeds have been sown and if he wants to he will and he will be able to...because he has been kicking a ball for so long now, it is already becoming natural.

Make football a game. not a sport. Kids love any kind of game.......anything with a prize at the end of it......they will love.

Buy him a sponge ball so he can play at home. Use the front door as a goal and play in the hall way, stuff like that. Let him work out technique for himself, dont be too pushy, and always encourage. "unlucky" "good try" "i bet you cant score a goal past me"

Things like that will trigger his own reactions and he will work things out for himself.......kids hate being told what to do and how to do........never forget that. In their minds they are already grown up and know everything!......its all about being subtle in the way you encourage and triggering the right reactions in them

good luck and i hope your son plays football for years to come because he will lead a fit and healthy life and make many friends along the way.

do not listen to heartbreak star......or your son will end up liking balle and wearing pink to school lol

There are lots of sports and activities apart from football, I excelled to national team level in my chosen sport after I left school, I disagree that all kids are sheep, many do develop their own interests and personality and do not always want to be a sheep.
I remember when I was at school, arrive, kids playing football, breaktime lunchtime, PE after school all playing football, it was forced upon us, luckily for a short time we had a rugby as an option, the cricket team was rubbish, why? Because it was chosen from the school football team :eek:, from my year only one guy made it to professional level but I suspect that was only because his brother was already in the business, the best sprinter in the school was female and she was very very quick.

wenger08

DUTR wrote: »

There are lots of sports and activities apart from football, I excelled to national team level in my chosen sport after I left school, I disagree that all kids are sheep, many do develop their own interests and personality and do not always want to be a sheep.
I remember when I was at school, arrive, kids playing football, breaktime lunchtime, PE after school all playing football, it was forced upon us, luckily for a short time we had a rugby as an option, the cricket team was rubbish, why? Because it was chosen from the school football team :eek:, from my year only one guy made it to professional level but I suspect that was only because his brother was already in the business, the best sprinter in the school was female and she was very very quick.

Never meant to say all, i meant most...

Its just how kids are, they need encouragement in whatever they do, sure bigmaz's son might not liek football in the end but its good to encourage it.

Bigmaz likes football and him and his son might have some common ground to share an interest for the rest of their lives........why would anyone not want that bond to happen between a parent and their child?

I listed ways to encourage it because i know it works....good luck bigmaz

heartbreak_star

Would you have a problem with your son wearing pink or doing ballet, wenger? I suggest you might have issues if you do, male ballet dancers are awesomely fit and healthy and surrounded by beautiful women...and it doesn't matter what colour anybody wears

Most of my family like football, however I find it immensely boring and prefer rugby and ice hockey.

As a tiny kid I kicked a ball around and learned basic dance steps with my parents (ballroom dancers), as a school pupil I tried athletics, swimming, football, rugby, netball, hockey and badminton - I stuck with badminton and rugby plus dance through to my twenties. Tried footie, wasn't keen. My only regret was mum's aversion to gymnastics, which I really wanted to do (bit odd when she let me play rugby ).

We're all different - no kid should be forced or guilted into doing a sport because they feel like they should. That's why I did say it's great that Bigmaz is encouraging his son to try different things. He's only 7 - chances are he'll try a million things before he settles into one.

What I do absolutely agree with you on is that at such a young age things like football and tennis and the like should be treated like games, not sports - I'm actually a sports coach (not football though ) and I hate it when absolutely everything is super-competitive from a young age! If you're not having fun, what's the point basically

HBS x

DUTR

wenger08 wrote: »

Never meant to say all, i meant most...

Its just how kids are, they need encouragement in whatever they do, sure bigmaz's son might not liek football in the end but its good to encourage it.

Bigmaz likes football and him and his son might have some common ground to share an interest for the rest of their lives........why would anyone not want that bond to happen between a parent and their child?

I listed ways to encourage it because i know it works....good luck bigmaz

That's not what I'm saying though, it's not about the bond, it's about football being forced upon the child, I know that's how I felt when I was at school, it wasn't as if I wasn't atheletic or the kids who didn't wish to participate were not either. The way the post reads is that if someone doesn't like football there must be something wrong with them :eek: (similar could be said for a Villa follower at present) , the OP's son I'm sure will take a liking to one of many other pastimes and we can conclude the dream that he may score the winning goal for England in a world cup final just may not happen.

Reggie_Rebel

I coach football, 4 to 6 year olds. You see a few kids that come and are wary to start with but if they are getting the right coaching most do come out of their shells after a few weeks. Some don't and drift away to do other things, which is great.

Don't push him into anything he doesn't want to do. My best advice would be to take him to a couple of local clubs and see which (if any) he likes best. You will see some very different coaching styles.

Don't worry about ability. He may be birth age of seven but in football terms he's a new born. Skills take time to develop and you will need a coach that has the patience and ability to get him wanting to get better. There is no such thing as a natural footballer.

My three buzz words are Engage, Educate, Enthuse. If the coach does those three then you will see him grow as a player and a person.

Final piece of advice, when you find a club that is right and he plays in matches keep quiet apart from praising him afterwards.