Your child is doing well in a sport. He or she is scoring goals. Teammates have started to become friendships. You like the coaches. You bought all new gear. The practice and competitions schedule works for your family. And then your child comes to you and asks if he or she can play a different sport. First thing to do is to tell your child that you are happy that they are communicating with you their desire to switch sports. Second, you need to look at the new sport with open eyes. And third you really need to try to make it work, even if you have no idea whether or not your child will succeed in the sport. I’ve known athletes who took up new sports in college and made Olympic teams, so it is never too late for your child to take on a new sport. Our daughter played two seasons of spring lacrosse until she decided one year that she wanted to try soccer again. She had stopped soccer as a kindergartener because she was afraid to get on the field. She wouldn’t play unless she was holding onto our legs. And she would stay on the sidelines in fear until the last two minutes of the game. In lacrosse, she was out there playing in travel tournaments, she loved the coaches, she had friends on the team, and she had a new lacrosse stick. Nevertheless, we made the big switch, signed her up for soccer, left lacrosse behind, and the rest is history. So, we’ll see how she does this season. So far, so good. I’m going to coach her team too, so maybe that will make a difference in making the transition back to soccer smoother. I’m excited for her to be back in soccer (I was a co-captain of my championship high school soccer team). But if it doesn’t work out, maybe we’ll be back to lacrosse next year.
Visit us at www.besporthappy.com for more info on the 35 sports available for kids in Saratoga ages 3-13. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/besporthappy or join our Be Sport Happy Saratoga Equipment Exchange group on Facebook and exchange used sports equipment with other Saratoga families: www.facebook.com/groups/besporthappy. Also find us at www.healtheconcessions.com and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/healtheconcessions.
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