I have tried to wait a couple of days to post about this as I know what I’m about to say could be misinterpreted. I also wanted to make sure I still felt the same a few days later. I have tried looking at this from not only a mom’s point of view, but also as a trainer, coach, and competitor.

Here is the scenario….I was at our high school track 2 days ago running bleachers etc. not long into my workout here come a dad and what looked to be his 8 or 9 year old son. My first thought was that it was odd he was not in school but then it donned on me he was probably home schooled (which I have absolutely no problem with). Next I see another young man walking onto the football field with a bag of footballs and meets the man and his son on the field. I continued to watch (as I worked out) only to see them begin a private quarter back lesson…….now don’t get me wrong I do believe in private lessons and training…….but not at 8 or 9 years old. This wasn’t just a football fundamentals lesson…..it was a full blown focus on quarterback position training. It wasn’t even a small group setting or a camp, but a private specialized lesson. I must stop hear and say I have paid for one of my 4 boys to have private basketball lessons but that was at age 13 and it was to help him make his school team. I also know as kids approach kid pitch baseball private lessons are needed in order for them to learn proper form so they do not get injured…..I’m all for that! I have to wonder though…..did this child come up with private quarterback lessons on his own or did his dad put the idea in his head. I have an 8 year old who is quarterback of his pee wee team and not once has he ever asked for private quarterback lessons.

I would love to hear your thoughts as I am sure to be opening a can of worms. Maybe the child did come up with it or maybe it’s dad trying to live his dream through his kid. I don’t know so it would be wrong to judge but it does make my stomach a little uneasy. Our kids are already put under so much pressure at school. My fear is we are turning fun youth sports into more of a job for them and putting them under even more stress. They are being taught to win at all costs, being yelled at (saw it on an 8u basketball court), and then they are worried about letting mom and dad down.

I want my kids to play youth sports, I want them to win, I want them to play sports I school if that’s what they want. I am not of the mindset that my child is going to be the superstar, get a scholarship to a D-1 school, and then play professional sports. The odds are way against it. I do want them to have fun being a kid though and to look back on their sports with a smile and fond memories. If Gods plan for my children is for them to be professionals at a sport then he will provide us the opportunities and guidance to do so…….I don’t think 8 years old though is the time for it. Thoughts?