Hopefully, you’ve exposed your teen to various types of athletic activities during his childhood, and by the time he reaches high school he knows which sports he likes and what his abilities are. Yet some parents have difficulty drawing a line between what’s best for their child and what they want for themselves. Parents who dream of recapturing athletic glory from their own youth, or of producing a teen athletic superstar, often can’t step back and let their teen choose his own activities. Because high school sports can be so competitive and require so much time (often a couple of hours per day, five or six days a week), it’s important that the dream be his now, not yours. Competition is tough, and if your teen wants to quit—or switch sports or shift over to intramural play—suggest that he sleep on his decision for a while. You may also want to suggest intramural sports as a good alternative. They are still athletic but less competitive. In the end let him decide on his own. His body may be giving him messages you can’t hear, or he may sense bad team “vibes” that you can’t feel. This is one of the many times when it’s important to let your teen learn to trust his own judgment. Your teen may just need time off from a sport, and he may come back to it if you’re off his case. Or maybe he’ll find something new. If you’re overly involved, you rob him of the ability to play for the right reasons—because it’s fun.
