Should I Let My Son Quit Football?

RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By CHSMOM (Guest Post) (08/14/2008) My son who will be a Junior this year just turned in his football equipment today to his coach. Last year the previous coaches used him as an example to encourage the younger kids at the banquet. They said, Remember so and so? He worked hard for years and barely set foot on the field. This year he worked his way to the top of the defensive chart and started every game. He went on to be moved up to Varsity for the play-offs and won Most Improved for JV. He was a hero to so many that tried and never gave up. My husband and I are absolutely sick about his decision, but don't know if we should push him. We don't want him to be a quitter and we don't want him to regret leaving this "brotherhood" of his team. He says he hates the game and has always played for us and cannot do it anymore. I feel ridiculous for being so upset, but this is one area where he has shined. He hates school, but is socially a very popular, bright kid. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by luvsherkids (1) | (08/11/2008) Profile | Contact Thank God someone else is having this problem! My son is a sophmore this year & has played football since 2nd grade. It has always been his passion, especially since he started playing QB in 7th,8th & 9th grade and is very good! He's hard headed & says it's the only position he wants to play cuz he's the center of attention & likes to lead. 9th grade he had to compete w/a kid that was better than him,the kid moved to a different school & all was great. But end of last yr, the better kid moved back & will be starting this yr. My son, all of the sudden does not want to play anymore & says it's just coincedence that he doesn't want to play anymore when the other kid came back. Should we make him play this year cuz he's come this far & is actually a great athlete or let him quit? It would be different if he was terrible at it, but I know there is more to this than he's telling us. "It's just not fun anymore,etc." I think he's just being lazy too. The coaches have called me wanting him to play, etc. But he refuses and said he'll be mad and act like an ass if we make him play. I'm so dissapointed! Can a 10th grader that loved football so much last yr and was so good just not like it suddenly? He had dad take him to talk to the head coach today but didn't want dad to go in with him and has not said anything about the conversation at all. Tomorrow is the 1st day of practice and he asked to stay the night at a friends house & has not mentioned the conversation with the coach at all and we did not ask him. I just assumed that when he asked dad to take him to talk to the coach, he'd change his mind. What do you all think about this? Please help! Thanks-Kim Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Matt S. (Guest Post) (02/05/2008) That is a tough one. My son turned 9 in October and is a 3rd grader. He has played soccer, baseball, karate and swimming. He is not pining to play rocket football next season and I myself and unsure because of the injury potential. However, we have one rule when it comes to trying ANYTHING, an that is once you start you WILL finish. Whether it be a 8 game football season, a four swim meet season and 3 class theater club (that is my five year daughther's currnet passion) they have no choice but to finish the tenure with a good faith effort. They may not like or try a certain activity again which is fine, but one thing you can be sure of, they will never quit one either and that is what is important. Start=Finish in our house. Hang in there! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by wacky camper (12) | (11/05/2007) Profile | Contact Thanks to everyone for their input. I did not let him quit. He ended the season last week. I am glad I did not let him. He was so up set the season was over, that he was in tears. He found something he truly liked to do. He was upset that he practices and season was over. He made so many new friends, and his grades for just starting JR high are A's and B's. I think he was just seeing that his other friends could still do things after school and he had to buckle down and do homework, that it bothered him. I am so glad he stayed with it. It actually helped him to stay away from the bad influence kids, and meet new nice ones. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by meoowmom (1277) | (11/04/2007) Profile | Contact started jr. high school at a new school? well could it be the stress of changing schools? Also check out headaches with a doctor to rule anything out. Beter safe than sorry. He is just a kid! So many people push their children too much. Education is what he needs first. My nephew played football and wrestled and it was stressful on him. He is a gifted student and sports was a way to meet other kids but he said it was hard to always be at practice and not getting to read and do other things. Good luck. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by lovelysmycke (16) | (09/20/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact Let him quit. Otherwise he is just ruining the teamwork in the football team he is in. Maybe he will change his mind later. He needs sometime to think about his attitude. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By lourna (Guest Post) (09/20/2007) Lisa Your son wants to be star by not exerting effort. Teamwork is very important in a football game. Let him quit, otherwise is just a problem for the team he belongs to. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Allison (189) | (09/18/2007) Profile | Contact "Why give it up just because you don't like to practice?" Because when you don't go to practice, you're letting your whole team down and frankly you're probably not that good of a player if you don't practice. He just doesn't like practice. That explains everything right there. He wants the glory and the credit, but he doesn't want to put forth the effort. The question isn't whether or not to let him quit, the question is whether or not to use this teachable moment to help him learn responsibility. Use it. Make him go to practice. Show an example of being responsible, even if he isn't. At some point he needs to learn to finish what he starts and that rewards come after hard work. His coaches are trying to teach him this by not playing him when he hasn't been to practice. They are probably hoping you will get on board. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Matt (Guest Post) (09/18/2007) I'm now a Varsity Senior. I was a junior on Varsity. I spent my 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade years on the lowest team you could be on and have tried to quit. My parents made me finish the season, and every year I sign back up again. Now I look back and thank god my parents and coaches pushed me not to quit and frankly wouldn't let me. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by dj_pinkey (70) | (09/17/2007) Contact Reading back through the posts - he wants to play in the games, but doesn't want to go to practices, then doesn't get played because he misses practice. Let him know he's keeping himself out of the game because he's not practicing. Let him play pick up games in the neighborhood, but tell him if he doesn't practice, he won't play. Don't fight with him about going to practice - make him responsible for letting you know when he needs to go, but take him when he asks. If he misses enough, he'll be dropped from the team. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By ShannonM (Guest Post) (09/15/2007) Hi, Personally if it was I who was the parent I would let him quit. Education to me is more important than football games. Shannon Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by clramsey (4) | (09/15/2007) Profile | Contact After raising 2 kids, I look back and I should have pushed the accademics more than the sports. That is where they can get more scholarship money than in sports. When my kids were small, if they started the season, they finished. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by wacky camper (12) | (09/14/2007) Profile | Contact Thank you for all the posts. The football playing was his idea. His father is into toy trains and I have never seen a football game. His problem is he does not like going to practice, he just likes playing in the games. It is a fight every night to get him to go, but then he gets mad when they don't play him in the games because he was not at practice. His homework does get done. I let him know he has the option to quit, however he put all this time and work into it, and he is good at it why give up just because you don't like to practice. I think it is now becoming a thing were he is trying to be lazy. If it does effect his school work, then he will have no choice but to quit. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by hsorbits (76) | (09/13/2007) Profile | Contact I read about half the responses and quit. I had had enough. Isn't it possible that this child has 'had enough' of the pressure? Whoever encouraged him to play is part of the problem: he doesn't want to disappoint anyone. Then there's the real issue of school work. Isn't an education the reason he is in school? Sure, some kids get athletic scholarships, but it appears he would never be a candidate anyway. He doesn't need to be treated as if he has done a 'bad' thing. In fact, he should be commended for having the wisdom and courage to recognize that he cannot give his best to either activity and the courage to admit it. He should be told that he has made an informed decision and that this will be useful as he continues throughout his life. It is a shame that we parents and coaches (my son is a coach) try to relive our lives through our children. You are blessed with a sharp student who doesn't need sports to make him a 'better, well-rounded' individual! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Linda (Guest Post) (09/13/2007) There are a lot of new stressors just starting jr hi. If he is getting headaches, and there is no physical injury (which should be checked out), this sounds like stress. I would allow him to quit football with the proviso that he replace `it with something meaningful and not video games. Perhaps he could join a gym or other place to get appropriate exercise daily, which would help with the stress, too. Maybe he and dis dad could go together. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By suzi_homemaker01 (Guest Post) (09/13/2007) Wow! I am amazed at the amount of people who say let him quit! My parents never let me join any sports, cheer leading, or drill teams because of the expense. I grew up with low self esteem and I think a lot of that could have been boosted by being in something...sports or otherwise. On the other hand, I have a friend who allows her child to sign up for baseball, soccer, etc and then quit when something does not go his way. He's only nine and he does have a pattern developing that can only steer him towards being a quitter. I would get to the root of the issue first. Did your son not know of the time that would be consumed in practice and games? Check with the coach to see if there are any issues with him being a part of the team, bullying, etc. I think telling you his studies should come first is his way of getting out of staying on the team. I do not believe he should be allowed to quit unless a doctor says he has been injured and should not continue. Plus, I am sure that you have paid for uniforms and equipment and such. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By coolmuth (Guest Post) (09/12/2007) I have the same question. My son is almost fifteen and has "invested" in this fall season having gone to summer camp and training all summer in the weight room and on the track. Now, after first few weeks of practice he wants to quit before their first game! I feel he's letting his team mates down & his coaches, and his Dad is broken hearted and worried that he'll sit around playing video games! I worry about injury and the fact that he claims he doesn't like football. He doesn't follow it on TV. (He says occasionally he'll watch Super Bowl but mainly for the commercials!)He's never been into sports much but he's big and strong and everyone felt he would be good at football. It's helped him gain strength & pride at times but he says it's too hard to get all his school work done (he's sophmore w/many AP classes) & the "payoff" from football isn't good enough to make him want to keep up with all the time-consuming practices & games. It's ALOT of time. I worry that he'll hang around & waste time & lose the strength he's gained. I worry that the team will resent him. I don't want to force him to play when his heart isn't in it. My husband thinks he can force him. It's become an awful struggle - a real battle between them. Hopefully my son will discover something he loves with all the time he'll have on his hands if he does quit. I'll keep you posted... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by pamphyila (467) | (09/12/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact I would address the headaches - please have him see a physician - it could be an injury and serious! If he wants to concentrate on his studies - let him! I think you should be just as proud of a good student as a jr. Hi. football player! Maybe there is some other sort of activitiy he would like to get involved in - that he can pursue in later life - like tennis - Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by pamphyila (467) | (09/12/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact I would address the headaches - please have him see a physician - it could be an injury and serious! If he wants to concentrate on his studies - let him! I think you should be just as proud of a good student as a jr. Hi. football player! Maybe there is some other sort of activitiy he would like to get involved in - that he can pursue in later life - like tennis - Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by pamphyila (467) | (09/12/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact I would address the headaches - please have him see a physician - it could be an injury and serious! If he wants to concentrate on his studies - let him! I think you should be just as proud of a good student as a jr. Hi. football player! Maybe there is some other sort of activitiy he would like to get involved in - that he can pursue in later life - like tennis - Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by sustreet (2) | (09/12/2007) Contact Let him quit! He is wanting to put his studies first and that is a great thing! It is highly possible that he has strained his neck in football practice and the headaches are from that. Go see a doctor, then physical therapist to assess him. If that is not the cause then he simply may be getting too little sleep, or a combination of both with stress. Is this how you want him to go through his school year? This is a no-brainer...that is unless you've never experienced tremendous headaches. It is a terrible existance. I had them for 15 years. The last three I wanted to put a gun to my head, until I finally went through physical therapy for three months and became nearly cured. They're called cervigenic headaches and they can steal your life away from you. Don't worry about him "quitting" unless he has a history of quitting things. (Then you would dig deeper while making sure he got more sleep.) Susan Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Kimberly (Guest Post) (09/12/2007) First of all get his headaches checked out to make sure that everything is ok medically. Also, listen to what your son is saying, let him get used to his new surroundings and maybe he'll want to pick the sport back up again. Right now it sounds like it's a bit stressful for him to handle both. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Onuigbo (5) | (09/12/2007) Contact Your son may be having issues other than football. How involved is his father, or dad in his life?Any male role model in his life? Let him quit football for now, and have him go for a complete physical.Talk to him(not at him), and find out his concerns, and his long term goals/ ambitions. His desire may not be towards football. Whatever his ambition maybe, what you need to teach him is to educate his mind by going , and staying in school. Leave the door of communication open so he can talk to you anytime he so desire. As much as you love him, let him be on the driver's seat with your guidiance. Hawkins Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By (Guest Post) (09/12/2007) Which is more important your son's health or him playing football? You need to talk to your son about his headaches and find out if it is an injury or stress. If it is an injury get him checked out, if it is stress then let him reduce it. Is it really worth making him stick something out if it causes him to be sick? Just give him lots of support and love! Best of luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by dj_pinkey (70) | (09/12/2007) Contact As previous posters stated - have the headaches checked. It may not seem like a big deal, but if your son really wants to quit, make him understand what he doing, and have him do it himself. Talk to him and see if it's an issue with the sport or with the team. (If there's teasing or bullying going on, it's likely to get worse at school if he quits.) Have him talk to the coach - don't do it for him, but by all means go with him in case he needs help. He's committed himself to something, and now he wants to back out, and he's got to learn to do this properly - this is a relatively benign situation to start with. By the time he's ready to leave his first job, he'll have some experience with ending a commitment. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By (Guest Post) (09/12/2007) Mostly all good advice, especially from LynnBeth. My grand daughter started and quit at least 5 activities in two years. Finally after she begged for a year to play violin,t hen started it and wanted to quit. I drew the line...she is playing the violin through the rest of the way through school, good , bad or indifferent, her pattern of QUITTING was not tolerated on that. She was simply told there are things in life that you CAN NOT quit, consider this "practice" for those things and get used to it. It is still a fight for practices, etc, but she will NOT quit this. Like the previous poster said, make sure it is not a pattern. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By louel53 (Guest Post) (09/12/2007) I think that you should let him quit. Football is supposed to be fun; what is the point of doing it if it is not enjoyable. I also agree with the people who suggest getting the headaches checked out and finding out if there is something else going on like bullying. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By U*u*U (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Football should be FUN, not an obligation. Kids are people too. If you tried something you enjoyed at first but ended up, hating it, would you continue? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by fionarx (64) | (09/11/2007) Contact Take him to a doctor right away and no matter what, let him quit. My son was playing soccer and got hit in the face. He said he wanted to quit and that was that. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Noella (157) | (09/11/2007) Profile | Contact Absolutely, let him quit. It's very possible that he won't get to play that much anyway and the practices then would be a waste of his time. That happened with my own son, he went to every practice in the heat of August and when the games came, they'd put him in for maybe one 10-second play during the whole game. Meanwhile, he's standing there in the cold waiting to be put in the game and I'm in the stands shivering from the cold only to see him play maybe 10 seconds. When he asked if he could quit - I told him yes, by all means. He then went on to the wrestling and tennis teams where he got to play through all matches. He was much happier and has not regretted any of his decisions. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Gary (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Lisa: This is a good question. I am a parent of a son that quit football due to an injury many years ago, also a former coach for 10 plus years and a former Football player as well. First, I hope you and your son have a good relationship and you are open to talking with him about anything. I am very concerned about the headaches, are they real or imagined and have they been an ongoing health concern? Find out for what reason he truly wants to quit football at this time. Address that and if it still seems as though it is the best decision at this time then fine. It is not the end of the world, children are resilient, and by not wanting to play football does not make him a quitter, though we do not want to make it easy for him to walk away from things when it gets tough. This is how character is built. If you both decide that football is not for him at this time please identify with him the real reason and allow him to grow from the choice. Then just Love him! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Diana (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) My daughter had exercise induced migraines and once we got those under control by her neurologists (after several hospital stays-definitely not FRUGAL!), she is back on the track and doing well! Stress, changes in atmospheric conditions and her menstrual cycle were her triggers. Have him checked by a doctor and good luck. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Ann (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Lisa: Do you think that perhaps something happened at a practice that he was made to feel intimidated, or was bullied because of size or stature, or humiliated by a cruel remark? It does seem strange to me if all was well and he was enjoying the sport. One would think he would be eager to be on the team. Hope this works itself out and he is once again doing what he enjoys. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By JB. (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) I agree with what everyone has said. That being said, we never allowed our son to quit something he wanted to start in the first place. He had to at least finish the season, year, job whatever. The headaches are another issue. They should probably be checked out no matter what to ease your mind. He may just be using them as an excuse. Junior high is so tough for kids anyway. Be sure to let him know that you are letting him quit because of your concern for his health and that you agree with him that his schooling comes first. We never had that issue as our son always carried a 4.0 average and he loved sports. Good luck with these years. They are rough for parents also! I'm glad my days of jr hi are over! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Lily May (44) | (09/11/2007) Profile | Contact By all means let him quit. What if you won't let him quit and he hurts himself badly --you will never forgive yourself. Quitting something more important, like school, is another thing. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Joyce (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Definitely let him quit. I always wanted my kids to finish anything they started, too, but football is not something he should have to stick with if he really doesn't want to. My son played for a year, and it was hard. The practices were really hard. The team would practice almost every day for at least 2-3 hours in sun, driving rain, even hurricane conditions (we live in Florida). There is so much possibility for injury in football. Your son probably thought it would be fun, but now that he is into it, it is probably not so much fun as he thought. This is not something that he should have to do if he really doesn't like it. He will be much happier, and you should rest easier knowing that he is not in a sport with just a high risk for permanent injury. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Maryann (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Speaking from experience - I'd say first get the headaches checked out. Did he get hit and perhaps have a concussion no one was aware of? If he checks out fine - encourage him to play. We have 2 sons - one would not pursue h.s. sports and he was very good. I'm afraid it was friends who did not play that caused his decision. We fought and argued but gave in - he got mixed up with the wrong group and I won't get into the rest. The other went as far as being a h.s. star - school state champs in both baseball and football. Got red shirted in 1st yr of college for baseball and then decides he doesn't want to play. Who knows why? In some cases, I say they do need to make their own decisions. BUT team sports provide a lot of discipline and friend support. Try to persuade him to stick with it for this season if physically he checks out. Good luck - you'll be in my prayers for guidance. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Allison (189) | (09/11/2007) Profile | Contact I would try to get to the bottom of it before making a decision. Are his grades dropping? Is someone picking on him? Does he just not have enough time to do whatever fun things he used to like to do? There is value in learning to stick with something once you've started, but there is also value in putting your schoolwork first, before extracurricular activities. I'd say if he just doesn't feel like it anymore, it's not a good idea to just let him quit, but if he seems to have a valid reason, maybe quitting is worth considering. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by kimhis (916) | (09/11/2007) Contact Yes, let him quit! adolescence is the process of his finding what sorts of things he is suited for, so let him sample a million things (with his taking some responsibility for costs). Football is famous for concussions that have lifelong effects including blinding untreatable headaches and spinal damage. I would not insist on his finishing what he started in such an optional, supposed-to-be-fun thing. If it were math or science, he would have to keep going to fulfill the requirements. But this is sports! Let him have fifteen favorite sports, for livelong fun and variety, instead of one that his parents made him do until he hated it and hated them. I sure do know how confusing it is to try and figure this out. Nothing about parenting is self-explanatory! Just remember we're all on your side and you have all us for friends in this! good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By willadean (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Let him quit. Would you want someone to make you do something that you do not want to do. His headaches, those are a sign that he is stressed big time! You and he don't need this. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Dean (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) Going to a new school could be a problem as he has to make new friends and maybe he has some issues with his new class mates. There is a lot of bullying that goes on in school.You should try to find the root cause. The decision to let your son play football is yours alone and not one from the feed back posters. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Crystal (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) As much as you don't want a quiter, I'd let him quit if he didn't want to play. It isn't fair to the ones that want to play and to make him do something he doesn't have a heart for could be a waste of time for him and the team. How would he have known if he didn't try football? Often we too don't understand the sacrafice involved until we walk the walk. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by reina1 (1) | (09/11/2007) Profile | Contact My son is 15 and he's in the same boat. I also want him to quit. Leave it up to him and let him know you support anything he decides. That he is more important to you than football, and academics is more important for his future. My son gets practiced from 2-6pm. I feel that this is to long and may be increasing his headaches also. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by the Oracle (420) | (09/11/2007) Profile | Contact Bad headaches are a symptom. In contact sports, like football, it could mean an injury, like concussion. It could also be stress, but all the kids have stress at this transition, so it would have to be a symptom of something more than the usual stress. Of course, he should quit football. He should also see a medical doctor to check out this symptom. At this age, football is a learning experience, not an opportunity to suffer. What's the rush? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by Lynn Beth (423) | (09/11/2007) Contact I would let him quit so long as it is not a trend, to try something and quit it. In that case you are just teaching him that whatever he doesn't like he doesn't have to do. Life isn't like that. And check out those headaches. Maybe it's just stress, but maybe not. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By Leigh (Guest Post) (09/11/2007) I think you need to determine if he is really having headaches first of all, and if he is he needed to see a doctor. It might just be stress. If he is really stressed I would allow him to go ahead and quit. School and his health should come first. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By (Guest Post) (09/08/2007) Let him quit and check those headaches? Could be concussions..pikka Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By barb (Guest Post) (09/08/2007) Hi! I had my son join soccer at the high school freshman year. It was a new school and all that. The kids had their own cliques; though they were friendly enough not inclusive. He did play the season. If he feels that he is the odd-man-out, perhaps you could talk to the coach and some of his teachers. Being a male in a new school is so much harder than being a female. Good luck. barb Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post By alisa (Guest Post) (09/08/2007) I think if your son really doesn't want to do football this season you should let him quit. Maybe he really doesn't have time for both. Then again you could always sign up again next year. He is only in junior high which the transition the first year is very tough. I say give him one year to settle in and then ask him next year if hes comfortable doing football or even another sport. (: Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by crazybest (18) | (09/08/2007) Contact One thing I wonder, and not sure if this could be a possibility is could there be something else going on. Like someone giving him a hard time at school. If he is having horrible headaches {may want a doctor to check him out} it could be stress related, especially if someone is possibly bullying him. It may be worth having him checked out because of the headaches either way, he is still young and shouldn't have headaches like this and maybe the doctor can talk to him to see if there is anything else going on. Maybe let him talk to the doctor one on one. Best of Luck, Kim Report Spam or Abuse RE: Should I Let My Son Quit Football? Post by TxSavr (62) | (09/07/2007) Contact Although I don't normally advocate kids quitting something once they've started, I think you should let him quit if it's interfering with his schoolwork. My son just started middle school this year and the adjustment from elementary to middle school or junior high is tremendous. The schoolwork is also harder and perhaps your son is finding it too difficult to juggle both schoolwork and the extracurricular activity he's chosen. If that's the case, then I believe that grades and school work should always come first. Perhaps he can try football again next year once he's had a chance to become adjusted to his new school, schedule and work load. Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse