Hey Brandon,
I’ve been playing soccer FOREVER. My dad coached when I was little, and then I moved up into school teams. But lately, I just don’t enjoy it anymore. It lost its spark and I want to quit, but my parents are so proud of me doing it and it’s always been something I’ve shared with my dad especially. I don’t know how to tell them I want to quit. Help!
So Sick Of Soccer
What’s Up So Sick Of Soccer,
Oh, this is tough! I bet you have a ton of really great memories playing with your dad, and it sounds like your parents ARE super proud of you.
But, that doesn’t mean you have to play soccer forever. And quitting a team doesn’t mean you can’t decide to play again in the future, if you change your mind. Even if you don’t play for an organized team again, there are always pick-up games with dad. Or coaching your own kids’ team someday. I think your parents will understand this.
It makes sense that as we get older, our interests change. Or not even change, but get broader. You can still be interested in soccer but also have new interests (and more schoolwork!), so you might not want to spend all your energy on kicking a ball around anymore.
I think you should be honest. Tell them soccer has stopped being fun. Tell them if there are other things you’re interested in doing. Tell them you appreciate their support. Tell your dad how much it means to you to share your soccer love and that you don’t want to lose that. You can still watch games and talk about it from time to time.
Any team sport is a big commitment for the whole family, so your parents probably won’t want to spend as much time on it if you’re not really committed.
Look at it this way—if you keep playing because you’re afraid to let your parents down, you’re going to lose more than the spark. You’ll eventually hate the game and resent your parents. So, be honest with them. Take a step back. Maybe by next season you’ll be itching to play again. Maybe not. Either way, it’s okay.
