Shall my brother quit his sport?

Hey guys, I'm speaking on behalf of my younger brother Shaun, he's currently 14 and has played football for 9 years now. Over the years my brother has become more interested in computer games then in football, he's lost a lot of his pace and skips loads of training. He's starting to get subbed a lot too, and from being on of the best strikers in the team he's been moved to RB (right back) he's now looked as a "weak link" in the team, if it was his decision he'd leave instantly but here's the catch...

My dad is an absolute huge part of the club, he designed the football page, writes match reports and is extremely close with everyone, every time my brother is disobedient and refuses to go to training he will be devastated, he will feel to bad to say he want's to quit because my dad is such a huge part of the club but hates it so much now...

What shall he do?

 

Let him make decission. It's his life. Regardless if he's 14 or not. He has to decide himself if he wants to waste his time behind computer or expand his football skills. There's nothing worse than making decissions instead of him

 

I'd say no... because playing football helps you keep physically fit and usually also let's you have decent social skills and such. Computer games won't really help him in any way, it will actually harm his social skills. This is coming from someone who dropped out of school to play video games and graduated 2 years late because of them. I then later found the error in my ways and went back to school and graduated. Tell him to stick with football, but also play games if he wants to, he just needs to learn to limit himself to maybe an hour or two a day and not become a hermit.

 

Thanks for the advice guys

 

I think you should advise your brother to have a chat with your dad. Maybe arrange them both to sit down and chat and you be there as a buffer. At the end of the day, what matters most is communicating his thoughts about it, instead of jumping to assumptions.

 

I'm quite concerned for my brother thought, just devotes all his spare time to the computer :/

 

Your brother should have an honest discussion with your dad and tell him the situation. I doubt its something that will tear your family appart or anything.

 

He needs to have an honest discussion with your father. Realistically speaking, continuing with soccer will be good for him overall but if he does not come to that conclusion himself and is forced to do it he will simply grow to resent it.

 

if your dad see's that your brother is already lacking and not interested in soccer, i think he would understand if he quit

 

Every teenager who starts sports usually comes to a phase where they can't be bothered. Should probably continue with football, keep him in shape as he gets older. And who says you can't do both?

 

Is the sport about your dad or is the sport about him? If he's not interested he's not interested anymore. He's 14 and already played for 9 years now, but as you've mentioned he isn't really excelling at it either.

It doesn't make sense to keep playing if he a) doesn't enjoy it and b) would rather be doing other things. As long as he continues *some* kind of physical activity I can't see what the problem would be.

 

Thanks for the tips guys told him what to do

 

It's up to your brother really, if he feels that he wants to quit, no one should tell him otherwise.

 

Tell your brother to talk to your dad and your brother should decide on what he wants to do with his life/free time

 

i managed soccer for 12 yrs from ge 6 - 18. i was also addicted to runescape, so i know how it is. hell, i used to run home from school during middle school just to get on the computer.

i think you/father need to explain to him that sports are a way to meet new people, find parties, etc. the main reason i think he should continue is to not miss out on his social life. that's how i got into the upper class parties with another friend. we'd be only two freshman at junior/senior parties. i felt pretty bad ass at the time, especially when the hottest senior kissed me on my forehead. i remember it like it was yesterday......

to sum it up, the computer and his games will always be there. but soccer won't be, and i think he'd really regret it when he's 18. i understand he's addicted to the computer and i've been there, done that but someone needs to rationalize with him and inform him that he will regret not playing soccer and spending all his time on the computer instead of playing the sport he loves and socializing. it seems right at the time, but once you hit 18, and look back like wow... so my highschool was spending time on the computer instead of having fun, making good grades, and partying. obv, balancing out partying/having fun/socializing with good grades/sports.

 

The first part you said about the social skill and stuff isn't entirely true. We basicly share the same story.

I was a high-school dropout and currently in my last year for my graduation (also 2 years late) because I was too much of an addict (LoL, RS,...) but I'm very social and have never experienced something bad in my social skills.

 

If your dad really cares about his son then he wouldn't care about his choices but will simply advise him.

But then your bother is only young and will not see the benefits of playing sport unlike your dad.

 

In the end, he wouldn't be happy with his decision if he continues to play football. Your father should be wanting to see your brother happy rather than sad doing something he doesn't exactly enjoy anymore. It'll be awkward and tough but sometimes it needs to be done.

 

Try talking with him about what he really wants to be in future, if he loves football he will fight for it, if he doesn't have interest on it then let him pick what he likes.

 

None of your business, let your brother worry about that shit.