[quote=scaredyclassic]I never participated in sports and frankly I think I might be less fucked up in some ways if I had.[/quote]
I participated in sports and was good at several, but quit before I matured because I wasn’t raised right and things were getting worse. Fights and stuff like that. It wasn’t my DNA because I didn’t start like that and my kids are not like that. i was the best pitcher in my city league in middle school only maybe two position players in the league at my level, but eventually I was embarrassed to show up and thought my reputation for all that stuff wouldn’t work in high school. From what Allan says, I might have been fine. I think they would have run me off. I was a good middle distance runner but A little bit later I was half stoner half serious student. My confidence and willingess to be in the limelight was shattered.
My 7 year old has a good arm and a sense for ball placement too. I think sometimes my past dominates my feelings about competition. I started off keeping my kids pretty passive, but as time goes on have encouraged them to play for real if they play. The fun is in playing for real but with a good balanced outlook. Last year one of my kids kept a star opponent scoreless in soccer, He knocked him on his butt several times , cleanly, that’s new for us. He helped the kid up at least on one occasion. His confidence is a lot better and he is still a great kid…not a great soccer player, but he knows other kids are not entitled to go for it and him not.