Man, I am sure this is very frustrating. I know, as a teacher and former coach, I see talent in kids get wasted by the choices H.S. students make all the time. Thirty years of teaching you see a lot.

I might encourage him to do something, however, I would stop short of making him. At his age he really needs to come up with this answer for himself, if not, he will not be vested in the idea and may resent the pressure. That is common.

Of course there are stories of the opposite where the athlete was made to do a certain sport and excelled thanking his parents later, but those stories are very far and few between. Most often, the result is resentment from the athlete.

As usual, Kirk's probably got this question nailed, but I'm going to add my two cents anyway. (If nothing else, I'll stir the pot.)

I think motivation is part of this equation and it gets complex with teenagers. Why does he want time off? I faced this with my oldest daughter in her junior year when she was ready to quit volleyball. After getting to the root of the issue, I discovered she had some social challenges that she didn't want to deal with. Her friends didn't make the same team and she didn't fit in with the Senior clique that dominated the team.

I told her she needed to play, or forget about driving anywhere her Junior year. She chose to keep the car keys and play, and wound up captain of the team the following season. She's played competitively every year since. She's 23 now, and still criticizes my choice and tactics. But, on the other hand, she graduated Summa CumLaude from Arizona State with a degree in education and is a paid JO volleyball coach with a passion for the game that I know wouldn't be there, if she had been allowed to quit.

They're kids! As parents, you have the right and responsibility to compel them to do what you think is in their best interests. You can't expect to always make the right call, but you can apply your experience, wisdom, love and dedication to making good decisions for them. Don't make them play just because it's what you want, but feel free to make them do what you think is really in their best interests.

Parenting isn't easy and it's not easy being a kid. But, teenagers are going to resent some of the things you do out of love for them. Find out what your child's reasons are for not pursuing athletics and put your heart and mind to the task of figuring out if it really makes sense. If you decide that it's really not in his best interests to quit, I wouldn't hesitate to turn up the heat and compel him to take on the challenge.

This is a tough one...

Being around so many athletes and seeing, say 80% of them being forced to play a sport is very sad. Are they good athletes, yeah. Does that mean that is what 'they' want? No..

Every young athlete I train is mentally drained by mom or dad. Whether they are coming to me to improve their sports performance, to get 'in shape' or both they all have a tough time staying in the game of life mentally.

Kraig, I hear ya, but the end of your comment stuck out like a sore thumb: "If you decide that it's really not in his best interests to quit, I wouldn't hesitate to turn up the heat and compel him to take on the challenge."

If you read that over and over again, who is it all about?

The athlete...

or

the parent?

This one also sticks out: "They're kids! As parents, you have the right and responsibility to compel them to do what you think is in their best interests"

When it comes to making choices such as drugs, smoking, drinking, drinking and driving etc I can't agree more, but when it comes to playing a sport that they say they do not wish to do anymore and we feel we have the 'right' to compel them to do what 'we' think is best...it just doesn't seem to be the best for the youngster.

This is my personal opinion from years of experience in coaching, parenting and now seeing hundreds and hundreds of athletes. If I would have decided what was in my sons 'best interest', he would have wrestled (my sport that I was fortunate enough to succeed in) and hated it. He tried it for 3 years and said, 'I really don't like this', so he went on to become a very good basketball player.

Same with my daughter. She tried field hockey and cross country. What I found out later, after she wasn't giving 100%, was quote: 'I just figured you wanted me to dad, because of your background'.
Now, THAT hurt. She was doing something she really didn't like so she wouldn't disappoint me...

We all have our own answers to the same question. This was my little opinion :)

Man, I like both of these anwers above. If you read closely you will see wisdom in all.

Kirk Mango
http://becomingatruechampion.com/
http://becomingatruechampion.blogspot.com/

Thanks Kirk...
All of us can come away learning from one another..I think so anyway :)

Well your child wants to take a year of,THATS OKAY!if he has dreams of playing in the pros,practice is enough,1 year of rest won't heart his luck

I think maybe a less intense leauge might be good