9 Year old that hates baseball?

Question

My son has been playing baseball since he was 4 years old. He is a very exceptional ball player. He used to love it sooo much, that was all he ever wanted to do. Ever since he turned 9, in March, his attitude has totally changed. He dreads going to practices, games, will always make an excuse in why he cant go. He'll say, "I have a really bad headache, my stomach hurts, my shoulder is killing me, etc. I just dont understand. When I ask him why he doesnt like it anymore, he tells me because. Any ideas or suggestions?

Answer 1

Find out if he is being bullied, threatened or abused! He could have been threatened not to tell and is afraid to tell you. Take him to a therapist if he won't open up to you. Something has changed and you need to find out what!

Answer 2

He doesn't like baseball period.  Leave him alone.  There is nothing wrong with not liking a sport one has played for years.  Sounds as if he is starting puberty.  Offer up some other suggestions other than baseball.  There are other sports than baseball you know.

Answer 3

I would try to find out why he doesn't want to play anymore but I would make it perfectly clear that he doesn't have to if he doesn't want to.

Answer 4

It could be not liking the kids on his team, the coach is a jerk, or he may just be "burned out" on baseball

Answer 5

Sounds to me like something happened at a practice with other kids on the team or the coach and it has made him feel bad about himself or upset enough that he doesn't want to go anymore. I'd talk to the coach and find out what is going on and encourage him to stick out the season for the good of the team and that if he doesn't want to play next year then he doesn't have to.

Answer 6

He may have a problem with the team talk to the coach and see what's going on but don't let him give up practice with him at home and try to find another team

Answer 7

Well, that's easy.  Ask him what he'd like to do instead.

Just because you like something when you're 4 or are very good at it doesn't mean you want to do it every year forever.  Let him have a chance to try something else for a while, and maybe he'll come back to it.

Answer 8

Well he has been playing for five years and me may be getting sick of it. I grew up playing sports and I remember my friends always complaining about how much they hate a sport because they've been playing it for so long. Your son also may not like his team or his coach. (That was the case for my son) Also see if he is being bullied by an older kid on his team.

Answer 9

Possibile Problems:

1) He has a problem with the coach. Maybe he is too hard, or mean, or your son just doesn't like him.

2) Maybe he fells left out if he dosent have many friends on the team. The other kid could possibily bulling him.

3) Maybe someone at school said something that made him feel embaressed about playing.

4) Maybe he's just bored with the sport.

Talk to him and find out the problem. Also if he dosen't want to play don't force him to.

Answer 10

Sounds like it's not the game but possibly the people. When a kid doesn't like something (i.e. Baseball, basketball, Soccer, etc.) they will normally say something about that... not making up stories about themselves being sick.

How does he get along with the kids he plays with?

His coach?

Is there a new coach?

Sounds like he may be in an uncomfortable situation. I'm not saying he's being molested or anything, but it is possible that he doesn't like who he's playing with or someones doing something, maybe another kid is picking on him? I would talk to him, maybe see about getting him on a different team of some sort.

Good Luck.

Edit: I wouldn't recommend taking a 9 year old to a therapist, If he's not comfortable opening up now to you then just have him change teams or sports and wait till he is ready. Forcing a child to go to a therapist will make them resent you in the long run.

Answer 11

He could be growing out of it. At children do this.  He could be getting interested in other things. But if thats not the case maybe something is bothering him on the inside. Have a talk with him as maybe he will tell u.