Why Do Kids Quit Sports? Kids have many reasons for wanting to quit a sport. It may be that some of the excitement of starting a sport wears off when the hard work begins. There can be other reasons too, such as: being too tired from too much on the schedule a problem with a teammate or coach not liking the sport How Should I Handle It? Talk to your child in a calm way and find out why he or she wants to quit. First, try to find a solution: If your child feels too tired, you may need to cut back on the sport or take something else off the schedule. If there's an issue with a teammate or coach, this is a good time to teach your child how to work through a problem. Talk about ways that your child could make things better. Maybe talking to the other player or going to the coach would help. If your child is very young, you may need to go together to talk to the coach. Keep your child involved in trying to make things better, though. This helps kids learn to address a problem and take steps to make it better. If your child is being bullied, either by the coach or a teammate, work with your child to make sure it doesn't continue. If your child is very young, talk to the parent of the child doing the bullying or the coach on your own. If your child is older, talk about ways to deal with a bully. If your child just doesn't like the sport, it can be tough. If you signed up for a season, encourage your child to finish the season. If Your Child Still Wants to Quit You know your child best, so consider the reason he or she wants to quit when making your decision. Think about whether you pushed your child into a sport that you wanted him or her to play. Then, decide what to do as a family. Learning how to make good decisions is an important life lesson. If your child does quit the sport, find another sport or activity that he or she can try. All kids should get at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity to stay fit and healthy. Back to Articles Related Articles Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports Some kids aren't natural athletes and they may say they just don't like sports. What then? Read More Kids and Exercise Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, kids who are physically fit are better able to handle physical and emotional challenges. Read More Motivating Kids to Be Active Parents can help instill a love of activity and help kids make it a part of their everyday routine. Read More Signing Kids Up for Sports Organized sports can help kids grow in many ways. Consider your child's age, personality, and abilities to help make sports fun. Read More Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play it Cool Sometimes the pressure to succeed on the field or in the court can be overwhelming. Learn what you can do to help your child keeps things in perspective. 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Read More How to Compete in Sports Sometimes sports competition can make kids feel pressure. If it's too much, a kid might not have as much fun as before. Find out what to do if this happens to you. Read More Sports and Exercise Safety Playing hard doesn't have to mean getting hurt. The best way to ensure a long and injury-free athletic career is to play it safe from the start. Find out how. Read More Sportsmanship Some people define good sportsmanship as treating the people that you play with and against as you'd like to be treated yourself. Learn more about what good sportsmanship is all about. Read More What If I Don't Like Sports? Sports can be challenging when you're new to them, but they also can be really fun. Take a second look at sports - and learn other ways to be active - in this article for kids. Read More Choosing the Right Sport for You If you're having trouble choosing a sport, this article can help! Read More Strength Training With a properly designed and supervised program, strength training can be a fun way for kids to build healthy muscles, joints, and bones. Read More Strength Training Is working out with weights safe for teens? The best way to build muscle tone and definition is to combine aerobic and flexibility exercises with the right kind of strength training. Read More Why Exercise Is Wise Getting the right amount of exercise can rev up your energy levels and even help you to feel better emotionally. Find out why. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.