Conflict

[Ian johnson]

encourage him to play this year, theres always hunting down the road, I did not play this year(senior year of highschool), but there were other more important reasons than hunting(work, school, famlily)

[Tim Fishell]

Glad to hear it worked out.  He sounds like he is a great kid.  Good luck and hope he enjoys both!!  I know I did!!

[DRR324]

I'm in the same boat- 14 and 12 year old daughter playing volleyball- different game nights and practice schedules, 10 year old son playing football.  The local league has a 3 night practice rule for the younger teams- no more than 3 nights of practice per week.  I have been coaching all 3 kids in different sports for 8-9 years now.  Last year I only had 9 weeks throughout the entire year that I wasn't coaching some sport.  My oldest has visions of college softball and plays a summer travel league.  I coach and we treat each weekend as a mini vacation.  I do lose a lot of hunting time- but like most here- I recall my memories of school and we all know how fast they fly by.  My kids are all outdoor kids and we just make the best of it for now- planning evening hunts etc as time allows.  They will be done with school and we will all have more "free" time in a few short years.  Glad he made his own decision- and don;t let the coach ruin the fun for that age group of boys- it's not about the wins and losses- its about the big smiles after a touchdown or great tackle!!!

[pdk25]

I probably would do my best not to push him in either direction.  To be successful at anything requires time.  With academic requirements that need to be met, there will have to be sacrifices no matter which path is chosen.  The best that you can do is ensure that he understands, as much as possible, what will be gained and lost with both scenarios and let him make his decision.  If he truly has a love for the outdoors he will find his way there sooner or later.

[JStark]

I'm glad it worked out, too.  You sound like a good father.

[dagwood64]

That is why I chose Hunting over the other sports. Football, baseball, etc are a short time, hunting is a lifetime.

[KSdan]

Yup- five kids here.  The team/school years are short but build character and memories for a lifetime.  There will be many years to hunt when he is older.

He won't lose the love of the outdoors; it may just need to be modified for the time being.  Hunt less time but more efficient and strategic.

[HATCHCHASER]

I learned more about real life playing football than anything I have ever done.  It taught me commitment, patients, work ethic, discipline and about any other good moral character you can think of.  Having a team depend upon you teaches you to do your part and all of this has carried over to life to me.

 That being said I never remembered having a practice on saturday.  I also beleive that football at a young age is not as nessacary as it is with other sports.  You learn baseball over time.  Football is you either have it or you don't.  I think 8th grade is a good place to start but any younger is just fun and not really learning the game.

I am sure that 8th grade football will be over by november when the good hunting heats up anyway.  I would reccomend that he play being he only has 4 or 5 more years.  But if it was me I would support my son in where his heart is.  Good luck with whatever he decideds.  

[AllenR]

Consider the quality of the coach and his program.  Keep an eye on what is going on and get your son out if it's going wrong.

Last year the new head coach at my 16 year old son's school was so bad that two players who had scolarship commitments as juniors, lost them due to this coaches incompetence.  He is gone, but he left behind a real mess.  

My son who was a super gung ho player doesn't even want to play this year.  Thanks to the old coach, the new coach lost a 6'-3", 250 #, 5.2 sec. defensive end.

Raising son's is a tough job, but it sounds like you are doing a good job.

Good luck
Allen

[WidowEater]

my HS football got in the way of all my hunting too.  I hunted in my backyard so I could do it whenever I wanted to without having to plan anything out.  I still went hunting after practice for the hour or so of daylight that was left.  I just still hunted instead of stand.  Now this is my preferred method and I am pretty good at it because it was the only option I had at the time so I had to make it work.

[Bakes168]

Bowhunting's the reason I'm not doing any fall sports this year either, I don't regret it...so far.
Bakes