dealing with DS football obsession

[Snowrose1311]

Hi,
My DS1 is totally football mad, to the point that he absolutely has to play football every day, is miserable when it rains, and talks almost constantly about football when he is not playing it. He is 9.

I am happy for my son to be into sport, football develops team work and is good for his health, much better than playing iPad or Xbox.

The problem is that I feel our family's life sometimes almost has to revolve around football opportunities. We went camping over half term, which both my sons love, but we tried a new campsite and it turned out not to have anywhere suitable for footie (e.g. no field or playground nearby) and DS1 went on and on about it. AIBU to expect my son to forget footie for a week? Do other Mumsnetters listen to lengthy conversations about football?

Lastly, my DS resists playing other things (e.g. bike rides, gardening, walking the dogs, etc) and only wants to play football, I'm not sure if I should 'make' him engage in a variety of activities or just let him make a free choice? If the latter, I'm afraid he'll only have 1 interest in his life and nothing else but he frequently complains and resists if I try to sign him up for a different club for example. WWYD?

Thanks.

[specialsubject]

no, doing something else for a week is not unreasonable.

good hobby for all the reasons you list - but not an excuse to be boring and selfish. Also not an excuse to get out of pulling his weight at home.

[Taffeta]

My DS also 9 is football mad. He plays for an academy 4 x pw in season and has a month off at the moment so is playing cricket and tennis. He is sports crazy but especially football.

I hate football personally so have tried to push encourage other sports, and he also enjoys cross country and tag rugby. He is basically v competitive, also plays chess. Anything that can be won.

Football has its merits. Team work, the ability to strike up a conversation with many people etc.

If I were you, I would keep offering the other sports and ask him to try them. I nagged DS to try rugby for 3 years, and he has only just taken it up.

[tumbletumble]

YANBU about the camping trip - after moaning for a bit he should be able to accept it and get on with enjoying the holiday.

I think YABU to make him do other outdoor activities when he would rather play football, purely for the principle of broadening his range of interests.

I have a 7yo football obsessed DS1 btw! And DH says when he was that age he would rather play football than do anything else, but he has turned into a well rounded adult! He still supports a football team and goes to a few games, but he doesn't have a season ticket or anything.