Need help motivating my 13 yr old son.

Is he in good shape? OR is he owerweight? I am 14 years old for my self. So i think I might can help you with this...

He is not overweight at all!  We just started going to the gym together!

Are there any cute girls at the club you play at? At some point in the near future those little hotties will be more attractive to him than ANY video game. Don't pressure him or he will rebel and quit.

Thanks Tommy.  I probably have been pressuring him too much.  Unfortunately, the cutest thing we have at our club is a 62 year old Russian woman.  She's very nice but not his type. 

My son is 9y. He is going with me twice a week to play. Again Sheldon like your son, he is bored and he go running arround the building. I will sometimes put new rubbers for him (I have 3 set ups for him and always tell him it is new better speed and spin, he is into that). No pushing, let him do his stuff. He'll come arround.

The best thing to have like around when you are playing table tennis is many at same level, and many at same age, or best of all, many at same age and same level. Give him a couple of days off, and try to talk to him, give him inspiration. You can for example give him an offer. IF you train alot, I�ll send you to a big tournament.

I agree with you.  Making an "if you do this you get that" deal is not the way to go.  One of his complaints is that playing me is too boring.  When we play he usually beats me but very close like 11-9 in the fifth game. 

Bear in mind that at that age, we parent can only say/do so much, any th'n more sometimes can be "unhelpful" n could have negative effect..also at that age they have to deal w/lots of things from their perspectives, like growing up, frenz...etc..etc..Life is more complicated these days compares to our older days....

jt99sf wrote: IMHO, you can stop buying him these game systems. Just my 2 cents. JL

Be careful . . . I'm not saying you should buy him these games, but if you forbid him and try to force him to practice his ping pong you will be taking a BIG step towards alienating yourself from him and ruining his playing for a long, long time. Look, I'm not saying I have the best advice, but I will say this . . . I am a licensed professional counselor (when not playing ping pong or pimping gear on here), specializing in adolescents treatment. Here's what I would say,
"Son, I love you. I'm proud of you. Everything you do, you do well. I would never force you to do what I like or forbid you from doing anything you like, but as your father I need to tell you something I feel is important. You are gifted and could a GREAT ping pong player, and I'm not just saying this because you're my son. You are young and have talent. If you find it in yourself to keep the passion . . . the love for the game alive, you will be SO glad you did. Think about what it would take to keep playing fun and challenging. I will respect your decision, no matter what it is, but it's real special that we share this special sport together and I'm hoping we can keep sharing it . . . and I get to watch you SPANK the living daylights out of higher and higer level players along the way. I won't be here forever, and some day I hope you will look back and think it how special it was that we played and learned and shared this game. I love you and if it's not in your heart to do this anymore, get me a freakin' joystick or whatever they call it nowadays and teach me to play PS3."

Well, you can laugh if you want, but be REAL. Don't play any of those ridiculous power-struggle parenting games that will ultimately lead to hurting your relationship for years.

This is my 3 freakin' cents!

jt99sf wrote: "Loves his Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii and his PC.  "   IMHO, you can stop buying him these game systems. Just my 2 cents.   JL

to b honest, there was a 12-13 yr old kid here who played his Nintendo DS or whatever right in front of my n his parent'S faceS one morning @ ta club during a tourney not too long ago...after his focused games he went onto the table n beat the crap outta some older opponent, n came back by his parent to play his game somemore wif his group of frenz. He is good n he loves those gadgets too..wonder how his parent do it..should track them down n seeK advice..the key thing here I believe is BALANCE. Expose him to goods n also evils but be there when they need u.

how about LONG PIPS.  The sheer wackiness might entertain him, and you could tell him about choppers.  Running around like a wild man (while still techinically playing tt) > pushing

skatz wrote: Hi Everyone,   My son is 13.  We both started playing in 2003.  He is rated 1460 and I believe with a little work he could easily be 1700.  Lately, he says he is kind of over table tennis.  Says he finds it boring.  Loves his Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii and his PC.        Any help or encouragement will be appreciated!

le xex wrote: did he loose alot, especially in matches against his peers? thats can always be a bummer...

I would stop buying videogames for him, limit his time with videogames.

when you are 13yr old you dont know what you want in your life so you go about trying new things, just keep an open window for tt.