We've all heard the stories, dads charging out of the stands to duke it out center ice at a kids' hockey game. I've certainly seen plenty of nutty sideline behavior. Overall, parents don't seem to have a very good sense of when it's time for sports to be taken seriously and when it's just for fun.

So where would you draw the line, if ever?

When should kids be expected to be focused, to push themselves a bit, to care about winning and losing -- to seriously compete?

Not until High School?

Certainly the rise of club sports has pushed the age lower and lower, with kids now typically entering tryout-based teams with professional coaches by age 10 or 11.

Does that seem like the appropriate age to "get serious?"

Fathers/parents should start taking sports serious when the kid decides he/she wants to take them serious.

Men often want to project what they used to or wished to be on their children, in this case, sports.

They often take sports too serious too early, even when the boy doesnt really like that sport.

I've pushed my nephew to great limits on the soccer, basball and football fields at an early age with out ever considering if he even likes the dang sport.

Boys will naturally give it their absolute very best when they are cheered for or even threatened by their loved ones.

This causes them to do well on the fields, creating a worldview that this kid loves the game, making us take it too seriously.

One day he/she will just not want to go or stop performing as well in the sports they lose interest in. I've observed kids making a sound adult decision around the 7th grade.

No matter when that decision is made, a true adult conversation needs to be had with the kid and a genuine understanding should be made before either of you begin to continue to take the sport serious.

We've taken the "try whatever they're interested in" approach. One season its soccer, the next its rock climbing, etc.
We give the kids a list of activities but ultimately they decide.
I don't take any of it seriously at this point. My oldest is 7. Have fun, there's plenty of time to be serious.

Generally kids get serious about sports when they choose sport activity as per their interest. Certain kids club (Boys & Girls Club of Central Texas) can also help kids in nurturing their interest in sports activities.