However kids feel when they enroll for a season of sports, there may come a time when they want to quit. If your child comes to you with this plea, try to find the reason behind it. It may have to do with something small and fixable, like a bad-fitting uniform, or it may be a bigger issue, like how comfortable your child feels with the coach or the kids on the team. It could also be that your child just doesn't enjoy the sport.

• For preschool kids make it fun! Don't burden them or concern them with competition, keeping score, and rules. Get them running, kicking, throwing, catching ... and laughing. Always offer encouraging words for all their efforts.

• The key for elementary school kids is having your child develop a sense of passion for the sport. Don't make unrealistic expectations concerning your child's sports performance. Many kids lose their passion for youth sports during these years because they feel they can't live up to their parents' and coaches' expectations.

• Kids start dropping out in big numbers at the stage of middle school. Playing sports loses its enjoyment for them and "fun" takes a back seat to winning. The key at this vulnerable stage is to keep them playing the sports they enjoy -- if not on school or youth teams, then informally with friends.

• By the stage of high school, many kids still love to play sports but can't because of their demanding academic, social, and work lives. Parents need to remind these kids of the fun they had playing these games and help them to find time to play them with family members and friends.

Generally, when kids are overscheduled or unhappy, quitting may be the right thing. But it's still important for all kids to be physically active every day, even if they're no longer playing an organized sport.