Should I bribe son?

Question

My son plays basketball and he is not bad by all means just a little lazy and I think he feels he isnt as good as the other players. I thought about paying him for baskets made, rebounds, steals etc.. Is this wrong? I know he can do it maybe he just needs an incentive.

Answer 1

dang i wish my mom did that ill be rich

Answer 2

No, do not pay your son bc he will be playing for the wrong reasons! First, you need to make sure that bball is what your son is truly interested in and not just something that he does for you. If he loves the game then he will be willing to make sacrifices for the game...Your son needs to find his game. When I was in 8th grade I barely made the team and in 9th grade I started for the Varsity. I found my game during the summer. In 8th grade I noticed that I had better ball handling skills then all the girls on the team but the coach didnt notice bc I wasnt significantly better at dribbling. So, over the summer everyday I dribbled the ball in my driveway around cones and practiced every dribbling skill in the book. I started the 9th grade Varsity team as the point guard bc that was a skill that i had that the other girls did not. I wasnt a great shooter, I rarely got rebounds, and I played average defense. However, I did help keep turnovers down and bring the ball up against the press. I eventually became a scorer bc I found a way to use my dribbling skills to go to the basket.

Your son doesnt have to be good at it all. Perhaps it would help if he concentrated on one or two thing and got really good at them. Like if he is tall coaches always want good rebounders (Dennis Rodman rarely scored but got like 20 rebounds a game) and defensive players. If he is small then shooting and dribbling would probably be best.

Best wishes !!!!!

Answer 3

I don't see that as a good incentive; especially if he is not capable of performing well it might even be demoralizing.

If you *do* insist on financial motivation, reward him for practicing. And maybe you can add to the reward if he improves. For example, on day one he makes 10 baskets out of 100 tries. On day 30 (after a month of practicing) he makes 25 of 100, then that is an improvement. Slip him a 10-spot, if you're still inclined. He'll probably not take it, because the obvious improvement is its own reward.

And why don't you practice a few days with him? Then you have some together time. That's your reward.

Good luck to both of you.

Answer 4

funny you ask this question, my daughters grandparents have paid her for baskets made in basketball games. I don't know if it gave her any incentive to be better.....she was always pretty decent. But they got excited for her and she got excited everytime she made a basket because there was money coming. I don't think she tried to take more shots than before with a money incentive because there has been numerous times she could have tried for the shot and possible made it but passed it off instead. You need to hype up when he is doing well and that will stroke his ego to do even better.

Answer 5

i am not sure... then he will play for the wrong reason, maybe he does not like bball? ask him if would like to do something else like tennis or soccer, it can even be something that is not a sport like an instrument or another language. you can also ask if maybe he wants to mow lawns or walk dogs for your neighbors.or you can get him a private bball tutor to help him with his basketball. inspire him and if he does good at a game
(i am sure he does do good) then give him a treat or a gift but dont pay him. if he really wants to play basketball then he will work hard for the fun of it not for money. ask him if basketball is really what he wants to do. maybe go to a game from a collage or pro team and try to have him meet a player.
ask him what will help him like it more or if he wants to do another thing other than basketball. i hope all goes well no matter what you do.

Answer 6

In the best of all worlds, he would be self-motivated and the idea of destroying another player's self-esteem by stealing the ball and then driving the length of the court to slam-dunk it against another humiliated defender should be enough.

That being said, some children aren't motivated by such desires, so paying him directly for baskets made, etc, might help you capture your vicarious thrill of having people stroke your ego about how wonderful your SON is.

Answer 7

Let him do things at his own pace never bribe as it might work first or second time after that he could use the bribe to get other things he may want. In time he will get better but if not so what i am sure he is good at other things so plenty of praise at what he is good at but no bribes that is asking for trouble in the future.

Answer 8

I think that would be a bad idea. It would just teach your child that they are going to be lazy unless they get something for it. By paying him money isn't going to make him a better player either. If he has talent he will do well if he is not that good and a bit of a slacker you can't change that.

Answer 9

your best incentive is to be at as many games as possible paying him to play is like paying him to live he will be looking for that try this when he plays go od or/and win do something with his hold team anything be creative make home made pizzes icecream sode bake a cake for the team tell him he plays good get into his head to motivate his spirit that is the lasting factor happy parenting

Answer 10

I would not recommend that. For then he may only do things if you pay him. And grow up thinking money is more important than even love. Try to encourage him. If he dose do what you ask, with out a bribe (sometimes) you can offer a family enjoyment, like a meal out, saying because you are proud of him,...

Answer 11

Is he lazy because he doesn't enjoy playing? If so, there is not much you can do. If not, than you can reward him by taking him out after a game where he scores so many points. I don't know about paying him, but reward him with some quality time together. Then maybe you can shoot hoops with each other.