How do I help my 9 year old get started?

[hmcstar2]

My 9 year old son has been collecting cards for some time now and dueling with friends off and on. He is now expressing an intrest in dueling outside his realm of friends. How does he get started and how do we find places he can duel in Tampa Florida?

[DonZaloog1227]

Find a store on the konami website near you and go there. Don't let him trade with the other players until he knows the value of his cards because they will rip him off of all his valueble stuff. Or you could consult the store owner before trading to make sure it is a fair trade.

[buffalobob]

Originally Posted by hmcstar2

My 9 year old son has been collecting cards for some time now and dueling with friends off and on. He is now expressing an intrest in dueling outside his realm of friends. How does he get started and how do we find places he can duel in Tampa Florida?

Hi.

I run the local tournament at Heroes' Haven. He have a weekly tournament for new or less experience. Click on the link that says

Heroes' Haven - Yugioh and Naruto.

That will take you our store thread. The address is 14743 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, Fl. 33618 ph 813 269 8859

When you come into the store ask for either Bob or Bubba.

[WhatsUpDoc]

Helpful hints:
* The newer starter decks that the local Wal-Mart or Target sell for about $10 are pretty good for a beginner. He can supplement some of his better cards into the deck to make it more competitive.

* When my son was 9, I checked the value of all his cards on eBay. He and I created two binders of cards. One binder for cards with values over $5, and one binder for all the rest. If he wanted to trade a card from the expensive binder, he would have to ask the store owner, (or me, seeing as how I had researched the prices), if he was making a good trade. After about a year he got the hang of it and now handles both binders and has become a pretty shrewd trader.

* If he is looking to acquire a specific card that no one has to trade, it is a lot cheaper to buy it from a reputable eBay seller, (someone with 99.5% or better rating) than to keep buying booster packs at $4 a pop.

* That last bit of advice is for you. I got tired of driving my son to the Saturday tournaments, just sitting there for 2-3 hours reading my newspaper or a book, so I started to play. I created my own deck and now we both are pretty good players. We play at the local tournaments. We also travel to some of the regional tournaments and have even been to the National tournament in Columbus, Ohio where my son finished 50th in the nation this past Summer. We have had a lot of fun with this and has been a good bonding experience. Good Luck.

[kansashoops]

Originally Posted by WhatsUpDoc

* That last bit of advice is for you. I got tired of driving my son to the Saturday tournaments, just sitting there for 2-3 hours reading my newspaper or a book, so I started to play. I created my own deck and now we both are pretty good players. We play at the local tournaments. We also travel to some of the regional tournaments and have even been to the National tournament in Columbus, Ohio where my son finished 50th in the nation this past Summer. We have had a lot of fun with this and has been a good bonding experience. Good Luck.

When my son was about that age, he asked if he could teach me to play, because none of his friends who played lived nearby. I reluctantly agreed, and soon I was hooked. We started playing in local tournaments about five years ago, and we are still playing. At an age when most boys wouldn't be caught dead with their parents, my son and I have a great time playing card games together, and it is helping us get through the painful teen years. I can't tell you how many kids have come up to me and said how much they envy my son and wish their own dads would play with them. Many of these kids have been in their late teens and early twenties, and have no relationship with their father whatsoever. But they wish they did.

Even if you don't end up playing in tournaments with him, I strongly suggest you learn how to play the game and play at home with him whenever you can. I think you'll be richly rewarded for your time and effort.

[DonZaloog1227]

Originally Posted by kansashoops

When my son was about that age, he asked if he could teach me to play, because none of his friends who played lived nearby. I reluctantly agreed, and soon I was hooked. We started playing in local tournaments about five years ago, and we are still playing. At an age when most boys wouldn't be caught dead with their parents, my son and I have a great time playing card games together, and it is helping us get through the painful teen years. I can't tell you how many kids have come up to me and said how much they envy my son and wish their own dads would play with them. Many of these kids have been in their late teens and early twenties, and have no relationship with their father whatsoever. But they wish they did.

Even if you don't end up playing in tournaments with him, I strongly suggest you learn how to play the game and play at home with him whenever you can. I think you'll be richly rewarded for your time and effort.

Now if only my dad would give it a shot again.

[food9279]

take him to a sneak preview or locals

[buffalobob]

Originally Posted by DonZaloog1227

Now if only my dad would give it a shot again.

My son and I play Yugioh. We've been playing for over 5 years now. We play at the locals and regionals. At one point my daugther (1st college) played alot. Now back from college on summer break she rebuilt her deck. And my wife of our kids even played here at the house in tag team. Great family time.

Beside Yugioh, we also play Naruto, Magic, Dual Monstors....

Now after 5 years of playing, I now judge YUGIOH and Naruto at the local store here in Tampa.

Stop by if you are in the area. Ask for Bob or Bubba.

[Fiend_king]

I Started collecting Pokemon when my Son was 2 had a HUGE collection i gave it to him a year ago he will be turning 8 this year and i started teaching him yu gi oh about 5 months ago he has cuaght on pretty quick i built him a zombie deck i figured he could jump right into learning game play with effects and stuff instead of just building him a beat down.
He likes playing with my dragon deck and my Counter fairy decks the most though. That is until i showed him how fast the Zombies can swarm the field.
I hope to have him ready for locals hopefully by september. THe best thing you can do for you son is to learn the game and play with him.
My boy already can read the cards that i have set on the field. He know when i have a mirror force down or when i am holding honest or even gorz we have alot of fun.

[buffalobob]

Originally Posted by Fiend_king

I Started collecting Pokemon when my Son was 2 had a HUGE collection i gave it to him a year ago he will be turning 8 this year and i started teaching him yu gi oh about 5 months ago he has cuaght on pretty quick i built him a zombie deck i figured he could jump right into learning game play with effects and stuff instead of just building him a beat down.
He likes playing with my dragon deck and my Counter fairy decks the most though. That is until i showed him how fast the Zombies can swarm the field.
I hope to have him ready for locals hopefully by september. THe best thing you can do for you son is to learn the game and play with him.
My boy already can read the cards that i have set on the field. He know when i have a mirror force down or when i am holding honest or even gorz we have alot of fun.

If you live in Tampa, bring your son over to Heroes' Haven to just watch and get a feel for local play. We do hold a jr. tournament for new players of all ages. It's cost $5.00 and everyone usally gets at least one pack. Myself and another experience player watch to make sure moves are being done correctly and to also teach other finer points of the game.

bob

[Fiend_king]

unfortunately i am not i am up in Illinois