I was very much like Dude's DD as a soccer player.
Honestly? Team athletics with scorekeeping are just not my thing, mostly. I can play a defensive position very well, but basketball, softball, and volleyball were not my thing. I didn't like the spotlight, and more than that, I didn't like the pressure to "score" points by defeating another player.
I guess part of this is a philosophical thing-- I didn't mind the physicality of some sports, but I did mind the existential fact that these are zero-sum, on some level.
Gymnastics, cross-country running, golf, and sailing were much more my cup of tea. Cooperative teamwork, yes-- but individual performance was respected without interference.
I guess what I'm saying is that while at 8yo, you might just be looking at a quirk of the developmental arc, (4-H, for example, won't PERMIT children of this age to engage in "competitive" projects at all, because they feel that it isn't entirely developmentally appropriate), it's also possible that this is simply an explanation that comes close to his inner framework, and how he feels about this particular type of competition.
I was this way from very early childhood-- and I never really grew out of it. I don't like the spotlight, I don't like feeling "no win" with respect to making SOMEONE unhappy no matter what I do (my teammates or the other team's defenders... hmmm?) and I really prefer activities where the level of the performance/play is the main point of it all. Let's ALL do extraordinary things, and the one who does the MOST extraordinary ones of all gets the big trophy, KWIM?
