So frustrated- MCPS Sports

[Anonymous]

My DD’s coaches are over the top. They scream about everything and make the team a miserable experience. But my DD smiles and goes on.

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah- one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. We observe and celebrate with our family in Baltimore. When my DD explained to them that she needed to leave practice an hour early, they said it was okay, but that “there would have to be consequences.” She has to Zelig out a game! For a religious holiday!

When I followed up they said that she can observe the holiday but that it doesn’t start until sunset and that she could practice until then.

She’s taking the consequence and sitting out a game, but I furious! What would you all do?

[Anonymous]

I would take that to the athletic director and school admin. That's ridiculous. My DD's team cancelled practice this afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s coaches are over the top. They scream about everything and make the team a miserable experience. But my DD smiles and goes on.

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah- one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. We observe and celebrate with our family in Baltimore. When my DD explained to them that she needed to leave practice an hour early, they said it was okay, but that “there would have to be consequences.” She has to Zelig out a game! For a religious holiday!

When I followed up they said that she can observe the holiday but that it doesn’t start until sunset and that she could practice until then.

She’s taking the consequence and sitting out a game, but I furious! What would you all do?

Religious persecution

Your daughter should sit the game out on the sidelines holding a large FORGIVE sign and the principal and mayor can use her on Twitter.

[Anonymous]

Did you explain that it may literally start at sundown but that means you have to have eaten dinner, dressed up, and gotten to shul, all of which take time?

If sitting out affects her eligibility for anything I’d take it further. Likewise if she’ll be playing on the team in future years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s coaches are over the top. They scream about everything and make the team a miserable experience. But my DD smiles and goes on.

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah- one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. We observe and celebrate with our family in Baltimore. When my DD explained to them that she needed to leave practice an hour early, they said it was okay, but that “there would have to be consequences.” She has to Zelig out a game! For a religious holiday!

When I followed up they said that she can observe the holiday but that it doesn’t start until sunset and that she could practice until then.

She’s taking the consequence and sitting out a game, but I furious! What would you all do?

What the coach said was completely unacceptable and threatening consequences for celebrating one of the most important holidays is over the top unacceptable. Not only should you write an email to the athletic Director, but escalate it to the principal while you’re at it. Asap.

[Anonymous]

Seems reasonable to me. Go to practice, change right before you need to leave, and go. Hockey on Christmas Eve is pretty common. Football on Thanksgiving a given. Everyone makes choices. You are choosing to our Holiday but the world doesn't stop. I have kids going right from services to rehearsal on Saturday. It's fine.

I am also wondering if you declared your conflict at the last minute. This is a way coaches teach communication, organization, and accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s coaches are over the top. They scream about everything and make the team a miserable experience. But my DD smiles and goes on.

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah- one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. We observe and celebrate with our family in Baltimore. When my DD explained to them that she needed to leave practice an hour early, they said it was okay, but that “there would have to be consequences.” She has to Zelig out a game! For a religious holiday!

When I followed up they said that she can observe the holiday but that it doesn’t start until sunset and that she could practice until then.

She’s taking the consequence and sitting out a game, but I furious! What would you all do?

Nobody says your kid has to play sports. If they aren't down with it, just quit.

[Anonymous]

Pack your bag, go to practice, change, eat on the fly. You can do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems reasonable to me. Go to practice, change right before you need to leave, and go. Hockey on Christmas Eve is pretty common. Football on Thanksgiving a given. Everyone makes choices. You are choosing to our Holiday but the world doesn't stop. I have kids going right from services to rehearsal on Saturday. It's fine.

I am also wondering if you declared your conflict at the last minute. This is a way coaches teach communication, organization, and accountability.

What ? OP this is crap advice from an anti semite .

No OP you go directly to the athletic director and tell them to get those coaches in order now.

This is unacceptable period.

Signed mother of Four division one sports players Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems reasonable to me. Go to practice, change right before you need to leave, and go. Hockey on Christmas Eve is pretty common. Football on Thanksgiving a given. Everyone makes choices. You are choosing to our Holiday but the world doesn't stop. I have kids going right from services to rehearsal on Saturday. It's fine.

I am also wondering if you declared your conflict at the last minute. This is a way coaches teach communication, organization, and accountability.

What ? OP this is crap advice from an anti semite .

No OP you go directly to the athletic director and tell them to get those coaches in order now.

This is unacceptable period.

Signed mother of Four division one sports players Jewish.

A Jewish anti-srmite? Nope. I've worked it out for my family and others can too. You just can't expect the world to mold to our schedule. We work with it and problem solve.

[Anonymous]

OP here: I requested 1 hour early, not to miss completely. She gave them a week’s notice, but they only came to their decision last night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I requested 1 hour early, not to miss completely. She gave them a week’s notice, but they only came to their decision last night.

OP, I do think you should escalate. Your plan was a reasonable compromise, offered with plenty of notice. She should not be penalized. This is discriminatory. MCPS canceled all the Friday night football games because of Rosh. I can’t imagine they would condone this coach’s retaliation toward your daughter for observing the same religious holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I requested 1 hour early, not to miss completely. She gave them a week’s notice, but they only came to their decision last night.

1 weeks notice isn't near enough. The holiday observation should have been flagged as a conflict day 1.

[Anonymous]

Go to the school Athletic director and if they aren't sympathetic to you, go to the one who overseas Athletics for the county. Most schools cancel late afternoon practices before major religious holidays. Christmas and Rosh Hashana are very different in that the Jewish holidays begin at sundown. A lot of these coaches are on a power trip which is flat out wrong. These aren't professional players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s coaches are over the top. They scream about everything and make the team a miserable experience. But my DD smiles and goes on.

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah- one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. We observe and celebrate with our family in Baltimore. When my DD explained to them that she needed to leave practice an hour early, they said it was okay, but that “there would have to be consequences.” She has to Zelig out a game! For a religious holiday!

When I followed up they said that she can observe the holiday but that it doesn’t start until sunset and that she could practice until then.

She’s taking the consequence and sitting out a game, but I furious! What would you all do?

Have her leave at sunset and schedule your celebrations around the rules like everyone else