Sports, summer, and practice before school starts

[Anonymous]

So my kid wants to run x country next year (9th grade), but we aren't coming back from my country until Aug 22 or so - usually I don't like traveling this late before school starts but we have a family wedding. She keeps saying this is going to look terrible and impact her chances for making varsity (she's decent). Did I totally screw up ? Tix were bought 6 months ago. I don't really understand high school sports (ie the schedule).

[Anonymous]

Tryouts do start a week or so before this, so it will likely impact her success in making varsity. Perhaps reach out to the coach this spring to express your concern to see if there is any way to have her try out early.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, if she's a rising 9th grader it won't make a difference.

If she has similar times to other faster runners the coaches tend to favor the upper class students for varsity as they should. So you aren't doing any harm by not going to the earlier practices or tryouts. If she were a junior or senior it might make a difference to show commitment and effort but not at her age.

If she's a whole lot faster than every other runner her showing up to tryouts and practices late because of travel should not impact her varsity chances at all.

Every year some kids switch from other fall sports to cross country at around that time so her showing up on Aug. 23 won't look strange at all.

[Anonymous]

Isn't cross country no cut? If so, and if she reaches out EARLY to the coach (spring, early summer) to explain and ask how she can still be considered, that might help.

If she just shows up the 23rd unlikely they'll accommodate her.