What options do high school kids have if they aren't good enough to make it onto a high school team?

[Anonymous]

Like there aren't many options if you aren't good enough to play JV. There isn't a rec league for lacrosse or football. Your options are so limited in your teenage years, so basically you are forced out of sports.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

[Anonymous]

At Gonzaga, kid can play on the 4th string rugby team.

[Anonymous]

They can pick up a new sport, like pickleball

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

[Anonymous]

Play a no cut sport like XC or Ultimate or crew or rugby.

[Anonymous]

This applies to both of my high schoolers and plenty of their friends. One of mine switched to a no cut HS sport, and the other takes classes and does competitions in her sport outside of school. So:

- no cut sports: often wrestling, cross country, track etc but depends on the school
-recreational leagues: often hard to find for this age group but depends on the area and specific sport
-travel leagues: in some cases (especially at large competitive high schools) a strong player may not make their HS team yet can still compete on the club/travel level
-individual fitness classes or workouts (CrossFit, other private gym classes etc). Some places have classes geared towards teens.
-individual sports/activities outside of school: martial arts, dance, golf or tennis leagues, pickleball group or league, etc

[Anonymous]

Rock climbing team

[Anonymous]

I love how people throw XC out as a great option for kids who don’t make xyz team. Cross country is hard, and you have to like running 5ks—or at least tolerate it. DS loves sports but would rather put a pencil through his eye before signing on for the XC team. Unfortunately that puts the make the team stakes higher for the fall but it is what it is. Kid needs to chase a ball…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

Robotics and debate are generally more accessible than sports, so I don't see why sports have to be super selective when schools should be about academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

Robotics and debate are generally more accessible than sports, so I don't see why sports have to be super selective when schools should be about academics.

My kid got cut from Science Olympiad as a junior. So some academic ECs are selective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

Robotics and debate are generally more accessible than sports, so I don't see why sports have to be super selective when schools should be about academics.

My kid got cut from Science Olympiad as a junior. So some academic ECs are selective.

Which is insane because colleges expect high school kids to do a bunch of extracurriculars, yet they high school extracurriculars are so hard to get into. And even doing and succeeding in these extracurriculars is generally not enough for top schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

Robotics and debate are generally more accessible than sports, so I don't see why sports have to be super selective when schools should be about academics.

Well, those activities operate a little different.

Robotics typically has a “varsity” team that is actually on the floor driving the robot and allowed into the pit area to make repairs/tweaks between matches, and then there are lots of kids cheering in the stands and doing competitive analysis. The team captain will give those kids things to do during build season, though usually targeted small jobs.

This would be the equivalent of a coach saying everyone can come to practice, but only X kids can actually suit up for the game and the rest of the team should be watching film and providing statistical analysis and cheering.

Not sure how many kids would be happy with “making the team” but only ever serving in those support roles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but it’s not hard to find other activities for your child to participate in!

I just don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activites

I don't understand your comment at all. What do you mean "I don't understand why sports have to be more selective than other activities"? Sports are literally "competitive" by nature, and there are only so many teams and spots on teams for the most popular sports. What part of needing to choose who is on teams surprises you or feels bizarre given the competitive nature of sports?

Robotics and debate are generally more accessible than sports, so I don't see why sports have to be super selective when schools should be about academics.

Well, those activities operate a little different.

Robotics typically has a “varsity” team that is actually on the floor driving the robot and allowed into the pit area to make repairs/tweaks between matches, and then there are lots of kids cheering in the stands and doing competitive analysis. The team captain will give those kids things to do during build season, though usually targeted small jobs.

This would be the equivalent of a coach saying everyone can come to practice, but only X kids can actually suit up for the game and the rest of the team should be watching film and providing statistical analysis and cheering.

Not sure how many kids would be happy with “making the team” but only ever serving in those support roles.

Then what extracurriculars in high school are accessible for all students?