Shift in sports rigor from MS to HS

[Anonymous]

DC did XC and track in MS and really enjoyed it. We looked at XC for the fall in HS but DC was kind of turned off by the practice schedule - every weekday for 2 hours and 2 hours Saturday morning in August when it could potentially be 90+. I stressed that this was HS and that it would be more challenging but I’m secretly afraid they will lose interest and drop out. Other sport of interest has a high cut level so DC may end up doing nothing.

Any experience with this transition? I know MS just started with the running sports a couple of years ago so there may not be much but thought I’d try.

[Anonymous]

We are encouraging our rising freshman to give it a chance for the sports that he loves. That he should at least do the initial practices/try outs. Once he knows whether he made the team he can make a more informed decision about whether he wants to continue (though my guess is that if he does make the team, he will be excited and want to continue.)

[Anonymous]

We held firm and insisted DS go to tryouts. We ‘pushed’ the social aspect of the Team. It ended up being really good for him socially…Maybe you can use that argument as well. Track is a fall sport so he will know kids from all grades by the time school starts.

[Anonymous]

My kid also did MS track/XC and plans to do HS XC. The apprehension at our house is about practice 5x a week on top of a club sport.

Sharing in case it's helpful that kid has already talked to HS coach, who said that daily attendance is still expected, but that practices would be modified (strength, stretching instead of running) on days with another sport practice.

Also fwiw, summer practices/tryouts likely to be early morning, 7am-ish (which may be a problem for different reasons, though perhaps less hot).

[Anonymous]

My kid will be a freshman this fall. He's nervous about the transition from MS to HS cross country and track, but will be at a new, much bigger school with all new kids so like a PP we're pushing the social aspect. He's very shy but a good athlete and natural team player/leader, so my hope is that it will be a big help in making new friends. It will definitely be more rigorous, but he's going to run lightly and keep up with workouts through summer to stay in shape so it won't be so jarring when fall arrives.