Choosing a high school

[Anonymous]

And if you are a parent of kid who is as good or better as the kid playing but receives $$, recognize your kid will not be on the field or court.

Are you saying the kid getting money is preferred to play, or the kid paying full tuition is preferred to play?

[Anonymous]

On another thread, there's a discussion that Potomac is building a $70 million gym. Athletics don't bring in money? Huh. How much did Kevin Plank give to SJC? How much is he giving to his daughter's school (also for sports)? Many kids want to attend a school that is competitive athletically - it's fun to follow the team and go to the games - and as kids are discussing where to apply, that is absolutely part of the decision. My kid wants to play for a school that has a chance to win a conference and/or state championship and that's also reflected in the schools we visit. I don't think strong academics and athletics are mutually exclusive.

But, I realize it's difficult for a kid who works hard and thinks they'll finally get playing time as a Junior, to sit the bench to recruited athletes, coaches' favorites and the kids of major donors. Unfortunately, that's life, and the same thing happens in the workplace and the military (my dad got 2 promotions because he played golf with the right brass). So I agree those schools that are less competitive should continue to form their own leagues and let the stronger schools compete because some of these games just aren't fun to watch and they're no fun for any of the kids playing.

[Anonymous]

If athletics brings in money to build athletic facilities, well yay, at least they are not draining money, but it does seem like a self-licking ice cream cone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On another thread, there's a discussion that Potomac is building a $70 million gym. Athletics don't bring in money? Huh. How much did Kevin Plank give to SJC? How much is he giving to his daughter's school (also for sports)? Many kids want to attend a school that is competitive athletically - it's fun to follow the team and go to the games - and as kids are discussing where to apply, that is absolutely part of the decision. My kid wants to play for a school that has a chance to win a conference and/or state championship and that's also reflected in the schools we visit. I don't think strong academics and athletics are mutually exclusive.

But, I realize it's difficult for a kid who works hard and thinks they'll finally get playing time as a Junior, to sit the bench to recruited athletes, coaches' favorites and the kids of major donors. Unfortunately, that's life, and the same thing happens in the workplace and the military (my dad got 2 promotions because he played golf with the right brass). So I agree those schools that are less competitive should continue to form their own leagues and let the stronger schools compete because some of these games just aren't fun to watch and they're no fun for any of the kids playing.

That's a great point about Plank and about Poggi up in Baltimore too but this is being done through one benefactor and their benevolence drives the system out of whack. GP built a terriffic facility and it nearly bankrupted the school. They struggle like crazy to rent the school out because the money it costs to maintain is enormous.

I hear the "that's life" argument all the time and it's great if you are on the right side of it but sucks when you are not. I hope your dad got those promotions because he was good at his job too and not just because he knew who to suck up to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On another thread, there's a discussion that Potomac is building a $70 million gym. Athletics don't bring in money? Huh. How much did Kevin Plank give to SJC? How much is he giving to his daughter's school (also for sports)? Many kids want to attend a school that is competitive athletically - it's fun to follow the team and go to the games - and as kids are discussing where to apply, that is absolutely part of the decision. My kid wants to play for a school that has a chance to win a conference and/or state championship and that's also reflected in the schools we visit. I don't think strong academics and athletics are mutually exclusive.

But, I realize it's difficult for a kid who works hard and thinks they'll finally get playing time as a Junior, to sit the bench to recruited athletes, coaches' favorites and the kids of major donors. Unfortunately, that's life, and the same thing happens in the workplace and the military (my dad got 2 promotions because he played golf with the right brass). So I agree those schools that are less competitive should continue to form their own leagues and let the stronger schools compete because some of these games just aren't fun to watch and they're no fun for any of the kids playing.

That's a great point about Plank and about Poggi up in Baltimore too but this is being done through one benefactor and their benevolence drives the system out of whack. GP built a terriffic facility and it nearly bankrupted the school. They struggle like crazy to rent the school out because the money it costs to maintain is enormous.

I hear the "that's life" argument all the time and it's great if you are on the right side of it but sucks when you are not. I hope your dad got those promotions because he was good at his job too and not just because he knew who to suck up to.

DP here with a reality check. This certainly IS part of being good at a job and if you don't realize, PP, it then you will always be left pulling the short stick wondering why you aren't doing as well as everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not call what many of the schools do, "recruiting". I know many strong lacrosse players who visited schools and asked to meet with the lacrosse coaches. If those coaches like the kid, they encourage the kid to apply and attend. I do not call that recruiting, which I have always thought of more like a coach goes out and actively tries to find players. I am not aware of any staffs that are organized and do that.

You are kidding right? That is the very definition of recruiting. From the NCAA: The NCAA defines recruiting as “any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.”

How do you think the kid from STAB got to Bullis lacrosse tuition free and then transferred right back? or the current QB from SJC? or the prior QB? or the one before that? Schools can claim all they want their financial aid isn't merit, read athletic, based but it is a sham and disgraceful. Just say you do it and move on. The WCAC has already separated their divisions and Bullis should join them and maybe Landon's football team too.

Go hang out during the fall lacrosse tournaments and see how many windbreakers are being worn by coaches from in and around the DC area. Then check out the conversations taking place after the game. It sure looks and sounds like recruiting to me when the coach asks the kid if he's considered applying to his school.

What the OP described is nothing different than the admission department touring the kid and trying to impress him enough to come to the school. Not sure why the poster who responded went off. I have kids playing in college. I never saw high school coaches at fall games. Saw plenty of college coaches at fall games, though.