How do private HSs cultivate stellar athletes?

[Anonymous]

During k-8, do the privates have strong sports or do the kids just participate in community league/travel sports programs?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this question. I think almost all private schools field a variety of sports teams in middle school and 7-8th grade. Whether those teams are strong or not probably depends on the particular sport, the school, and the year.

[Anonymous]

I have a 4 year old, so I'm just asking a simple question, I think. From your answer, I'm getting that the kids plays rec/travel sports and in middle school may start playing for a school team?

[Anonymous]

The only sport private schools seem to be better at than public schools would be lacrosse-boys and some public schools are getting some really good players.

I would put the top public football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), and field hockey, girls lacrosse over the privates any day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 year old, so I'm just asking a simple question, I think. From your answer, I'm getting that the kids plays rec/travel sports and in middle school may start playing for a school team?

ah, one of those parents-your kid shows a bit of talent and you are already getting them ready

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only sport private schools seem to be better at than public schools would be lacrosse-boys and some public schools are getting some really good players.

I would put the top public football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), and field hockey, girls lacrosse over the privates any day

Private and parochial basketball is quite good. Football varies and public lax is school dependent. In private middle school many play in-school and out for their main sport. Mine did 2 outside sports as did many others.

[Anonymous]

here's my take on it:

private high schools that want stellar athletics achieve it in a few ways:
* great coaches
* fantastic facilities
* if they are a k-12 school, have strong PE classes that keep kids fit and introduce all relevant sports and skills
* recruit athletes from other schools (9th grade is usually an entrance year for a large chunk of kids)

I'm guessing that the stars of a given sport play in clubs as well as for their school.

But I have a kindergartner who is not exactly a jock, so this is just an educated guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 year old, so I'm just asking a simple question, I think. From your answer, I'm getting that the kids plays rec/travel sports and in middle school may start playing for a school team?

ah, one of those parents-your kid shows a bit of talent and you are already getting them ready

No, he's not very athletic. I was more trying to gauge how big of a role, if any, sports plays during the private school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:here's my take on it:

private high schools that want stellar athletics achieve it in a few ways:
* great coaches
* fantastic facilities
* if they are a k-12 school, have strong PE classes that keep kids fit and introduce all relevant sports and skills
* recruit athletes from other schools (9th grade is usually an entrance year for a large chunk of kids)

I'm guessing that the stars of a given sport play in clubs as well as for their school.

But I have a kindergartner who is not exactly a jock, so this is just an educated guess.

Thanks, this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 year old, so I'm just asking a simple question, I think. From your answer, I'm getting that the kids plays rec/travel sports and in middle school may start playing for a school team?

I'm not trying to be difficult, but I still don't know what you mean by "During k-8, do the privates have strong sports?" I think for most schools it's basically the same system that it was when we (or at least I) grew up. From K-6, all students are exposed to a wide variety of sports at school, and in 7th & 8th grades, the schools start fielding try-out teams that compete against other schools. Throughout this time, many kids with a particular interest in a sport (soccer for instance) will sign up with non-school leagues, often with their friends from school, although these teams aren't officially sponsored by the schools. Whether any of those sports programs are strong or not really depends on the sport and the school.

I don't think you will find many schools that are fielding intermural sports teams that your 4yo son will join anytime soon.

HTH.

[Anonymous]

13:49 and 13:55 help answer my inartfully-asked question.

[Anonymous]

Private HS's cultivate stellare athletes by providing scholarships and by helping their students get into good colleges. A great athlete with a B average is going to get into a better college than a B average student without athletics.

If publics would have magnet schools for sports they could pull all the good athletes together and dominate but they can't really do that - though I hear Springbrook (I think that is the school) is part of a consortium and all the Basketball players go their. Their program is fantastic.

Damascus not only has great sports but a great sports atmosphere - they fill the stands and the community supports them.

In our specific Catholic parish school the emphasis was for all inclusive K-4. Tryouts started in 5-8th. I would not say it was a competitive situation but a bit more so than rec.

There are so many leagues it is dizzying.

I find that most kids play in other leagues regardless if they play for their school team or not.

My opinion is to let your kid play as many sports (rec) as he/she can before middle school for the exposure and to find out their interest. Then when you start to lean towards one sport then start asking on this board about specific leagues.

Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Hockey, wrestling, field hockey, basketball, etc.

You can see what is happening in the area of sports with this web page. http://www.thesportsfannetwork.com/ (Private and public)

I think Gonzaga won the championship in every sport last year. They are nationally ranked (#2 I think) in Rugby.
Good Counsel had more than a handful of girls get college scholarships in LAX.
The Washington Jesuit Classics (Lacrosse, Rugby and Football) are just fun events to see these schools compete and raise money for an all boys school in DC.
Damatha has many kids go on to be pros.

Mater Dei has their boys play sports every day as gym and those kids go to Gonzaga and Prep alot. There are many boys schools that have sports every day in middle school as their gym class.

[Anonymous]

Usually if you want to play varsity sports at a school that is competitive in a sport you also need to be on a high level club team. It depends a lot on the school though. The catholic schools are much more competitive and sports oriented than say a Field or Burke where anyone can probably play any sport regardless of prior experience. Schools in between, like Maret, GDS etc will have some sports they are very good at, and others where there is a shortage of players (e.g., this year Maret did not have enough girls to field a JV lacrosse team).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only sport private schools seem to be better at than public schools would be lacrosse-boys and some public schools are getting some really good players.

I would put the top public football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), and field hockey, girls lacrosse over the privates any day

Really? If you meant to say this, I am not sure you really know the DMV high school sports scene - especially for football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse. For example, the Washington Catholic League (WCAC) is one of the top sports leagues in the country. Most of the kids at these schools also play on top club teams as well. The members include Good Counsel, DeMatha, Holy Cross, St. John's, O'Connell and Gonzaga - all VERY good sports programs. Prep has a strong athletics program as does Bullis, Visitation, Landon, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only sport private schools seem to be better at than public schools would be lacrosse-boys and some public schools are getting some really good players.

I would put the top public football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), and field hockey, girls lacrosse over the privates any day

Really? If you meant to say this, I am not sure you really know the DMV high school sports scene - especially for football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse. For example, the Washington Catholic League (WCAC) is one of the top sports leagues in the country. Most of the kids at these schools also play on top club teams as well. The members include Good Counsel, DeMatha, Holy Cross, St. John's, O'Connell and Gonzaga - all VERY good sports programs. Prep has a strong athletics program as does Bullis, Visitation, Landon, etc.

I agree...especially since all the schools in the WCAC recruit at the club level. My DD played national level club soccer and every school on the list (except the boys' schools of course) was very active in recruiting players on her team.