It’s frustrating high school sports don’t matter for admissions when they are so hard to join here

[Anonymous]

We’re the only country where sports is a big part of the “college experience” and can be tied to college admission for some. Other countries manage to produce top athletes without making it part of the kids’ high school or college experience. I’m not saying that America should be the same way. However it is concerning when families dedicate so much expenses and time away from family life, rest, work to put their kids in youth sports, with the hope they’ll at least make the high school team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re the only country where sports is a big part of the “college experience” and can be tied to college admission for some. Other countries manage to produce top athletes without making it part of the kids’ high school or college experience. I’m not saying that America should be the same way. However it is concerning when families dedicate so much expenses and time away from family life, rest, work to put their kids in youth sports, with the hope they’ll at least make the high school team.

Parenting is about making decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The vast majority of athletes, particularly excluding top level basketball and football, are generally relatively close to the rest of the student body. It is the high profile stories that get the most press.

And I would argue that the skills learned playing a competitive sport will serve many people better in life than most of the other characteristics prioritized by all of the ignorant people who love to hate on sports. Teamwork. People skills. Determination. Dealing with failure. Sense of humor.

I would rather hire an athlete with slightly lower academic qualifications but strong EQ for most jobs than some kid with 18 APs who has never watched TV or been to a sporting event, doesn't have a firm handshake and can't make small talk. I'm sure I will be slammed for this but I don't care.

You forgot domestic violence, rape, animal abuse, drug abuse, and gambling.

There are plenty of non-athletes who do the same thing. Generalizing like that shows how ignorant you are. The stereotype of the person who goes on a shooting rampage is a non-athletic person with no friends.

Sure there are plenty of non-athletes who do the same. But by the same token, there are plenty of non-athletes who have learned “Teamwork. People skills. Determination. Dealing with failure. Sense of humor.” Athletes don’t have any sort of lock or edge on these qualities. So your argument is moot. And you mooted it.

Of course people learn those skills in non-athletic settings. But, it is often commented that athletes do have an edge in those areas compared to the general population. There is a significant body of academic research which backs this up as well.

It’s often commented by people on this thread who want to believe that their precious mediocre athlete is deserving of special treatment.

Let’s see that academic research. Must be easy to find since there’s a significant body of it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think it’s interesting that many of you don’t let your kids play on the HS sports team. My kid would say that was the most fun part of playing their sport once they hit HS. They got to play with their closest friends (not usually on the same teams for travel), for their school where classmates could come cheer them on, working towards a collective goals as representatives of their community. And from playing club soccer they knew a few players on almost every opposing team. It’s a much more fun atmosphere and the season is like 3 months max.

I wish our child played for their high school. It would have made my life so much easier. Our child wanted to compete against the best players and teams. That ruled high school out completely.

My son and many of his HS teammates also played ECNL. Some are now playing in college. He still had way more fun playing for his HS. I know MLSnext doesn’t allow it but ECNL does. I hope your son finds great success off the field! Mine decided that since he wasn’t destined for the pros he’d go to the best school he could and play club in college and he’s having a blast.

Our son started in USSDA which eventually became MLSNext. His high school was a perennial championship contender but they would have lost to his club team 10-0. He was recruited to D1 and has since graduated.

And is he a professional soccer player?

He could have been, but not at a level that made financial sense. He realized it was time to start his career. He had a good run.

Sorry to question you, ma’am. Consider this your gold star and your certificate of validation (which clearly you desperately desire).

That’s the difference between us. There are no college stickers in the back window of my BMW. There weren’t any college athletic sweatshirts in my wardrobe. I never talked about it at gatherings unless directly asked, and even then I downplayed it. The reason I posted it here was to answer a direct question. Several of his teammates over the years went the “pro” route for $65,000-$75,000.

The only question asked of you was whether your kid was pro. Everything else you volunteered on your own and you seemed pretty desperate to do so. Perhaps you should have talked about it with people who actually know you so you didn’t feel the need to post on an anonymous forum.

That was not an honest question. It was meant to delegitimize our son’s sacrifice and effort to pursue his goals. It’s fine. It’s the standard defense mechanism for posters on college forums. Whatever gets you through the day.

You invited the question with your smug self satisfaction. Your son’s achievement, whatever it was, is not yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have several incredible doctors who work at top medical centers who are former high level college athletes - I literally trust them with my life. And I appreciate their athletic background as helping them to make decisions in stressful situations, and it often gives them a better bedside manner.

Considering the rest of the world doesn’t give breaks to athletes who want to be doctors you must think it’s amazing that they have any competent doctors at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several incredible doctors who work at top medical centers who are former high level college athletes - I literally trust them with my life. And I appreciate their athletic background as helping them to make decisions in stressful situations, and it often gives them a better bedside manner.

Considering the rest of the world doesn’t give breaks to athletes who want to be doctors you must think it’s amazing that they have any competent doctors at all.

Holy dumb comment Batman. Sorry you got cut from your fourth grade soccer team and have a grudge against athletes.

Everyone is racing to extremes, as usual. The unathletic dorks who think that all athletes are evil and there is no benefit from playing sports are worse than those who think that athletes deserve every break in the world (fewer of those posting here). One can reasonably argue that athletes get a few too many breaks without being childish and nasty and discrediting the many good things that come out of participating in and watching sports.

I think many of those opposing sports are those who want America to be like China or India or wherever else that is a "meritocracy" and solely based on test scores. Which is why I choose not to live in those countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several incredible doctors who work at top medical centers who are former high level college athletes - I literally trust them with my life. And I appreciate their athletic background as helping them to make decisions in stressful situations, and it often gives them a better bedside manner.

Considering the rest of the world doesn’t give breaks to athletes who want to be doctors you must think it’s amazing that they have any competent doctors at all.

Holy dumb comment Batman. Sorry you got cut from your fourth grade soccer team and have a grudge against athletes.

Everyone is racing to extremes, as usual. The unathletic dorks who think that all athletes are evil and there is no benefit from playing sports are worse than those who think that athletes deserve every break in the world (fewer of those posting here). One can reasonably argue that athletes get a few too many breaks without being childish and nasty and discrediting the many good things that come out of participating in and watching sports.

I think many of those opposing sports are those who want America to be like China or India or wherever else that is a "meritocracy" and solely based on test scores. Which is why I choose not to live in those countries.

Realizing you probably don't get my Batman reference because you are a nerd and don't like sports or TV or anything else that brings normal people joy. Watch Batman and you will get it.

[Anonymous]

So, if we are in agreement that being on a HS sports team is a big time commitment and that sport fosters certain skills, then shouldn’t non recruited athletes get the same leg up that recruited athletes get?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s interesting that many of you don’t let your kids play on the HS sports team. My kid would say that was the most fun part of playing their sport once they hit HS. They got to play with their closest friends (not usually on the same teams for travel), for their school where classmates could come cheer them on, working towards a collective goals as representatives of their community. And from playing club soccer they knew a few players on almost every opposing team. It’s a much more fun atmosphere and the season is like 3 months max.

I wish our child played for their high school. It would have made my life so much easier. Our child wanted to compete against the best players and teams. That ruled high school out completely.

My son and many of his HS teammates also played ECNL. Some are now playing in college. He still had way more fun playing for his HS. I know MLSnext doesn’t allow it but ECNL does. I hope your son finds great success off the field! Mine decided that since he wasn’t destined for the pros he’d go to the best school he could and play club in college and he’s having a blast.

Our son started in USSDA which eventually became MLSNext. His high school was a perennial championship contender but they would have lost to his club team 10-0. He was recruited to D1 and has since graduated.

And is he a professional soccer player?

He could have been, but not at a level that made financial sense. He realized it was time to start his career. He had a good run.

Sorry to question you, ma’am. Consider this your gold star and your certificate of validation (which clearly you desperately desire).

That’s the difference between us. There are no college stickers in the back window of my BMW. There weren’t any college athletic sweatshirts in my wardrobe. I never talked about it at gatherings unless directly asked, and even then I downplayed it. The reason I posted it here was to answer a direct question. Several of his teammates over the years went the “pro” route for $65,000-$75,000.

The only question asked of you was whether your kid was pro. Everything else you volunteered on your own and you seemed pretty desperate to do so. Perhaps you should have talked about it with people who actually know you so you didn’t feel the need to post on an anonymous forum.

That was not an honest question. It was meant to delegitimize our son’s sacrifice and effort to pursue his goals. It’s fine. It’s the standard defense mechanism for posters on college forums. Whatever gets you through the day.

You invited the question with your smug self satisfaction. Your son’s achievement, whatever it was, is not yours.

Thank you for confirming I was correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, if we are in agreement that being on a HS sports team is a big time commitment and that sport fosters certain skills, then shouldn’t non recruited athletes get the same leg up that recruited athletes get?

What an odd statement. There’s a reason non-recruited athletes weren’t recruited. That’s why they don’t get a leg up.

[Anonymous]

American schools are obsessed with sports.

I wrote in another thread, the president of DD’s small magnet found out she used to be good at tennis and has been harassing her to play on the team - sending emails, pulling her out of classes to talk, catching her after school, etc.

The funny thing is the school has zero interest in her academically although she is an accomplished student.

Sports is just marketing for the school and they. They have zero interest in the kids themselves, they’re just a marketing tool for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, if we are in agreement that being on a HS sports team is a big time commitment and that sport fosters certain skills, then shouldn’t non recruited athletes get the same leg up that recruited athletes get?

What an odd statement. There’s a reason non-recruited athletes weren’t recruited. That’s why they don’t get a leg up.

But they learned about hard work, time management and team work. And became oh so very special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several incredible doctors who work at top medical centers who are former high level college athletes - I literally trust them with my life. And I appreciate their athletic background as helping them to make decisions in stressful situations, and it often gives them a better bedside manner.

Considering the rest of the world doesn’t give breaks to athletes who want to be doctors you must think it’s amazing that they have any competent doctors at all.

Holy dumb comment Batman. Sorry you got cut from your fourth grade soccer team and have a grudge against athletes.

Everyone is racing to extremes, as usual. The unathletic dorks who think that all athletes are evil and there is no benefit from playing sports are worse than those who think that athletes deserve every break in the world (fewer of those posting here). One can reasonably argue that athletes get a few too many breaks without being childish and nasty and discrediting the many good things that come out of participating in and watching sports.

I think many of those opposing sports are those who want America to be like China or India or wherever else that is a "meritocracy" and solely based on test scores. Which is why I choose not to live in those countries.

If that’s what you want then don’t think about the UK or France or pretty much any other country other than the US.

And I’m not the one who made the statement that they “appreciate their athletic background as helping them to make decisions in stressful situations” - suck up a little more why don’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, if we are in agreement that being on a HS sports team is a big time commitment and that sport fosters certain skills, then shouldn’t non recruited athletes get the same leg up that recruited athletes get?

What an odd statement. There’s a reason non-recruited athletes weren’t recruited. That’s why they don’t get a leg up.

But they learned about hard work, time management and team work. And became oh so very special.

Not special enough apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, if we are in agreement that being on a HS sports team is a big time commitment and that sport fosters certain skills, then shouldn’t non recruited athletes get the same leg up that recruited athletes get?

What an odd statement. There’s a reason non-recruited athletes weren’t recruited. That’s why they don’t get a leg up.

But they learned about hard work, time management and team work. And became oh so very special.

Not special enough apparently.

That’s only because college admissions officers got cut from their 4th grade soccer team and don’t truly appreciate that being a mediocre athlete still makes you better than those nerds.