High school pre-Freshman sports teams?

[Anonymous]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I'm curious if this is something typical. The coach of the freshman basketball team at our local high school recently held tryouts among a group of 8th graders for what is being called that high school's pre-Freshman basketball team. The tryouts were not held at the school and they were not publicized. Kids from some local county teams and a travel team were invited, although some kids who heard about it from their friends also went. One boy's father called the high school head coach and was initially told there were no tryouts. The head coach later called him back and apologized, saying he had discovered that there were in fact tryouts and gave him details. Apparently, this new team, which has begun practices, will play in the summer.

I know it's not unusual for high school coaches to identify upcoming local talent through summer sports camps and other activities, but this is the first I've heard of a team being formed to get those kids practicing a year before tryouts will be held for the high school team. I don't have a child trying out, so I've got no dog in this fight, but given that this is a public school, the fact that this is all being done on the QT strikes me as a inappropriate. From what I understand, none of the kids who just showed up were picked -- only the ones who were invited, a majority of whom play on a single team together. I suppose one could argue that these may be the most talented kids (for the moment, at least, given notoriously unpredictable growth rates of 14-year-old boys) . But if that's the case why not have a regular advertised tryout open to all interested future students -- particularly at a public school? The parents of some of the boys who showed up and were cut considered talking to the school prinicipal but are afraid of ruining things for their kids in the future.

Has anyone else encountered this sort of thing? Is this just the way it's done in schools around here?

[Anonymous]

We got an email inviting our daughter to the tryout for the Rising Freshman team that starts this week. I got the impression that it's an off season, get to know the coaches kinda deal. The girls were encouraged to pass the word about tryouts but don't think anything formal was put out.
Maybe because they're not guaranteed gym space - get booted if Spring sports needs them due to weather...
They have tons off off season workouts and clinics also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't sure where to post this, but I'm curious if this is something typical. The coach of the freshman basketball team at our local high school recently held tryouts among a group of 8th graders for what is being called that high school's pre-Freshman basketball team. The tryouts were not held at the school and they were not publicized. Kids from some local county teams and a travel team were invited, although some kids who heard about it from their friends also went. One boy's father called the high school head coach and was initially told there were no tryouts. The head coach later called him back and apologized, saying he had discovered that there were in fact tryouts and gave him details. Apparently, this new team, which has begun practices, will play in the summer.

I know it's not unusual for high school coaches to identify upcoming local talent through summer sports camps and other activities, but this is the first I've heard of a team being formed to get those kids practicing a year before tryouts will be held for the high school team. I don't have a child trying out, so I've got no dog in this fight, but given that this is a public school, the fact that this is all being done on the QT strikes me as a inappropriate. From what I understand, none of the kids who just showed up were picked -- only the ones who were invited, a majority of whom play on a single team together. I suppose one could argue that these may be the most talented kids (for the moment, at least, given notoriously unpredictable growth rates of 14-year-old boys) . But if that's the case why not have a regular advertised tryout open to all interested future students -- particularly at a public school? The parents of some of the boys who showed up and were cut considered talking to the school prinicipal but are afraid of ruining things for their kids in the future.

Has anyone else encountered this sort of thing? Is this just the way it's done in schools around here?

[list]Good Lord - You have got to be kidding. Absolutly unbelievable...for God's sake -- You all have to chill out around here. This just stresses the sh_ t out of me. What the heck are you trying to do to these kids. Absolutely setting them all up to QUIT.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the fact that parent coaches are involved has something to do with it. Word is they made the initial overtures to the school coach. I guess I was naive in thinking this stuff ended with travel and house leagues. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect the fact that parent coaches are involved has something to do with it. Word is they made the initial overtures to the school coach. I guess I was naive in thinking this stuff ended with travel and house leagues. . .

[list]Well I would like to think that in the end the HS coach(s) will recruit the best players, with good grades and attitudes not just the players who's parents were in their face! At some point, the players (and their parents) have to put up or shut up!!

[Anonymous]

This isn't all that unusual. Consider it a "farm team" for the HS. In the end, the coaches want the best players, so any kid who has the chops will make the team.

[Anonymous]

FCPS doesn't allow 8th graders to play in JV sports, whereas other localities that don't sponsor a middle school team do (i.e APS offers middle school wrestling, so 8th graders can't wrestle JV for their feeder school, where ACPS doesn't, so 8th graders can wrestle JV for TC Williams).

This doesn't surprise me one bit; the mentality of starting your kids in sports shortly after the umbilical cord is cut so they can be a star athlete is getting out of hand.

[Anonymous]

I don't think a high school coach is allowed to be "involved" in off-season, except to observe.

[Anonymous]

Good Lord - You have got to be kidding. Absolutly unbelievable...for God's sake -- You all have to chill out around here. This just stresses the sh_ t out of me. What the heck are you trying to do to these kids. Absolutely setting them all up to QUIT.

Stress you out? Why? Not your kids I assume.

My kid has been playing hockey since he was 4. He loves it....he'll be ready for the High School Team! Oops....sorry if that stresses you out...NOT!