High school sports tryouts: who is sweating it out with me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With 36 kids, the coach will get to know them and remember them. When DD tried out, more similar number to your first, I suggested she wear the same thing every day. It was a pink athletic shirt (I did lots of wash!! every night that week) I told her there were a zillion little brunettes with a pony tail trying out and she might need to have the coach keep them all straight.

NP. Did it help? I like that advice!

And to OP, I complexly get it. My son plays primarily a no cut sport. I don’t care that much if he ever gets playing time, although it would be nice. It’s the social aspect that’s important.

I’m much more worried about my daughter. She has a couple more years before high school and I want her to make a team because I know it makes the transition to high school so much easier socially. Her sports will be much harder to make.

[Anonymous]

She did! It was field hockey. There were 80 some girls trying out. Don't remember how many they took. Freshman HS team. She had very little experience but a good athlete.

[Anonymous]

If - IF - a door closes, a window may open. DS was a star in his sport in 9th but had to stop due to injury (football - concussion) The rest of 9th was hard, 10th was hard. He wanted to make the tennis team. He practiced and practiced and so many private lessons. Didn't make it. Did wrestling though he didn't like it but he wanted to do something. So 3 years after leaving football, he changed focus to student government. By 12th grade he was elected school president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to them!

What sports?

Also why are you referring to them as he/she? Just trying to stay non-descript?

Trying to be ambiguous. When I post on here I'm always paranoid that someone will recognize my kids.

Oh Jesus. Get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Um, for SO many reasons. Because then some kids will never get the chance to play. Because one or two coaches can only effectively coach/supervise a certain number of kids. Because a school bus for away games can only fit so many kids on it. Because isn't it enough the really sporty kids have to play with the really clumsy kids in gym class? Shouldn't they have the fun of getting to play with kids at a similar level? I could go on and on.

You are right of course. But I’d love to see really popular sports, where there are cuts, have B/C teams that practice and maybe don’t even have games. Just to allow those kids to play, enjoy the sport and maybe improve over the years.

That sounds lovely in theor, but honestly, by high school, that's a real waste of most people's time. It's really not fun to play a sport that you're not somewhat good at. I can't believe it would be fun to go out and practice every day knowing you'd never get to compete. Who would want to do that?

You are ridiculous. I mean, ever hear of the Special Olympics?

Honestly, your type of response is kinda offensive. It’s like you want to exclude people.

What about golf? Plenty of people want to play that, even if they never going to compete in the tournament against Tiger Woods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Um, for SO many reasons. Because then some kids will never get the chance to play. Because one or two coaches can only effectively coach/supervise a certain number of kids. Because a school bus for away games can only fit so many kids on it. Because isn't it enough the really sporty kids have to play with the really clumsy kids in gym class? Shouldn't they have the fun of getting to play with kids at a similar level? I could go on and on.

You are right of course. But I’d love to see really popular sports, where there are cuts, have B/C teams that practice and maybe don’t even have games. Just to allow those kids to play, enjoy the sport and maybe improve over the years.

This does exist. It's called club soccer. Or rec soccer.

Oh yeah! My kid plays at a higher level and is objectively a much better player (based on college recruiting) than kids on Varsity while he was on JV (and not even a JV starter)--while he played every minute and started on an area Club team that was top-ranked here and around the US. This HS is BIG on nepotism and politics. The level is nowhere near as high as Club, but it really means a lot to the kids that want to play for their school.

HS coaches can be weird.

[Anonymous]

My nephews (both on top Club soccer teams) got the cut for soccer. They were pissed, joined track and they both got track scholarships. Not a single one of the HS soccer players was awarded a scholarship. So that was nice.

[Anonymous]

My child is in middle school and just told me theY had a really bad tryout today (day 3 with several mor3 to come) and are convinced they will be cut. Basically got embarrassed in a drill by the best athlete in his school. I feel so bad for them and hope they can still make the lower team.

[Anonymous]

OP - totally get it. I have the pit in my stomach when my kids do anything competitive. They sometimes (often?) loose and I hate that for them BUT I know it’s just life and sometimes when one path doesn’t work out that opens up a new opportunity. That doesn’t make it easier tho! I love my kiddos and wish they never have to suffer.

Of course looking back on my own life, I had huge disappointments and so did my husband in HS and that is what pushed us to excel in college so maybe it helps. I definitely do not think my parents had any inkling of my abs setbacks and I do try my very best not to do more or less the same with my kids and try not to signal to my kids I hurt for them when work doesn’t work out - I try to give them room to be upset but don’t want to make a big deal of it.

[Anonymous]

As an aside - tryouts for high school sports very often are geared to age/grade. Freshmen for freshmen, JV for sophomores (and freshmen if no freshmen team), varsity for juniors and seniors. It is easier for girls to play “up” as they often are the same size freshmen to senior. That is not the case with guys.

Socially mixing one or two freshmen and sophomores with juniors and seniors is also asking for trouble. There are exceptions and a lot depends on the talent pool coming into the school. But, it is not a surprise to hear that x did not make varsity as a freshmen or sophomore even though they are very good. It’s not “politics”. It’s safety and recognizing that having a decent maturity mix is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Because you can't have a 50 person tennis team

Or a 40 roster varsity soccer team

Etc.

Why not? It is time to rewrite the so-called rules.

Because on a 50 person tennis team (as example) only the top seeds compete and then there are some alternates. The rest of the roster would have no place to practice, so why carry them in name only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have freshman twins.

One had 5 days of tryouts last week (including Saturday) and found out he/she made the JV team They took 15-18 kids and cut 30-40. I was on pins and needles all week--he/she is new to the school and social stuff has been hard and I was just really hoping this would come through for him/her.
My other one has tryouts starting today. 4 days. 10 spots. 36 kids trying out. It makes me nauseous thinking of it. This kid has worked out all winter long. Endless conditioning. I hope he/she makes it but he/she has a better social support system at school so from that perspective it's not as important.

Anyone else going through the hell that is high school tryouts?

Sounds like baseball and tennis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Um, for SO many reasons. Because then some kids will never get the chance to play. Because one or two coaches can only effectively coach/supervise a certain number of kids. Because a school bus for away games can only fit so many kids on it. Because isn't it enough the really sporty kids have to play with the really clumsy kids in gym class? Shouldn't they have the fun of getting to play with kids at a similar level? I could go on and on.

You are right of course. But I’d love to see really popular sports, where there are cuts, have B/C teams that practice and maybe don’t even have games. Just to allow those kids to play, enjoy the sport and maybe improve over the years.

That sounds lovely in theor, but honestly, by high school, that's a real waste of most people's time. It's really not fun to play a sport that you're not somewhat good at. I can't believe it would be fun to go out and practice every day knowing you'd never get to compete. Who would want to do that?

You are ridiculous. I mean, ever hear of the Special Olympics?

Honestly, your type of response is kinda offensive. It’s like you want to exclude people.

What about golf? Plenty of people want to play that, even if they never going to compete in the tournament against Tiger Woods.

Special Olympics athletes train as hard and compete as intensely as any high school athlete. I had a friend in high school whose brother was a Special Olympics gymnast, and he was absolutely dedicated to it. He was pretty darn good, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Um, for SO many reasons. Because then some kids will never get the chance to play. Because one or two coaches can only effectively coach/supervise a certain number of kids. Because a school bus for away games can only fit so many kids on it. Because isn't it enough the really sporty kids have to play with the really clumsy kids in gym class? Shouldn't they have the fun of getting to play with kids at a similar level? I could go on and on.

You are right of course. But I’d love to see really popular sports, where there are cuts, have B/C teams that practice and maybe don’t even have games. Just to allow those kids to play, enjoy the sport and maybe improve over the years.

This does exist. It's called club soccer. Or rec soccer.

Oh yeah! My kid plays at a higher level and is objectively a much better player (based on college recruiting) than kids on Varsity while he was on JV (and not even a JV starter)--while he played every minute and started on an area Club team that was top-ranked here and around the US. This HS is BIG on nepotism and politics. The level is nowhere near as high as Club, but it really means a lot to the kids that want to play for their school.

HS coaches can be weird.

HS Coaches are so weird. My son (Sophomore) plays in the top division at his club and made JV, yet some kids (Juniors) made the cut for Varsity and they play at his club in the 2nd and 3rd tier teams. Even a kid (also Junior) that plays Rec. only made Varsity.

Politics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do public schools still allow sports teams that have try outs / cut players? Why can’t everybody be on the team if they choose?

Um, for SO many reasons. Because then some kids will never get the chance to play. Because one or two coaches can only effectively coach/supervise a certain number of kids. Because a school bus for away games can only fit so many kids on it. Because isn't it enough the really sporty kids have to play with the really clumsy kids in gym class? Shouldn't they have the fun of getting to play with kids at a similar level? I could go on and on.

You are right of course. But I’d love to see really popular sports, where there are cuts, have B/C teams that practice and maybe don’t even have games. Just to allow those kids to play, enjoy the sport and maybe improve over the years.

This does exist. It's called club soccer. Or rec soccer.

Oh yeah! My kid plays at a higher level and is objectively a much better player (based on college recruiting) than kids on Varsity while he was on JV (and not even a JV starter)--while he played every minute and started on an area Club team that was top-ranked here and around the US. This HS is BIG on nepotism and politics. The level is nowhere near as high as Club, but it really means a lot to the kids that want to play for their school.

HS coaches can be weird.

HS Coaches are so weird. My son (Sophomore) plays in the top division at his club and made JV, yet some kids (Juniors) made the cut for Varsity and they play at his club in the 2nd and 3rd tier teams. Even a kid (also Junior) that plays Rec. only made Varsity.

Politics

Similar at our HS. And we have a ridiculous amount of 'multiples' --twins, triplets, etc. on all 3 teams that come as a package deal, even when they are not good at all.