Aug 9th for Fall Sports is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it sucks. Our MS announced the dates in spring so we knew but it still meant we couldn’t take a vacation with the whole family. My oldest had a summer job/internship and cannot take off until 8/9. Plus a lot of places it’s easier to take vacation in august because it’s typically a slow month, and it’s also easier if you have young kids that need summer childcare because many of the camps end early August as the college kids head back to school. I don’t even know that my kid will make the team but I didn’t want to break his heart telling him he can’t even try out so that we could take a family vacation. So we ended up going without my older teen even though we only have a few years left before she’s out of the nest. I’m really aggravated about it and it seems very unnecessary.
We should get the ocean city beach lobby on this —they could probably get the state to change the date. We actually would have rented a place at the beach for at least a week in august if not for those sports tryouts.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should change fall tryouts to be in spring during the school year. Many of us go on two-month vacations, camps, jobs. It takes a lot of planning. To arrange trips to accommodate tryouts and potentially practices, only to have the kid not get selected, would be a nuisance.

And you are welcome to suggest that to your school and the county. Heck even advocate and work hard towards making the change. Until then if your kid wants to participate in a fall sport you and they will plan their life around the tryout and practice dates. Plenty of other kids and families manage camp, vacations, and summer jobs.

Talk about first world problems.

If they could just do the tryouts during spring, then those who didn’t make it could make other summer plans. And those who make it can set aside August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should change fall tryouts to be in spring during the school year. Many of us go on two-month vacations, camps, jobs. It takes a lot of planning. To arrange trips to accommodate tryouts and potentially practices, only to have the kid not get selected, would be a nuisance.

And you are welcome to suggest that to your school and the county. Heck even advocate and work hard towards making the change. Until then if your kid wants to participate in a fall sport you and they will plan their life around the tryout and practice dates. Plenty of other kids and families manage camp, vacations, and summer jobs.

Talk about first world problems.

If they could just do the tryouts during spring, then those who didn’t make it could make other summer plans. And those who make it can set aside August.

Except that the kids who also play a Spring sport won’t be available for tryouts, it doesn’t factor in kids who move in over the summer, or rising 9th graders who have a different school schedule in the Spring since they’re still in Middle School. Fall sports are not required. If it doesn’t work for your family, they shouldn’t have to change the whole system.

[Anonymous]

I agree that timing sucks. My 9th grader doesn’t want to play a sport but if he did it would mean no family vacation for us since DH is only allowed to take off in August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a travel sport until this weekend. We had a beach trip planned Aug 5-12th and just found out my daughter can't play a Fall sport because an email just came out that tryouts start Aug 9th. 3 weeks before school starts? That isn't even allowed in NJ. Super bummed. She is a top club player too, but she will just stick with club and travel sports. I wish they notified us sooner, but we wouldn't have changed the vacation anyway. She needs the break.

How do kids that play summer sports, go to camps, are camp counselors, have jobs, etc... start that early? Tryouts and Practices are 12-2pm each day until school starts. I work and can't her to them anyway. It just isn't feasible unless you are rich and your kids don't do anything all summer.

Huh? Everything is legal in New Jersey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should change fall tryouts to be in spring during the school year. Many of us go on two-month vacations, camps, jobs. It takes a lot of planning. To arrange trips to accommodate tryouts and potentially practices, only to have the kid not get selected, would be a nuisance.

Yes, we should absolutely prioritize people who take 2 month vacations over military families moving into the area over the summer. Because elitism or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that timing sucks. My 9th grader doesn’t want to play a sport but if he did it would mean no family vacation for us since DH is only allowed to take off in August.

First week of August would still be available. It’s rare that only one month in a year is available for vacation anyway; this is an usual thing that your family would have to manage if your kid were interested.

[Anonymous]

OP we moved here too and were shocked how early mandatory tryouts and practices were. My DS is a soccer player and we already had a vacation set. So he will not play for high school.

Travel/club sports are much better anyway.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in camp since 9. They aren’t not going for tryouts. So no Fall sports for them. MCPS sucks.

[Anonymous]

High School Team is SO much more important than travel or club. It gives her a group. A group at school. A much greater sense of belonging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should change fall tryouts to be in spring during the school year. Many of us go on two-month vacations, camps, jobs. It takes a lot of planning. To arrange trips to accommodate tryouts and potentially practices, only to have the kid not get selected, would be a nuisance.

😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The state of Maryland sets the dates HS sports can start practicing 3 years out. It's on you for not finding this out when you have an athletic kid

+1
This isn't an MCPS decision. The entire athletic season schedule in high school in controlled by the state sports association. https://www.mpssaa.org/

Also, if you have already make the decision to be involved in a club travel team, I'm not sure why you would be surprised that high school athletics takes over all spare time.

By “they” should change tryouts, I meant the state association.

And yes we and many families go out of state or out of country most of summer and telecommute.

High school sports aren't for everyone. The players are expected to make serious commitments and dedicate their efforts and time to preparing to win. The goal is to win state championships. If that isn't your goal, then your goal isn't compatible with the team. Many kids are there to do the best they can and to win. For many it helps with college. For some, it might mean a scholarship.

If that isn't what you're bringing to the court, then it isn't the place for your athlete.

[Anonymous]

My stepson lives in VA most of the time, his tryout date is 7/31. We had to schedule our summer travel around this. 8/9 does not sound that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP we moved here too and were shocked how early mandatory tryouts and practices were. My DS is a soccer player and we already had a vacation set. So he will not play for high school.

Travel/club sports are much better anyway.

Aesop wrote about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High School Team is SO much more important than travel or club. It gives her a group. A group at school. A much greater sense of belonging.

Give me a break that you actually believe this complete nonsense. Most HS coaches suck at their coaching positions and are basic teachers who coach. And no college coach is looking at high school records/play but football.

HS sports are all politics. There is no sense of belonging.