When did it get so hard to play at the high school level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come to Loudoun. Certain sports at some schools are competitive but mostly you can play.

This.....especially if you're in Western LoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sports with intense youth leagues obviously result in hyper competitive high school teams -- soccer, lacrosse, basketball are the toughest ones.

But there are a decent number of sports that don't start kids out crazy young and a kid with some talent and work ethic can start in MS or even HS and still make the team. Wrestling, cross country, track, rowing.

Ironically, because youth swimming is so insanely competitive and kids start really young, sometimes HS teams aren't too hard because the very serious club swimmers don't always swim on their HS teams. Very location dependent though. But diving is a sport kids often don't take up until MS. It's a good sport for a kid who did gymnastics/tumbling when younger and has great aerial awareness -- that's a skill that translates really easily even if you have no diving experience at all.

Also I have seen more schools doing recreational clubs for certain sports. Rowing and other water sports. Rock climbing. Yoga. I think this is great as it's still athletic but it's more social and just for fun and fitness. The rowing clubs will sometimes compete against each other so there can still be a competitive element, but it's not intense. A great option for sporty kids who just like being active but are not interested in or simply cannot do the intensity to make teams for certain HS athletics.

Rowing is a serious sport in the DMV. Not a recreational club. Some school districts like Arlington partially fund it as a varsity sport, but most of the costs are through fundraising. In Montgomery County, it’s purely a club sport, but no less serious or intense. That said it is typically no cut. So anyone who wants to row can compete for their school. Some schools like Wakefield HS offer summer rowing workshops for junior high age kids.

Fairfax County Public Schools is introducing flag football as a sport next year. Arlington has Ultimate Frisbee as a varsity sport. There are plenty of up and coming no cut sports for scholar athletes of all levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sports with intense youth leagues obviously result in hyper competitive high school teams -- soccer, lacrosse, basketball are the toughest ones.

But there are a decent number of sports that don't start kids out crazy young and a kid with some talent and work ethic can start in MS or even HS and still make the team. Wrestling, cross country, track, rowing.

Ironically, because youth swimming is so insanely competitive and kids start really young, sometimes HS teams aren't too hard because the very serious club swimmers don't always swim on their HS teams. Very location dependent though. But diving is a sport kids often don't take up until MS. It's a good sport for a kid who did gymnastics/tumbling when younger and has great aerial awareness -- that's a skill that translates really easily even if you have no diving experience at all.

Also I have seen more schools doing recreational clubs for certain sports. Rowing and other water sports. Rock climbing. Yoga. I think this is great as it's still athletic but it's more social and just for fun and fitness. The rowing clubs will sometimes compete against each other so there can still be a competitive element, but it's not intense. A great option for sporty kids who just like being active but are not interested in or simply cannot do the intensity to make teams for certain HS athletics.

Rowing is a serious sport in the DMV. Not a recreational club. Some school districts like Arlington partially fund it as a varsity sport, but most of the costs are through fundraising. In Montgomery County, it’s purely a club sport, but no less serious or intense. That said it is typically no cut. So anyone who wants to row can compete for their school. Some schools like Wakefield HS offer summer rowing workshops for junior high age kids.

Fairfax County Public Schools is introducing flag football as a sport next year. Arlington has Ultimate Frisbee as a varsity sport. There are plenty of up and coming no cut sports for scholar athletes of all levels.

I will add that Ultimate is both no cut and everyone plays during normal games assuming you can catch and throw a frisbee at a basic level.

Tournaments are more competitive but every team I have seen switches out nearly the entire team (depends how many total players) after each score.

JR is the #1 team in the country right now…will see if it holds after nationals this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, today seems like you won't make a High School team unless you have played club sports for years. It's horrible for those families who cannot afford club sports.
As a parent whose daughter just graduated a D3 college playing field hockey, please pick the school based on academics not playing a sport. Once those 4 years are over, they gotta be able to get a good job and pay those bills!
When we were looking at colleges, it seemed like playing at a D1 school was a job?

This plus a thousand. I went to university on athletic scholarship at a very competitive school. The pressure to perform is real on scholarship and is never ending so the sport comes first. I was a good student and cared about academics, so you really have to dispense with a social life. NCAA's in my sport were at the start of summer and it was difficult to manage internships. I was very fortunate to be able to go to this school so we f course it worked out but athletics had the unintended effect of delaying my entry into adulthood. Not a big deal because every experience has value but go in with eyes open. Generally speaking I am a big fan of D3.

One issue I see with suburban parents is that they often don't appreciate how hard some teams at large competitive schools are to make. Of course many do but a realization that the competition is intense is a helpful way to support your kid. I understood this because I was in a high school league in suburban Chicago where my school at 2400 students was the smallest in the league. The basketball team was modest by performance standards but still really difficult to make. Yet it paled in comparison to Evanston, a diverse school of 4200. Heck, given some of the wealth in Evanston, tennis and golf were really hard. Lots of respect for the effort of high school kids. Large schools have resources but making sports teams easily is rarely a factor. The AD at Evanston was my friend. An Olympic medalist, he lobbied hard to fund freshman and jv teams. Hard to sustain today.,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s club league didn’t allow him to play in high school.

In the dc area? Everyone I know at high level plays club and high school. Most clubs are designed around with tournaments in fall and summer.

It’s common for very high level soccer clubs to restrict playing on your high school team.

I think this is the answer. Including on the girls side. Leave the high school soccer to players who aren’t at that level. Too much risk of injury and burnout.

Unfortunately, at our school, the only way to ensure varsity is playing ECNL or GA. Regular travel (EDP amd ECNL-RL) will have to compete for limited spots and some won’t make it. Those who do will often sit bench.

[Anonymous]

Men’s basketball is the only sport where it’s tough to make varsity. Female sports are not as popular in this area so it’s much easier.

My 5’9” nephew plays D1 lacrosse. His father played D1 and professional where they don’t make a decent salary. Naturally talented with the skills necessary for the particular sport comes first. Size is secondary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This plus a thousand. I went to university on athletic scholarship at a very competitive school. The pressure to perform is real on scholarship and is never ending so the sport comes first. I was a good student and cared about academics, so you really have to dispense with a social life. NCAA's in my sport were at the start of summer and it was difficult to manage internships. I was very fortunate to be able to go to this school so we f course it worked out but athletics had the unintended effect of delaying my entry into adulthood. Not a big deal because every experience has value but go in with eyes open. Generally speaking I am a big fan of D3.

One issue I see with suburban parents is that they often don't appreciate how hard some teams at large competitive schools are to make. Of course many do but a realization that the competition is intense is a helpful way to support your kid. I understood this because I was in a high school league in suburban Chicago where my school at 2400 students was the smallest in the league. The basketball team was modest by performance standards but still really difficult to make. Yet it paled in comparison to Evanston, a diverse school of 4200. Heck, given some of the wealth in Evanston, tennis and golf were really hard. Lots of respect for the effort of high school kids. Large schools have resources but making sports teams easily is rarely a factor. The AD at Evanston was my friend. An Olympic medalist, he lobbied hard to fund freshman and jv teams. Hard to sustain today.,

The same here at Langley (VA), McLean (VA), or Churchill (MD) for varsity golf and tennis. Everyone in this zip code has money to train their kids at a very young age. Kids from Langley that get cut from the golf or tennis team can beat the best player from Justice high school.

[Anonymous]

when the schools got so big - 3000 - 4000 kids per school.

[Anonymous]

when the schools got so big - 3000 - 4000 kids per school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Men’s basketball is the only sport where it’s tough to make varsity. Female sports are not as popular in this area so it’s much easier.

My 5’9” nephew plays D1 lacrosse. His father played D1 and professional where they don’t make a decent salary. Naturally talented with the skills necessary for the particular sport comes first. Size is secondary.

Nope-boys varsity soccer is tough

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when the schools got so big - 3000 - 4000 kids per school.

Even at schools with 1000 students, dozens will not make teams. Unfortunately, the limited varsity and even jv spots go to the most talented. But schools of all sizes can and do offer no-cut sports. Also, the number of sports are increasing, with different options depending on the district: Flag football, boys volleyball, bowling, rifle, poms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Men’s basketball is the only sport where it’s tough to make varsity. Female sports are not as popular in this area so it’s much easier.

My 5’9” nephew plays D1 lacrosse. His father played D1 and professional where they don’t make a decent salary. Naturally talented with the skills necessary for the particular sport comes first. Size is secondary.

Nope-boys varsity soccer is tough

ALL varsity sports at FCPS schools such as TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Madison, and Woodson are tough to make the varsity team. The more prestige the sports, the harder it is to make the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sports with intense youth leagues obviously result in hyper competitive high school teams -- soccer, lacrosse, basketball are the toughest ones.

But there are a decent number of sports that don't start kids out crazy young and a kid with some talent and work ethic can start in MS or even HS and still make the team. Wrestling, cross country, track, rowing.

Ironically, because youth swimming is so insanely competitive and kids start really young, sometimes HS teams aren't too hard because the very serious club swimmers don't always swim on their HS teams. Very location dependent though. But diving is a sport kids often don't take up until MS. It's a good sport for a kid who did gymnastics/tumbling when younger and has great aerial awareness -- that's a skill that translates really easily even if you have no diving experience at all.

Also I have seen more schools doing recreational clubs for certain sports. Rowing and other water sports. Rock climbing. Yoga. I think this is great as it's still athletic but it's more social and just for fun and fitness. The rowing clubs will sometimes compete against each other so there can still be a competitive element, but it's not intense. A great option for sporty kids who just like being active but are not interested in or simply cannot do the intensity to make teams for certain HS athletics.

Oh good, the “sport” of running around. And getting your face into someone’s armpit.

Crew is fine but only available to tall people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:when the schools got so big - 3000 - 4000 kids per school.

Even at schools with 1000 students, dozens will not make teams. Unfortunately, the limited varsity and even jv spots go to the most talented. But schools of all sizes can and do offer no-cut sports. Also, the number of sports are increasing, with different options depending on the district: Flag football, boys volleyball, bowling, rifle, poms, etc.

True but there usually were a few sports beyond running and frisbee where people could get a chance to participate or play intramural.

Rec sports are fine and good, but require a parent to drive them to practice and games rather than have at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sports with intense youth leagues obviously result in hyper competitive high school teams -- soccer, lacrosse, basketball are the toughest ones.

But there are a decent number of sports that don't start kids out crazy young and a kid with some talent and work ethic can start in MS or even HS and still make the team. Wrestling, cross country, track, rowing.

Ironically, because youth swimming is so insanely competitive and kids start really young, sometimes HS teams aren't too hard because the very serious club swimmers don't always swim on their HS teams. Very location dependent though. But diving is a sport kids often don't take up until MS. It's a good sport for a kid who did gymnastics/tumbling when younger and has great aerial awareness -- that's a skill that translates really easily even if you have no diving experience at all.

Also I have seen more schools doing recreational clubs for certain sports. Rowing and other water sports. Rock climbing. Yoga. I think this is great as it's still athletic but it's more social and just for fun and fitness. The rowing clubs will sometimes compete against each other so there can still be a competitive element, but it's not intense. A great option for sporty kids who just like being active but are not interested in or simply cannot do the intensity to make teams for certain HS athletics.

Oh good, the “sport” of running around. And getting your face into someone’s armpit.

Crew is fine but only available to tall people

You sound bitter and completely ignorant about sports. Maybe sit this one out.