The tryouts at Richard Montgomery could help make either point. The team is so random, even though there were more club players than spots on the team. Tall players with two left hands selected for the team could make the point that tall players are given preference over players with actual skills. Then there is an unadvertised practice player spot who was initially cut during the tryouts (not tall and not that skillful). One could ask why practice player opportunities are not advertised to everyone if available. Other players who were cut during the last day of tryouts would probably love the chance to practice with the team. And yes, they were taller and more skillful than the current practice player: this could make the case that not height nor skill level are important. |
DP That video clip lost us the election for Virginia governor. Everyone recognized that Karen in their lives. Everyone saw that dad getting dragged out by police. Everyone saw the school board trying to sweep things under the rug. What they did was inexcusably bad and seemed motivated by an effort to avoid any bad publicity while they were trying to pass some pro trans rules. BUT, trans kids are not predators. If you don't want trans girls to participate in girl's sports, I get why, but you can do it without making trans girls seem like predators. |
| Looks like high school volleyball tryout is highly competitive, not controllable, maybe even hard than tier one club team tryout as I read here and another thread even good players might not get a spot. I guess I need to start to warn my middle schooler who is just into this sport that she might not be able to play it in high school and she should probably not give up her individual sport so soon. As she is all about volleyball now. |
It really depends what HS your DD will end up going. There are schools where you can make the JV with rec experience, and there are schools where you get cut from JV with club experience. Varsity is more competitive and really good players get cut. Figure out the JV schedule and take your DD to some games so that she can see the how they play. Ask your DD to introduce herself to the coach and say "see you at the tryouts in a couple of years." The coach will love that kind of an attitude. |
| Also find out if your DD’s high school holds MS clinics. In MCPS, HS’s will hold these clinics and will communicate with parents about summer conditioning. Some schools do the clinics in the fall and some in the late spring. |
I don’t think this is a good idea. They are busy with their players. I haven’t seen this done but we have one of the super competitive schools. It would be better to look for clinics at the HS put on for middle schoolers and go to those. Our school offers them for one week for 6th-8th graders every year in June. Other HS do different things. |
This is the advice we received from the MVSA club director (who is coaching the Churchill HS Varsity) during an MVSA clinic. She said that any HS coach would be happy to see the middle school players at the HS games. Not only that, but showing the guts to talk to the coach would be impressive. Of course you would not approach any coach when you see them busy with their players. |
| Well that’s just one coach, one data point. If I were a coach, I’d be annoyed with a MS’er bragging about herself. YMMV |
Is this how you would feel about a middle schooler saying hi to you after spending their time watching your team play? It's probably better that you are not a coach. Even if you were, this dismissive attitude says a lot about what type of coach you would be. Hopefully you are good at whatever else you are doing. |
NP, but this response is on Step 1–Deny this is even an issue Stem 2 is always: Concede that it is a real issue but with the caveat that it’s super rare or inconsequential Step 3: Admit that it’s more prevalent than you realized, but then insist that actually it’s a GOOD thing that is happening Step 4: Turn the tables completely by claiming that of course it’s happening, it’s completely wonderful that this is the new normal, and anyone who doesn’t like it is [insert accusation of bigotry/homophobia here] that has nothing to do with protecting women and girls |
DP and it would be a little odd honestly. Especially since you are suggesting they approach with parents. The coaches at our games are watching the other games or with their players. They don’t want younger kids and their parents coming by to introduce themselves. Who knows who the coaches will be when your kids get to HS. Their skills need to speak for themselves. You don’t want your kid to be remembered as the one who’s parents brought them by to the HS coach. Not a good look IMO. |
Can you point to the wording I used that suggested that they should approach with parents?. I am wondering whether the problem is with the writing, or with the reading and interpretation part of the communication exchange. |