I hate it when people say parents should put their kids in basketball or baseball instead of football because of CTE
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Anonymous
basic bob |
Anonymous
How are sports any different than art, music, academics, travel, etc? we all choose to spend our time and money in different ways. |
Anonymous
I don't know where you live but we see people of all ages play basketball together at the local rec centers and playgrounds in casual pickup games. From teenagers to people who look like they're grandparents. And at some of my previous workplaces, I felt like I was at a disadvantage because I wasn't confident enough to join the company softball team. Especially after hearing how the team manager had to cut one of the coworkers because the other team members were tired of them not being able to hit the ball. So was a big reason why I wanted to make that my kids were comfortable hitting and fielding the ball. And I'm not as a big fan but we see adults play casual pick up soccer in the local fields too. One group in particular is kind of obnoxious because they obviously don't have a permit but squeeze out the youth teams during their practice times on those fields. And there looks like there are some actual adult leagues that rent out fields and indoor soccer fields too. |
Anonymous
Until they don’t |
Anonymous
You're more likely to be hit by lightning. |
Anonymous
Rec sports are fun when they are young and you can sign up for the same team with friends and a coach you know. Once you get to the age where they draft teams it gets pretty terrible. Half the kids are god-awful and have no intention of actually getting better. A quarter almost never show up for practice or games, and you'll sometimes forfeit because not even 5 kids show up for a basketball game. I'd say it's 50/50 whether you get a good parent coach or a terrible one, or maybe some high school kids just doing it for service hours. |
Anonymous
High school sports are important for getting admitted into the service academies |
Anonymous
Just curious, what level swimmer were you when younger? I was high level and most people I swam with rarely touch the pool now. Burnout is very real and most of us enjoy exploring other ways to be fit that don’t involve staring at a black line. I feel like I have done every type of set under the sun and just can’t find the enjoyment in it anymore. Plus there’s the depressing evidence of how much slower I am now with zero realistic hope of ever getting close to my old times. Glad you’re enjoying it though. |
Anonymous
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Kids don't have to play sports just to get scholarships/play professionally in the future. They can just play for fun and exercise. This is why we have rec level sports, OP. Heck, half the travel teams are really just expensive res-level teams for any sport.
There are also plenty of things your short stocky boy can do for exercise - tennis, swimming, running, etc. |
Anonymous
It's amazing that you're in close enough touch with everyone you swam with all through high school to know this!!! |
Anonymous
NP and former competitive swimmer. At least you can still swim as you age. Old gymnasts and ice skaters can't do their difficult tricks. I did masters swimming and open water swimming. Looking at the black line is a nice break from doom scrolling. |
Anonymous
Do you know what dramatically increases your chances of getting into an Ivy? Being a great lacrosse player. |
Anonymous
I've started playing again in my late forties since my kids have started getting into it. Some of my runs feature players over 75. I feel basketball is about one of the best for health other than ankles or knees, even then I think its actually pretty good for balance later in life. Like you just don't get the same heart workout or major muscle workout that you do in swimming. I swum for a number of years and also cycled. They just don't have that cardio. It's bursty high intensity running and jumping with active recovery. Soccer is probably pretty good also, just don't like the CTE of it and can be pretty bad on the knees also. The thing is basketball is actually a great contact sport for smaller players. They way the rules work kids just won't get obliterated. Even soccer can feature high speed collisions with no helmets. Not saying they will be good at it, but I think they tend to enjoy playing it anyway, whereas other sports aren't as fun. |
Anonymous
You clearly never played lacrosse. You have to be in the top 1% to play D1 at the Ivys |
Anonymous
But that’s easy just an athletic kid in lacrosse and it’s like taking candy from a baby |