Which sports should I focus on for my kids in early elementary if I want them to get into a "Big 3"

[Anonymous]

You really think teaching your kids the art of brown nosing adds to their overall happiness?

[Anonymous]

I really hope this is not a serious post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are serious -- sports come into play for college recruitment. The Big Three don't really care. Some of the Catholics do care.

Actually, if the kid is great, they will care, but only for a few marquee sports.

But the basic advice still holds: chill and let the kids play what the like, and if they're any good down the road you can get in touch with coaches at schools to which you are applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are serious -- sports come into play for college recruitment. The Big Three don't really care. Some of the Catholics do care.

Actually, if the kid is great, they will care, but only for a few marquee sports.

But the basic advice still holds: chill and let the kids play what the like, and if they're any good down the road you can get in touch with coaches at schools to which you are applying.

My DC is at a "Big 3" and doesn't have an athletic bone in her body. I think they care more about test scores and grades. At least that was our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are serious -- sports come into play for college recruitment. The Big Three don't really care. Some of the Catholics do care.

Actually, if the kid is great, they will care, but only for a few marquee sports.

But the basic advice still holds: chill and let the kids play what the like, and if they're any good down the road you can get in touch with coaches at schools to which you are applying.

My DC is at a "Big 3" and doesn't have an athletic bone in her body. I think they care more about test scores and grades. At least that was our experience.

And most students at Ivies are not recruited athletes, either.

Mostly it is about grades/test scores at local independents. But they do recruit (not in every sport, though) and they do give weight in admissions to athletic excellence. It doesn't mean one MUST be an athlete to be admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming the post is authentic (which I think it probably is) I would have to say that unless you have some indication that your child will be extremely gifted athletically (you and your spouse were high level athletes, or they show great promise recognized by others), just don't worry about this. And even if they are gifted, I'd agree with others to let them play what they love -- a child pushed into a sport is much more likely to burn out and have the sport be a burden, not a healthy release.

Schools don't generally start paying too much attention to sports as part of admissions until upper school, so if you're thinking of admissions at lower grades this is basically irrelevant.

Now, to answer your question on the merits. For a boy, probably the most helpful sport would be football, in all honesty -- fewer and fewer kids play football but schools still have programs and they need athletes. Other sports for boys that would help would be basketball (but you have to be really good -- they all get very skilled basketball specialists coming in at 9th grade); lacrosse; and perhaps baseball as #4. Weirdly, soccer is becoming less of a help because if a kid is really good at soccer, he will not be able to play for the high school because he'll be playing club for an "Academy" team and they bar hs participation. Plus, plenty of kids play soccer so the schools will get many soccer players without seeking them out.

For girls, it won't surprise that there is less recruiting than for boys. The three most prominent sports, that might give a little edge, would be basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. But again, the athlete would have to be really, really good for it to matter in the sense of giving any kind of edge.

This is very useful perspective.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I agree on the football comment -- big-3 schools are definitely looking for boys, middle school and up, who can and want to play football. Football in the privates is not nearly as rough and tumble as it is in public schools, by the way. There are some amazing flag football leagues in the area for younger kids.

I disagree with the poster who said big-3 schools don't think about applicants and their sports until upper school. Middle school is where it starts, without question.

Schools like to see applicants with passion about something -- sports, music, arts, robotics, writing code, etc. An incoming kid who loves a sport and is good at it and can't stop talking about it -- schools like that. Kids passionate about one thing are more likely to be devoted to or passionate about other things; plus, those kids understand the feeling of being passionate and the devotion and hard work that comes with it.

Finally, all the big 3 or 5 schools like to have kids play multiple sports (and some require it, at least in some grades). Thus, having an applicant who at least has team experience in 2 or 3 of the sports the school has teams in will be a plus. Look at the listing of sports at schools you're interested in. Some have a surprising variety. All I think have soccer, cross-country, baseball (boys), volleyball (girls), swimming. Most have lacrosse and football for boys too. A few have crew (e.g., St. Albans), squash (e.g., Potomac), golf (e.g., Maret), and water polo (e.g., Landon).

For now, I'd say expose your child to athletics and show them that it's a regular part of the family's life too -- mom and dad and siblings. If they're still elementary school age, go ahead and sign them up for sports teams without asking them in advance. Hopefully on a team they have a friend or two. Year-round too. Fall soccer; spring baseball or lacrosse. Winter swimming lessons or basketball league, with some skiing too. Summer sports camps too. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

One of the big 3 doesn't have football, another is single- sex (something OP wasn't interested in). So choosing football, means hoping that's your son's ticket into Sidwell. Good luck with that!

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of research tending to show engaging in multiple sports at least up to age 12 is best. Some disconnect between parental tendency to focus early and what actually happens with kids and sports abilities at highest levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're using the word "agnostic" incorrectly.

I think you should stop trying so hard. You can't micromanage to this degree. It will drive you nuts.

Actually the usage is fine in the sense of not committed. It's fairly common use but a bit pretentious.

I agree with PP, the use is wrong.

[Anonymous]

With all the research about its negative effects on the players health and well-being, how can you recommend football? Are you nuts?

[Anonymous]

Field hockey for a girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the research about its negative effects on the players health and well-being, how can you recommend football? Are you nuts?

The football league that the big-3 plays in is fairly tame. At big Catholic and private schools, the football teams play in a much different/bigger league, with 80+ kids on teams and some 300 pounders on varsity. Big 3 football is a completely different story - smaller kids, smaller teams. At least in some DC privates, there are more concussions among soccer players than football players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the research about its negative effects on the players health and well-being, how can you recommend football? Are you nuts?

The football league that the big-3 plays in is fairly tame. At big Catholic and private schools, the football teams play in a much different/bigger league, with 80+ kids on teams and some 300 pounders on varsity. Big 3 football is a completely different story - smaller kids, smaller teams. At least in some DC privates, there are more concussions among soccer players than football players.

Seriously, who the hell cares if kids get concussions?! As long as they play sports that get them into a Big 3....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the research about its negative effects on the players health and well-being, how can you recommend football? Are you nuts?

The football league that the big-3 plays in is fairly tame. At big Catholic and private schools, the football teams play in a much different/bigger league, with 80+ kids on teams and some 300 pounders on varsity. Big 3 football is a completely different story - smaller kids, smaller teams. At least in some DC privates, there are more concussions among soccer players than football players.

Seriously, who the hell cares if kids get concussions?! As long as they play sports that get them into a Big 3....