Do travel/club sports always pay off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my kids’ FCPS high school it varies a lot by sport.

Boys Basketball, and both boys and girls soccer and both boys and girls swim: many travel/club kids cut

Girls basketball, softball, and baseball: most travel kids make the team, but not all.

Gymnastics, wrestling, golf, field hockey: pretty much all the club/travel kids make the team

Lacrosse, rifle, track, cross country, cheer, rowing: some cuts, but very few, most or all athletic kids make the team even if they are new to the sport.

I've never heard of a public high school gymnastics or rifle team. I also don't have a kid in high school yet. Learn something new every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my kids’ FCPS high school it varies a lot by sport.

Boys Basketball, and both boys and girls soccer and both boys and girls swim: many travel/club kids cut

Girls basketball, softball, and baseball: most travel kids make the team, but not all.

Gymnastics, wrestling, golf, field hockey: pretty much all the club/travel kids make the team

Lacrosse, rifle, track, cross country, cheer, rowing: some cuts, but very few, most or all athletic kids make the team even if they are new to the sport.

I've never heard of a public high school gymnastics or rifle team. I also don't have a kid in high school yet. Learn something new every day.

DP: Really? Pretty common. FCPS and APS both have them in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my kids’ FCPS high school it varies a lot by sport.

Boys Basketball, and both boys and girls soccer and both boys and girls swim: many travel/club kids cut

Girls basketball, softball, and baseball: most travel kids make the team, but not all.

Gymnastics, wrestling, golf, field hockey: pretty much all the club/travel kids make the team

Lacrosse, rifle, track, cross country, cheer, rowing: some cuts, but very few, most or all athletic kids make the team even if they are new to the sport.

I've never heard of a public high school gymnastics or rifle team. I also don't have a kid in high school yet. Learn something new every day.

DP: Really? Pretty common. FCPS and APS both have them in this area.

Another DP - yeah really those are completely foreign to me, but TIL!

[Anonymous]

In our town, travel basketball starts in 5th grade. The 5th grade teams are balanced. 6th grade sorts players into A and B teams. That A team then automatically becomes the 7th grade team (the coach is also the travel association president, so he knows the kids). Two of the top B team kids will also make the 7th grade roster.

8th grade keeps the same roster, but will add a couple more B team kids if they’ve played club or otherwise worked on their skills during the year.

The travel kids who get cut switch to rec if they are still interested in basketball.

Of the kids who make the middle school team, usually about four or five are serious players who play for high level AAU clubs. They’ll be varsity starters in HS. The rest are just along for the ride.

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old (no middle school soccer team) is in 7th and started soccer in 3rd / started club soccer at the end of 3rd.

We’re in CA where it’s pretty much year round and for the few weeks she’s off she runs or lifts or watches soccer videos and takes notes. I think she’d play soccer in her sleep if she could.

She’s not on the highest level team but loves her coach and teammates.

She asked me once, after all the time and money, what I’d do if she wanted to quit. I told her that I’d want her to reflect on it and I’d want to know the reasons, but that we’re doing it because it brings her joy, has taught her great leadership and teamwork skills, has helped her learn to talk to coaches who she might have a hard time with, keeps her fit, and teaches her that dedication can help her improve. If she wants to go out for HS soccer and doesn’t make it I’ll be sad for her (it’s very competitive) but it’s not the reason she’s playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not for us and we had little to no interest in the whole culture surrounding it so we bounced when it wasn't fun. DS is 6"6 and naturally athletically inclined so we were generally supportive, but again, if it becomes something they hate we are fine with quitting. Never considered sports as a factor at all re: college.

There are coaches out there that want to give your an oar. Just sayin

[Anonymous]

What?
Bizarre question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not for us and we had little to no interest in the whole culture surrounding it so we bounced when it wasn't fun. DS is 6"6 and naturally athletically inclined so we were generally supportive, but again, if it becomes something they hate we are fine with quitting. Never considered sports as a factor at all re: college.

There are coaches out there that want to give your an oar. Just sayin

lol. My thought

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all kids who play travel or club basketball end up making their middle or high school teams?

Almost nothing in life is "always" or "never", excepting maybe death and taxes.

There are exceptions to anything relating to schools. DCUM will never agree how many exceptions or on what is "usual" and what is "exceptional" though.

So I find questions like the OP odd. The answer has to be "not always" because of exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not for us and we had little to no interest in the whole culture surrounding it so we bounced when it wasn't fun. DS is 6"6 and naturally athletically inclined so we were generally supportive, but again, if it becomes something they hate we are fine with quitting. Never considered sports as a factor at all re: college.

There are coaches out there that want to give your an oar. Just sayin

lol. My thought

DP. Can you explain the joke? Give her an oar?

[Anonymous]

Regular old little league worked just fine for my DS to make his varsity baseball team. He didn't play travel ball until he was a sophomore and looking to get recruited to play in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not for us and we had little to no interest in the whole culture surrounding it so we bounced when it wasn't fun. DS is 6"6 and naturally athletically inclined so we were generally supportive, but again, if it becomes something they hate we are fine with quitting. Never considered sports as a factor at all re: college.

There are coaches out there that want to give your an oar. Just sayin

lol. My thought

DP. Can you explain the joke? Give her an oar?

tall uncoordinated kid should row

[Anonymous]

For whatever it’s worth, club sports are an entry on the common application extracurriculars section. Your student reports hours spent etc and leadership roles there. It shows real commitment over time, much more so than the short high school season.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but it does have that “pay off”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For whatever it’s worth, club sports are an entry on the common application extracurriculars section. Your student reports hours spent etc and leadership roles there. It shows real commitment over time, much more so than the short high school season.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but it does have that “pay off”.

Absolutely not, but I think the OP is more focused on younger clubs to play in HS. Also doesn't pay off quite often unless the kid is motivated and playing a top level, because there are many places that will take your $$$ and say they play "club/travel".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For whatever it’s worth, club sports are an entry on the common application extracurriculars section. Your student reports hours spent etc and leadership roles there. It shows real commitment over time, much more so than the short high school season.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but it does have that “pay off”.

Absolutely not, but I think the OP is more focused on younger clubs to play in HS. Also doesn't pay off quite often unless the kid is motivated and playing a top level, because there are many places that will take your $$$ and say they play "club/travel".

OP here- yes, I am specifically asking about playing travel/club in order to make middle and high school teams.