Why do people allow kids to play sports at the expense of academics?

[Anonymous]

Op here-well this has been...refreshing! I thought we were all tightly-wound and grade-obsessed Ivy-pushers. But to my sincere surprise, it's only me! Good to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question says it all. Unless your kid is truly scholarship material, I seriously don't understand why you'd let your kid play sports when they are bringing in low Bs. I know colleges like sports because the student seems more well-rounded, but that's stupid if it comes at the expense of grades.

Because I don't expect all A's at all. I expect my child to study hard but be active, social, healthy and happy. Sports helps with all of those things. And ironically my daughter does WORSE in school this exact marking period. When she isn't playing a sport (she is off winter) and the days are cold and dark. She lacks focus when there is too much time on her hands. So I think without sports, she would be an uptight, unhappy kid striving for only A's to show she belongs.

Now if she was getting C and D's, then we would have to figure some things out or drop a sport if time was an issue. But I have found most kids that get A's, get them while playing sports. And most kids that got C's, gets them during sports too.

Some schools (like Basis) have short sports programs specifically in Jan-Feb, followed by regular sports in March, to give kids activity and keep them in shape.

PP here. My daughter used to play basketball in winter. But now she does core training and softball indoor practices 2-3 times a week. But there is still more down time than normal and she always slacks off a little on school too. I think sports for most kids are a positive with grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like OP to explain what's wrong with a B?

My post specifically said B minus, but I'm not going to parse it. IMO a B is a mediocre grade. You don't get into the top ten percent of your class or national merit or honor roll by being a B student. If sports help your kids prioritize their time and help them to earn good grades, that's great. That's not the question I posed though- I was asking why people let their kids stay in sports when it is AT THE EXPENSE of academics.

OT, but you can be a national merit semifinalist as a B student. All it takes is scoring at or above your state's cutoff on the junior year PSAT. There are lots of kids with better standardized test scores than grades, and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question says it all. Unless your kid is truly scholarship material, I seriously don't understand why you'd let your kid play sports when they are bringing in low Bs. I know colleges like sports because the student seems more well-rounded, but that's stupid if it comes at the expense of grades.

Because there's nothing wrong with being a B student, and if a child enjoys sports or any other extra curricular activity, the child should be supported in her interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids do better in school when they have are doing sports. I've seen grades for both my kids decline when they didn't have an after school sport. They both do better academically when they have a busier routine. They certainly wouldn't come home and study all afternoon if they didn't have sports practices. Sports are a great outlet after school for them and they come home happy, ready for dinner and then they do their homework.

This.

+100. Happy, healthy, well rounded kids are what we strive for. Why do the non sports parents always target sports yet never complain about the time spent in marching band, chorus, orchestra, etc. Kids should be free to pursue outside interests whether it's sports, or the other things mentioned. They are only kids once. Too many kids who have never done anything outside of academics have trouble adjusting once they are out of school and often have social skills that lag behind their peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here-well this has been...refreshing! I thought we were all tightly-wound and grade-obsessed Ivy-pushers. But to my sincere surprise, it's only me! Good to know.

I was a straight-A student in the days when it meant something, before all the grade inflation that parents like you fuel. And it was over-rated. I just cared about the grade, not what I was learning. I did graduate 5th in my class of about 800. But I went to a good state school, because that's what we could afford.

Somehow, though, I ended up getting a job in my field right after college and have been gainfully employed in my profession all these years, even without going to an Ivy.

There are many ways to a good life, and if my kids want to play sports and get a few Bs, (even B-!) that's OK by me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, seriously I'm shocked so many DCUM types settle for academic mediocrity. Shocked. I thought this was a hardcore Kumon/Ivy anything-to-get-into the-best college crowd.

Fine you raise your kid and I'll raise mine. You would think, given your myopic and competitive nature, you would be happy our kids are doing so "poorly" while playing those evil sports! Gives your a kid a Leg up, no? The reality is insecure parents like you raise insecure kids and adults. And that's not going to help them be truly successful.

Signed Multi- sport parents and kids, good educations, excellent careers.

[Anonymous]

My reasonably athletic daughter enjoys three sports. But if she were to drop them tomorrow we wouldn't care. It's way, way harder to be a boy with no interest in sports.

[Anonymous]

You know the saying: "A" Students Work for "C" Students and "B" Students Work for the Government.

I'd aspire my kid to work for the C in school.

[Anonymous]

This thread restores my faith in my fellow parents. I'm one of the PPs who feels sports are a positive (and straight As aren't the goal). Among my family and neighbors, I often feel like I'm swimming against the tide. I feel sad for some of my kids' peers who are pushed, pushed, pushed and expect to go to Harvard, Stanford, etc. The parents limit their participation in sports, the arts, and social activities. What happens when they get rejected? It does happen. Most straight A students aren't going to the ivies. I have a cousin who was valedictorian (FCPS) and was rejected from every one.

[Anonymous]

OMG. You're THAT parent, aren't you.

Stop torturing your kid. You're making it very hard for him to learn in my class.

[Anonymous]

I am the person you think you are describing. Solid B student who was involved in sports and other activities. My parents could have forced me to focus only on school in order to get straight As, but they knew it would take a toll on me mental health wise. Sure, I went to a top 50 college instead of a top 10, but I was happy and had a great high school and college experience. I now have a very successful and fulfilling career. I am fortunate my parents allowed me to be who I am.

[TaterMeg]

Because my son likes it and it makes him a happier, healthier person. He's also a slight introvert and a follower and it helps him teach him leadership and socialization skills which will make him just as successful (if not more) then attending a 'top 10 college'. Isn't that the main thing we want for our kids at the end of the day anyway? To be happy and healthy and successful as themselves? It is in our house.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes it can teach certain social skills that are more valuable in the long run than high academic grades. Not always but occasionally. Situation and child dependent.

[Anonymous]

Because it give people like you a false sense of security that your kid is going to outperform my child. Then you slowly feel the power slip from your fingers, your kid does not do better than mine in life and you look back on how much time you wasted for 30 years trying to make your kid the best only to find out you failed.