Aug 9th for Fall Sports is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

You're in MoCo. Sounds like high school sports are not as enjoyable or worthwhile. Too bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

You sacrificesome things in the summer. Sometimes that means shorter or earlier or no vacations. Sometimes it means working 6 wks instead of 8 wks in summer. Sometimes it means giving up club sport if you want to be on the HS team or only playing one season… etc etc. These HS have 2000 kids. No one is about to change the whole system so you can enjoy week long or 2 month long vacations. Want to tryout or want to play, be prepared to give up something(s). Don’t like that, well too bad. Suck it up buttercup or don’t participate.

[Anonymous]

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

Once your kids are teens, it it tough to vacation in the summer anyway. My teen does not do a fall sport, but works as a tennis counselor. They expect him to be there for the duration of the camp.

[Anonymous]

We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify. There are no mandatory practices after Memorial Day.

High school teams may hold up to 12 optional practices between late May and end of July.

Those are state rules.

[Anonymous]

It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify. There are no mandatory practices after Memorial Day.

High school teams may hold up to 12 optional practices between late May and end of July.

Those are state rules.

Not mandatory but they do count for those sports where you have to try out. No cut sports, no big deal not to attend. But for others, being at your best can make all the difference. And best is more than being the best player - it means having demonstrated commitment as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify. There are no mandatory practices after Memorial Day.

High school teams may hold up to 12 optional practices between late May and end of July.

Those are state rules.

Not mandatory but they do count for those sports where you have to try out. No cut sports, no big deal not to attend. But for others, being at your best can make all the difference. And best is more than being the best player - it means having demonstrated commitment as well.

+1. Totally agree with this poster. My son plays HS soccer. It’s tough to stand out at tryouts given the number of kids who show up. By attending workouts, you’re already known to the coaches. They make cuts after 1-2 days so it’s best to have the extra opportunities to make an impression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

The Week before tryouts is usually no practice and that's when we go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summer vacation = riding bikes, planting a garden/harvesting, going to the local pool, reading library books, being bored, taking the bus to the mall, etc etc.

C'mon, you entitled people!

^ posts from 1983

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Your post oozes of privilege. How does a single working mom handle this schedule you described above?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

They walk the 1.5 miles to the bus stop (and the bus is free for HS kids), ride their bike or walk to practice. If you’re a returning kid you might be able to carpool. A WFH parent takes a break and does drop off either at the bus stop or school. Some parents don’t work business hours and so are available for transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

Imagine feeling entitled to a bus route closer than a mile and a half! How do you think rural kids make it through life. What a hypocrite