Why do travel sports parents ignore academics?

[Anonymous]

Interesting...there are only 2 dimensions! Sports and academics!

Big surprise! Kids like playing sports! Some like to play a lot! Like really a lot! And they are all really smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all getting athletic scholarships! No - seriously I have coached both soccer and basketball teams and I have noticed this trend for multiple reasons: They think it is the easiest way to get a scholarship, want their child to playba sport in HS and not be nerdy, parents enjoy the entertainment and socializing, the erroneously think their kid needs to play a sport to get into a good college, they ignore academics falling for the line that their is a college for everyone and they like the status. The stories I could tell!

I think it has a lot to do with inability to delay gratification. As in, it's super exciting to watch your kid win some dumb game every other weekend from age 5 to 17 ... or they can study, do some interesting clubs, etc. from age 5 to 17 and get into an unbelievable college. Simpleton parents choose the short-term highs over the long game.

A kid who is talented at academics and sports has a leg up over kids who only exhibit academic talents. The kids I know who got into "unbelievable" colleges had talents and activities outside of academics. Colleges love kids who have shown the ability to get great grades and test scores while being heavily involved in non-acdemic activities that take up a lot of their time.

If your kids are still young, I'd advise you to ask your children what they would like to do after school, other than studying and academic clubs.

It is not "ignoring academics" to have your kids involved in other activities, also. It is helping your child to develop many different facets of their personalities and helping them grow up to be adults who are capable of many kinds of high achievement.

ITA with this last paragraph!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are all getting athletic scholarships! No - seriously I have coached both soccer and basketball teams and I have noticed this trend for multiple reasons: They think it is the easiest way to get a scholarship, want their child to playba sport in HS and not be nerdy, parents enjoy the entertainment and socializing, the erroneously think their kid needs to play a sport to get into a good college, they ignore academics falling for the line that their is a college for everyone and they like the status. The stories I could tell!

I think it has a lot to do with inability to delay gratification. As in, it's super exciting to watch your kid win some dumb game every other weekend from age 5 to 17 ... or they can study, do some interesting clubs, etc. from age 5 to 17 and get into an unbelievable college. Simpleton parents choose the short-term highs over the long game.

your kids a loser, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Is this any worse than parents who make their kids practice an instrument gor 3-4 hours a day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

I think the difference is that if you don't like sports, people act as if there is something wrong with you, as if there is some requirement to play sports. People can be healthy and well rounded without team sports. It's ridiculous that it is discussed so much here. There are kids who play sports who are well rounded and there are kids who don't play sports who at also well rounded. There is room for both! In the work world, no one I've encountered ever asked or cared if I played sports in elementary through high school.

[Anonymous]

Well there is something to playing sports and business. In a 2013 E&Y survey of high level American business executives 90% played at least 1 sport in high school. 55% of the women C level executives played a college sport.

[Anonymous]

Mine plays sports and is on the honor roll. His girlfriend is very artistic and on the honor roll.

Playing travel sports doesn'the mean academics are ignored. Some sports require good grades to continue playing .

Op I'mean not sure where you came up with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

I think the difference is that if you don't like sports, people act as if there is something wrong with you, as if there is some requirement to play sports. People can be healthy and well rounded without team sports. It's ridiculous that it is discussed so much here. There are kids who play sports who are well rounded and there are kids who don't play sports who at also well rounded. There is room for both! In the work world, no one I've encountered ever asked or cared if I played sports in elementary through high school.

The problme is that people who don't play sports felt left out as a child because sports is a way people build friendships.

They felt judged and left out, they were not judged and left out it was just their perception. They were not as good of friends because plying a team sport builds a bond, they confuse that with being left out.

Now as a dulls they judge athletic kids as cliquey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

I think the difference is that if you don't like sports, people act as if there is something wrong with you, as if there is some requirement to play sports. People can be healthy and well rounded without team sports. It's ridiculous that it is discussed so much here. There are kids who play sports who are well rounded and there are kids who don't play sports who at also well rounded. There is room for both! In the work world, no one I've encountered ever asked or cared if I played sports in elementary through high school.

The problme is that people who don't play sports felt left out as a child because sports is a way people build friendships.

They felt judged and left out, they were not judged and left out it was just their perception. They were not as good of friends because plying a team sport builds a bond, they confuse that with being left out.

Now as a dulls they judge athletic kids as cliquey.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

I think the difference is that if you don't like sports, people act as if there is something wrong with you, as if there is some requirement to play sports. People can be healthy and well rounded without team sports. It's ridiculous that it is discussed so much here. There are kids who play sports who are well rounded and there are kids who don't play sports who at also well rounded. There is room for both! In the work world, no one I've encountered ever asked or cared if I played sports in elementary through high school.

The problme is that people who don't play sports felt left out as a child because sports is a way people build friendships.

They felt judged and left out, they were not judged and left out it was just their perception. They were not as good of friends because plying a team sport builds a bond, they confuse that with being left out.

Now as a dulls they judge athletic kids as cliquey.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

No it really isn't and I completely agree. We have a mess of a situation in our grade right now because one mom is raising hell that her son is being left out of a "clique" and is never included in anything these other boys do. Problem is her son does not play any sports. This "clique" play on several teams together and when they hang out, all they do is practice. They have become very good friends and are not leaving anyone out they are hanging out with kids they share interests with. There is a difference. And yes, attempts at including her son have not ended well. He is a mean manipulative child. I see this time and time again-my oldest is in high school and it is like this in every grade.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the posters that parents who either were not athletic themselves and/or have kids who aren't athletic seem to have a particular chip on their shoulder and judge athletic oriented families. I find it completely bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids I know who are high level athletes are also outstanding students.

Same here. It seems the ones most into sports are the ones who must manage their time best. No time to waste on tv or video games, etc

I know this will come as a shock, but kids can have interests other than sports that take time so that the child must learn to manage his or her time wisely. Sports are not the be all and end all. There are other activities in life.

That is what sport parents are saying, why do you care that sports kids have actives that make them plan their time wisely.

Nobody ever posts, why do parents that require piano lessons at a high level ignore academics.

People are bitter about athletes for some reason.

I think the difference is that if you don't like sports, people act as if there is something wrong with you, as if there is some requirement to play sports. People can be healthy and well rounded without team sports. It's ridiculous that it is discussed so much here. There are kids who play sports who are well rounded and there are kids who don't play sports who at also well rounded. There is room for both! In the work world, no one I've encountered ever asked or cared if I played sports in elementary through high school.

The problme is that people who don't play sports felt left out as a child because sports is a way people build friendships.

They felt judged and left out, they were not judged and left out it was just their perception. They were not as good of friends because plying a team sport builds a bond, they confuse that with being left out.

Now as a dulls they judge athletic kids as cliquey.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

No it really isn't and I completely agree. We have a mess of a situation in our grade right now because one mom is raising hell that her son is being left out of a "clique" and is never included in anything these other boys do. Problem is her son does not play any sports. This "clique" play on several teams together and when they hang out, all they do is practice. They have become very good friends and are not leaving anyone out they are hanging out with kids they share interests with. There is a difference. And yes, attempts at including her son have not ended well. He is a mean manipulative child. I see this time and time again-my oldest is in high school and it is like this in every grade.

I have seen this from the other side. We live in a very sports oriented community (not in the DC area). My kids are not into team sports (one plays golf and the other is an equestrian). They have tried several team sports but are not athletically talented in any respect (we have muscle tone and coordination issues in the family). My kids are really nice kids. Not mean. Not manipulative. You are kidding yourself if you don't think the team sports kids are cliquey and many of the parents as well. In our town kids play different sports (soccer, LAX, water polo, volley ball, basketball), so they aren't all on the same teams. They really do just judge the kids who are not athletic, despite the fact that they may have other talents. I suspect it comes from the parents, but I could be wrong. All I can tell you is that there is a really strange divide and I don't quite get it. It seems so silly to me.