Any high school coaches here? Missing practice to travel for eclipse

[Anonymous]

My DS has a chance to travel to the 100% zone for the eclipse, but he would miss three days of soccer practice on a JV team for which he's trying out. He won't miss tryouts, but if he makes the team he'll miss time later. If you're a coach, how would you react to this? As a parent I want him to be able to experience this, but he's concerned that even asking the coach will make him look uncommitted and affect his chances. He's a follow-the-rules kind of kid.

[Anonymous]

Eh we are going to be 97% covered here. I don't think it's worth it to travel 1000 miles to see totality. Ask your son if he's prepared to not make the team. Every coach will be differnt.

[Anonymous]

We are travelling to see it and missing the first day of practice.

Can your family drive back on Monday so he only misses one day?

[Anonymous]

Yes, he will look uncommitted. I am a former college coach. While I may not punish specifically for this one incident it sure would factor in to my overall assessment of one's dedication to the team. While the other kids are there sweating it out and getting better, Johnny is prancing off to go look at the eclipse. Come on people. But it's your choice to make.

[Anonymous]

I have this question too, so you aren't alone, OP. I'm leaning towards being back for practice on Tuesday, so she'd only miss day 1. Team decisions are end of week. Coaches pick the most qualified, and whether she is there or not on Monday doesn't influence that. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

Coaches vary so much. If they're jerks, they're jerks. At our HS, player got in trouble for one trip for college recruitment, by invitation, to secure his spot on the college team. You'd think the HS coach would take pride in his players doing well, their future success - - but horrors he missed one practice!

[Anonymous]

Why are people in this area so dedicated to sports teams? Do they think they'll get a college scholarship? These are GAMES, people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people in this area so dedicated to sports teams? Do they think they'll get a college scholarship? These are GAMES, people!

Seriously. It's ridiculous. Not "devoted enough" to a JV high school team? What is this crap?

[Anonymous]

Wait until try outs are over and he makes the team. Then ask the coach.

[Anonymous]

Seeing the eclipse may literally be a once in a lifetime opportunity. A few days of JV soccer practice aren't that important. Hopefully the coach will understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people in this area so dedicated to sports teams? Do they think they'll get a college scholarship? These are GAMES, people!

This notion that kids and parents are all deluded for thinking that their kid may get a scholarship for playing their sport is a bit of a pet peeve of mine.

Sure, there may well be deluded parents, but if you have any self awareness, you have a pretty good sense of where the program your kid plays for stacks up. Is the program ranked nationally? Did the majority of 2017 graduates have multiple offers? Are kids from the team covered extensively in the WAPO? Do scouts regularly watch games? Are there scouts in the gym for practices? Has the coach discussed your kid with college coaches? Guess what --- your kid might just end up getting a scholarship. If the answer to all of these questions is no, then probably not. This is not that hard.

[Anonymous]

My kids both played JV soccer. Missing practice wouldn't get them kicked off the team after they already made it, but it would impact playing time, at least for a little while, which is only fair to the kids who are showing up everyday.

By high school, I'd let my kids decide about something like the eclipse. If your son is stressed out, don't make him go. Neither of my boys wanted to miss practice, so we scheduled things like college trips etc. accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback, this is helpful. Yes, it's a rare opportunity and a good learning experience for a science-minded kid.

I played varsity sports and my coaches would have been bummed if I *hadn't* gone, but D.C. is an intense place and many coaches are different. I always like to think they put educational opportunities first, but I appreciate that some don't. Losing a little playing time two weeks before school starts to the kids who are there every practice makes sense. Losing it the whole season is what I worry about.

(For the concerned PP, I have no illusions he'll play in college, but that shouldn't stop him from playing in high school, no?)

[Anonymous]

It's high school ffs hahaa club trumps high school 100% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's high school ffs hahaa club trumps high school 100% of the time.

If a coach has an issue with this then F them and do club only.