Sidwell Friends Boys Soccer

[Anonymous]

What has Sidwell done to prove it is committing to sports programs? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What has Sidwell done to prove it is committing to sports programs? Thanks.

It's building a state-of-the-art athletic center. Quite an investment that will attract talented athletic students & also be a draw for coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saying Sidwell's kids are unathletic is silly. Look at the other teams, soccer, wrestling, cross country. More than a dozen kids are committed to playing on college teams. The problem with the football team is that it's not supported at all by the school's athletic director who has disdain for the program and won't support it. She has been quoted in the press referring to Sidwell as a ``soccer school'' which really pissed off the football parents. That said Sidwell is paying more attention to athletic ability during the admission process which should help down the road.

Interesting comment. I think it's great that Sidwell is devoting more attention to fostering athletic talent and devoting more resources to it's athletic program and exciting that they are investing in a state-of-the-art athletic center. This is a huge step. Honestly, I don't see how Sidwell could ever feel it was being true to it's Quaker roots and advocate for a superior football team, so I understand the AD take on football. Let's face it football is a violent contact sport and there's a part of the sport that goes against the fundamentals principles of non-violence. But, I'm not letting the AD off the hook all together, I too find it annoying and quite frankly limiting that she publicly calls the school a "soccer school," that comment undermines student athletes who aren't soccer players and shows favoritism. In the years to come, I think we will see stronger basketball, lacrosse (not nearly as violent contact sport), baseball and other teams where the school used to languish. Should be interesting now that Sidwell has decided to finally committed to the sports program. Finally, kudos to the soccer team!!

You people are lunatics. Saying your school is a good soccer school is clearly factually accurate and is not offensive to normal people who are not jealous over- absorbed parents. Wow, starting to understand some of these Sidwell comments even though I've always been impressed with the quality of the education. I hope the new Sidwell head can rein in some of these parent whiners.

[Anonymous]

Can't wait for the DCUM comments when unathletic Sidwell siblings get passed over for better athletes. But I'm sure you all think YOUR kids are great athletes, all objective criteria notwithstanding. Athletics at these privates is a thankless job.

[Anonymous]

when will the athletic center be done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when will the athletic center be done?

I believe fall 2010--supposed to be really nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saying Sidwell's kids are unathletic is silly. Look at the other teams, soccer, wrestling, cross country. More than a dozen kids are committed to playing on college teams. The problem with the football team is that it's not supported at all by the school's athletic director who has disdain for the program and won't support it. She has been quoted in the press referring to Sidwell as a ``soccer school'' which really pissed off the football parents. That said Sidwell is paying more attention to athletic ability during the admission process which should help down the road.

Interesting comment. I think it's great that Sidwell is devoting more attention to fostering athletic talent and devoting more resources to it's athletic program and exciting that they are investing in a state-of-the-art athletic center. This is a huge step. Honestly, I don't see how Sidwell could ever feel it was being true to it's Quaker roots and advocate for a superior football team, so I understand the AD take on football. Let's face it football is a violent contact sport and there's a part of the sport that goes against the fundamentals principles of non-violence. But, I'm not letting the AD off the hook all together, I too find it annoying and quite frankly limiting that she publicly calls the school a "soccer school," that comment undermines student athletes who aren't soccer players and shows favoritism. In the years to come, I think we will see stronger basketball, lacrosse (not nearly as violent contact sport), baseball and other teams where the school used to languish. Should be interesting now that Sidwell has decided to finally committed to the sports program. Finally, kudos to the soccer team!!

Lacrosse not a violent contact sport? Have you seen a boys lacrosse game? There's a reason they wear all those pads.

[Anonymous]

How many hours does a top soccer program (i.e. Sidwell) expect its students to practice per week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many hours does a top soccer program (i.e. Sidwell) expect its students to practice per week?

Most high school sports teams practice every afternoon after school for about 2 hours during the season. Soccer is somewhat unusual in that it is a year round sport and that most top high school players remain on travel teams. So in addition to school practice and games they are also practicing with their travel team and playing games on weekends in the spring and fall and doing a winter league in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many hours does a top soccer program (i.e. Sidwell) expect its students to practice per week?

Typically, daily practice after school for about two hours, except on game days. Two weeks of daily practice before school starts - anywhere from 2 to 6 hours each day - and the varsity does a preseason tournament. During June and July, practice two afternoons a week for all players who are not out of town.

In addition, as the PP said, almost all players also are on club teams outside of school, and most players do at least one or two soccer camps during the summer.

[Anonymous]

Basketball and girls lax are other sports with significant club team participation among top athletes, but so far at least between girls club soccer and club lax soccer makes much more of a school year demand. Girls club soccer coaches will sometimes be hostile to the athletes playing other sports for their school, more so than on the boys' side of the equation (perhaps bc the boys want the status on campus, while the girls and their parents are much more willing to cave). Also, the $$$ for club soccer keeps private school soccer virtually lily white--ISL field hockey is much more diverse than soccer because girls can start it later and still compete.

[Anonymous]

I love the poster who said that Lacrosse isn't a violent sport. It's the only sport I know where you allowed to hit an opponent as hard as you can with sticks. The other really misinformed thing she said that Quakers shouldn't be playing football because it is a violent sport. Quakers believe in avoiding war, they don't believe in avoiding sports.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is rumored to have hired more coaches for the football team and is begun to ``encourage'' stronger athletes to look at the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is rumored to have hired more coaches for the football team and is begun to ``encourage'' stronger athletes to look at the school

Bribery? Sleepovers in the Lincoln Bedroom? Sounds a bit dramatic. From this board I would guess that the Sidwell football parents as a group are JUST a bit high maintenance. . . Since when did "Friday Night Lights" style football parents pop up on Wisconsin Ave?

[Anonymous]

i think by encourage they mean....if you the school becomes aware of a good athlete, they encourage him/her to apply. the kid still has to be smart enough to handle the work at the school. If a good athlete applies, that will become a plus in his/her application. in the past athleticism was not a consideration.