Aug 9th for Fall Sports is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

[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.

This is a different issue than the Aug 9 start date. Even if it were a week or two later, how would the hypothetical student above make it to practice? We live half a mile away from out HS, so not an issue. But even my kid arranged carpool with friends who had parents that could drive, and made friends with older players who would drive him to and from sports practice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

Uber has a policy to not pick up unaccompanied kids under 18 yo.

[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.

Some kids at my child’s school bike even in heavy traffic areas. Lots of parents hustle to sort out carpools or to barter for rides. Some kids have friends who drive already and can drive them. Sometimes, parents drop kids off near the school just super early. Some kids walk/bike to the nearest bus stop even if a mile or two and then take the bus. Some walk despite it being a long walk. These are teens not elementary school kids so most who have adults unavailable to drive them places have already sorted out ways to get places without parent involvement. This is of course not ideal but it seems teens do manage to get to try outs. And yes of course teens who have a parent in place with flexibility to drive them to try-outs mid-day do have a leg up but that is sadly true for all of school type things.

[Anonymous]

https://www.mpssaa.org/assets/1/6/Proj_State_Tourn_Dates_19-27.pdf


listed for many years to come....on you that you did not plan accordingly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

This post also oozes of privilege assuming there are friends and family available to drive and that one can afford Uber.

I think you all need to recognize it is really hard for many kids to get transportation and your child would have to really want this badly to make the effort. My child's friend walked a really long distance to the bus, switched to three different buses and walked another mile to the practice field. Also a single working mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

This post also oozes of privilege assuming there are friends and family available to drive and that one can afford Uber.

I think you all need to recognize it is really hard for many kids to get transportation and your child would have to really want this badly to make the effort. My child's friend walked a really long distance to the bus, switched to three different buses and walked another mile to the practice field. Also a single working mom.

People have acknowledged that it’s hard for some kids. Repeatedly. And they’ve offered suggestions. We get it. Your kid has to walk 8 miles uphill without shoes each way to practice and none of the alternatives offered is helpful. Not even the free bus ride after a mile walk to the bus stop.

And not having privilege isn’t the only thing that makes sports hard for some kids. Special needs kids might not even have the option of the bus because they might not be capable of doing the mile walk.

Some people will always have it better than you or your kids. And some kids will have actual real insurmountable obstacles and your kid’s road will look like a walk in the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

I am a married working mom and I can't get my kid to practices that are in the middle of the day either. Are you telling a single working mom to pay for an Uber so their kid can go to practices all summer long from 12-2pm. That is insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

This post also oozes of privilege assuming there are friends and family available to drive and that one can afford Uber.

I think you all need to recognize it is really hard for many kids to get transportation and your child would have to really want this badly to make the effort. My child's friend walked a really long distance to the bus, switched to three different buses and walked another mile to the practice field. Also a single working mom.

People have acknowledged that it’s hard for some kids. Repeatedly. And they’ve offered suggestions. We get it. Your kid has to walk 8 miles uphill without shoes each way to practice and none of the alternatives offered is helpful. Not even the free bus ride after a mile walk to the bus stop.

And not having privilege isn’t the only thing that makes sports hard for some kids. Special needs kids might not even have the option of the bus because they might not be capable of doing the mile walk.

Some people will always have it better than you or your kids. And some kids will have actual real insurmountable obstacles and your kid’s road will look like a walk in the park.

Actually all the school would have to do is run the practices in the AM or PM so kids can at least get one ride. The coaches could also send out links for carpools to new and returning students. There is a way that coaches can make it easier and they don't try. But they complain when the best players are playing travel or club and not their high school sport. At least travel or club have evening practices and weekend events. Not 1pm on a Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.mpssaa.org/assets/1/6/Proj_State_Tourn_Dates_19-27.pdf


listed for many years to come....on you that you did not plan accordingly

The OP said they just moved here. This is a very transient area. Kids come and go all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

+1

[Anonymous]

This is absurd. Try outs should be first week of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

Uber has a policy to not pick up unaccompanied kids under 18 yo.

They've picked my kid up from high school many many times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is absurd. Try outs should be first week of school.

So they should have tryouts after the 3 weeks of practices and scrimmages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Talk to the coach, friend or family or Uber. How do you get your kid places normally?

This post also oozes of privilege assuming there are friends and family available to drive and that one can afford Uber.

I think you all need to recognize it is really hard for many kids to get transportation and your child would have to really want this badly to make the effort. My child's friend walked a really long distance to the bus, switched to three different buses and walked another mile to the practice field. Also a single working mom.

People have acknowledged that it’s hard for some kids. Repeatedly. And they’ve offered suggestions. We get it. Your kid has to walk 8 miles uphill without shoes each way to practice and none of the alternatives offered is helpful. Not even the free bus ride after a mile walk to the bus stop.

And not having privilege isn’t the only thing that makes sports hard for some kids. Special needs kids might not even have the option of the bus because they might not be capable of doing the mile walk.

Some people will always have it better than you or your kids. And some kids will have actual real insurmountable obstacles and your kid’s road will look like a walk in the park.

Actually all the school would have to do is run the practices in the AM or PM so kids can at least get one ride. The coaches could also send out links for carpools to new and returning students. There is a way that coaches can make it easier and they don't try. But they complain when the best players are playing travel or club and not their high school sport. At least travel or club have evening practices and weekend events. Not 1pm on a Tuesday.

All of our sports have had parent groups that coordinate carpool.
It is silly to think all of the sports could practice in the morning or afternoon when they Share weight rooms and fields and have to stagger how many students access those facilities.