High school sports options

[Anonymous]

My DS in only in 6th grade, loves basketball and soccer, and is moderately athletic. He’s a decent player in both sports but likely won’t be good enough to make his high school team (likely Blair in MCPS). I really believe that being part of a sports team in HS is great for kids that like sports - helps you feel connected in a large, new place. What sports can he start trying that he’d likely be able to play on HS? Not track, he’s not very fast - I was thinking wrestling or volleyball?

[Anonymous]

lacrosse will leverage soccer and basketball. Wrestling. Cross country or track and field.

[Anonymous]

crew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lacrosse will leverage soccer and basketball. Wrestling. Cross country or track and field.

But isn’t lacrosse just as competitive as soccer and basketball and filled with kids who have been playing travel since they were 8?

[Anonymous]

At our school, crew is good because no one starts before high school. Our school also has walk ons for JV football and wrestling, I think. Or whatever else is under participated.

[Anonymous]

Best soccer players at high school age do not play for high school teams. And lots of young good soccer play switch to other sports later on. It is may not be that competitive as you think.

[Anonymous]

What about other track events like jumps or throws?

[Anonymous]

What about golf? I don’t know anything about Blair but I know several beginners in our area who joined the HS team as freshman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lacrosse will leverage soccer and basketball. Wrestling. Cross country or track and field.

But isn’t lacrosse just as competitive as soccer and basketball and filled with kids who have been playing travel since they were 8?

Maybe but the kids usually aren’t as athletic.

[Anonymous]

Swimming

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lacrosse will leverage soccer and basketball. Wrestling. Cross country or track and field.

But isn’t lacrosse just as competitive as soccer and basketball and filled with kids who have been playing travel since they were 8?

Maybe but the kids usually aren’t as athletic.

Soccer is way more competitive than lacrosse just from the sheer volume of kids that play - kids can play for travel soccer for years and have no chance of making their high school teams. Depending on where your kid goes to high school, there may be a few travel players but not enough to fill out the entire team. I have seen kids pick up a stick in 5th grade spring and by the end of the season rival kids that have been playing for years. Wall ball and rec spring lacrosse does wonders.

[Anonymous]

"Best soccer players at high school age do not play for high school teams. And lots of young good soccer play switch to other sports later on. It is may not be that competitive as you think. "

This. If he likes soccer now, he should keep playing. Play year round if possible.

As to being fast enough for track, if they don't make him the goalie on his soccer teams, he is fast enough for Blair XC and track.

No he won't make their varsity 4 x 400 team as a freshman but for most guys you can't tell how fast they will be in the 400/800/1600 until a year after they stop growing.

You have to run for years to be any good in track and if you run for soccer that counts. As someone else said, he might also do shot or discus or triple jump.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Wrestling or Volleyball. Also, Swimming, Cross Country, Tennis, Golf, Rugby, Bowling (yes, some schools have bowling teams!), Archery.

Also, don't write him off now for Soccer. He may improve enough to make the team. It is generally tough to make a HS Basketball team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lacrosse will leverage soccer and basketball. Wrestling. Cross country or track and field.

But isn’t lacrosse just as competitive as soccer and basketball and filled with kids who have been playing travel since they were 8?

Maybe but the kids usually aren’t as athletic.

Soccer is way more competitive than lacrosse just from the sheer volume of kids that play - kids can play for travel soccer for years and have no chance of making their high school teams. Depending on where your kid goes to high school, there may be a few travel players but not enough to fill out the entire team. I have seen kids pick up a stick in 5th grade spring and by the end of the season rival kids that have been playing for years. Wall ball and rec spring lacrosse does wonders.

+1 Agree with this fully