Why do travel sports parents ignore academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some perspective here parents. Sorry if this bursts your bubble, but "good student" "outstanding student" is meaningless. Most of you don't know what top academics are. For example, my kids went freshman year to a private HS instead of the giant but excellent public HS. Before HS , they were in gifted programs. So they get to HS and honors classes were a JOKE. This is a good school - but really, they don't even offer AP physics. The public schools are excellent in our area and people send their kids to this school so their kid can make the team, be in the play, cheer.....be somebody. A lot of the IB classes - not that tough either.

You want tough, show me a kid that is taking AP calc AB and BC , multivariable calc, both AP physics classes, AP literature and also pouring hours and hours into sports. Show me a BIG SCHOOL varsity player - say 500 or more in graduating class that is taking classes that would be accepted at Perdue for Engineering.

In short - academically , most parents of kids that think their kid is a great student may not realize their kid is just good in the academic rec league!!! Private schools are great for giving the allusion of academic greatness. ACT of 32 or so and varsity football or baseball at a big public school. I'm sure they are out there. Max Scherzer got a 36 on his ACT math section. But these kids are rare, and yes, huge hours are needed to excel at the big school varsity level and these kids 99/100 times aren't nailing classes that would qualify in an accredited engineering program.

My kid got a 28 on the ACT and graduated from “accredited engineering program.” I don’t care how “tough” they are.

[Anonymous]

Haha my kid fits the profile that DCUM hates. No-cut sport at d3 college, etc. Yet happy as a clam!

[Anonymous]

I couldn’t read all of the replies but we fit OPs description. We think academics are important but we have always had their evening and weekends filled with sports and not academic enrichment or tutoring. It’s because this is what makes them happy and emotionally balanced. They need the physical activity and social benefits from being on a team. We never cared about scholarships. Neither care about going to medical school and we aren’t pressuring them to only look at the most prestigious universities. Sports make them happy and have given them and my family wonderful memories of childhood.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps they care more than you think, but that just isn't where their kid is going to shine.

[Anonymous]

It's Purdue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some perspective here parents. Sorry if this bursts your bubble, but "good student" "outstanding student" is meaningless. Most of you don't know what top academics are. For example, my kids went freshman year to a private HS instead of the giant but excellent public HS. Before HS , they were in gifted programs. So they get to HS and honors classes were a JOKE. This is a good school - but really, they don't even offer AP physics. The public schools are excellent in our area and people send their kids to this school so their kid can make the team, be in the play, cheer.....be somebody. A lot of the IB classes - not that tough either.

You want tough, show me a kid that is taking AP calc AB and BC , multivariable calc, both AP physics classes, AP literature and also pouring hours and hours into sports. Show me a BIG SCHOOL varsity player - say 500 or more in graduating class that is taking classes that would be accepted at Perdue for Engineering.

In short - academically , most parents of kids that think their kid is a great student may not realize their kid is just good in the academic rec league!!! Private schools are great for giving the allusion of academic greatness. ACT of 32 or so and varsity football or baseball at a big public school. I'm sure they are out there. Max Scherzer got a 36 on his ACT math section. But these kids are rare, and yes, huge hours are needed to excel at the big school varsity level and these kids 99/100 times aren't nailing classes that would qualify in an accredited engineering program.

Blah blah who gives a shit

[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.

your kids a loser, eh?

You wish. My kid will own the company that employs your kid. Oh, well. At least he'll/she'll have the glory of high school sports success to remember.

[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.

Absolutely ridiculous. These "sports parents" who live vicariously through their kids, talk about how "we" have a game this weekend are so hilariously myopic.

Kids are not sad loners without sports. People "build friendships" through any group activity, including but not limited to theatre, choir, band, orchestra and countless other group activities.

Our kids don't do sports and we have to put limits on the amount of time spent with their friends, because they're constantly being invited to do things and we also want them to also prioritize their schoolwork. I did theatre growing up. We ran in a pack and spent hours socializing outside of school together every week. I'm still in contact with and friends with kids from my theatre group in high school. One of our kids fit in instantly in a brand new school thanks to the community of marching band.

Sports are just one of many options for "building community." Playing sports makes you 0% better or more interesting than anyone else.

[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.

Absolutely ridiculous. These "sports parents" who live vicariously through their kids, talk about how "we" have a game this weekend are so hilariously myopic.

Kids are not sad loners without sports. People "build friendships" through any group activity, including but not limited to theatre, choir, band, orchestra and countless other group activities.

Our kids don't do sports and we have to put limits on the amount of time spent with their friends, because they're constantly being invited to do things and we also want them to also prioritize their schoolwork. I did theatre growing up. We ran in a pack and spent hours socializing outside of school together every week. I'm still in contact with and friends with kids from my theatre group in high school. One of our kids fit in instantly in a brand new school thanks to the community of marching band.

Sports are just one of many options for "building community." Playing sports makes you 0% better or more interesting than anyone else.

At my high school it certainly did. There weren’t really any non-sports extracurriculars like we have around here. That said I could care less about my kid going to an “unbelievable college” (whatever the hell that means).

[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.

+1. That's exactly what it is. The average parent just sees inflated A and B grades on the report card and does not care or realize their athlete kid is actually testing several years behind smart peers and has developed no study skills or writing ability. 50% of all 12th graders in the U.S. have an A average GPA. It's very rare to see sports-obsessed families brag about Official AP Scores and SAT/ACT score – but they're very quick to spam social media with sports crap and inflated GPAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some perspective here parents. Sorry if this bursts your bubble, but "good student" "outstanding student" is meaningless. Most of you don't know what top academics are. For example, my kids went freshman year to a private HS instead of the giant but excellent public HS. Before HS , they were in gifted programs. So they get to HS and honors classes were a JOKE. This is a good school - but really, they don't even offer AP physics. The public schools are excellent in our area and people send their kids to this school so their kid can make the team, be in the play, cheer.....be somebody. A lot of the IB classes - not that tough either.

You want tough, show me a kid that is taking AP calc AB and BC , multivariable calc, both AP physics classes, AP literature and also pouring hours and hours into sports. Show me a BIG SCHOOL varsity player - say 500 or more in graduating class that is taking classes that would be accepted at Perdue for Engineering.

In short - academically , most parents of kids that think their kid is a great student may not realize their kid is just good in the academic rec league!!! Private schools are great for giving the allusion of academic greatness. ACT of 32 or so and varsity football or baseball at a big public school. I'm sure they are out there. Max Scherzer got a 36 on his ACT math section. But these kids are rare, and yes, huge hours are needed to excel at the big school varsity level and these kids 99/100 times aren't nailing classes that would qualify in an accredited engineering program.

There are some schools where the school culture values Type A all-around overachievers with AP/honors everything, all As, leadership in clubs, sports, the whole nine. My kids' private is like that, you are sort of a loser if you only care about sports, the overachievers are cool and popular. I hate to use this as an example because he's polarizing, but Brett Kavanaugh is a famous example of this. Best of my knowledge he was not a star athlete, but he was VERY into his sports, yet he maintained perfect grades, was in various clubs, and busted his butt to finish no. 1 in his class.

[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.

+1. That's exactly what it is. The average parent just sees inflated A and B grades on the report card and does not care or realize their athlete kid is actually testing several years behind smart peers and has developed no study skills or writing ability. 50% of all 12th graders in the U.S. have an A average GPA. It's very rare to see sports-obsessed families brag about Official AP Scores and SAT/ACT score – but they're very quick to spam social media with sports crap and inflated GPAs.

Stop worrying about other peoples’ kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some perspective here parents. Sorry if this bursts your bubble, but "good student" "outstanding student" is meaningless. Most of you don't know what top academics are. For example, my kids went freshman year to a private HS instead of the giant but excellent public HS. Before HS , they were in gifted programs. So they get to HS and honors classes were a JOKE. This is a good school - but really, they don't even offer AP physics. The public schools are excellent in our area and people send their kids to this school so their kid can make the team, be in the play, cheer.....be somebody. A lot of the IB classes - not that tough either.

You want tough, show me a kid that is taking AP calc AB and BC , multivariable calc, both AP physics classes, AP literature and also pouring hours and hours into sports. Show me a BIG SCHOOL varsity player - say 500 or more in graduating class that is taking classes that would be accepted at Perdue for Engineering.

In short - academically , most parents of kids that think their kid is a great student may not realize their kid is just good in the academic rec league!!! Private schools are great for giving the allusion of academic greatness. ACT of 32 or so and varsity football or baseball at a big public school. I'm sure they are out there. Max Scherzer got a 36 on his ACT math section. But these kids are rare, and yes, huge hours are needed to excel at the big school varsity level and these kids 99/100 times aren't nailing classes that would qualify in an accredited engineering program.

There are some schools where the school culture values Type A all-around overachievers with AP/honors everything, all As, leadership in clubs, sports, the whole nine. My kids' private is like that, you are sort of a loser if you only care about sports, the overachievers are cool and popular. I hate to use this as an example because he's polarizing, but Brett Kavanaugh is a famous example of this. Best of my knowledge he was not a star athlete, but he was VERY into his sports, yet he maintained perfect grades, was in various clubs, and busted his butt to finish no. 1 in his class.

And morally bankrupt to boot!

[Anonymous]

We balance. Academics are first then her sport. She still has to get accepted to college while continuing to find success in her sport. Yes her sport will likely move her up in terms of colleges that she can look at (assuming it’s not cut) but she still needs to find academic success along with her athletic success. Grades matter with top level competition schools who are also recruiting Again why do you care?

[Anonymous]

This is only true for boys