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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My rising eight grader got invited to a highly competitive sports program (2+ hours practices 5 to 6 days a week and many weekends of competition). We never really anticipated going this path and are trying to decide if we should go down it. I would love to hear from others whose kids faced a similar choice and how it played out over time. Did your kids rise to the challenge and really blossom? Burn out and/or miss out on other opportunities/experiences in life? In general, youth sports in this area are more intense than my liking, and am kind of surprised we're even considering this (DH is more gung-ho).

Kid likes the sport, clearly has the potential to excel at it (based on current skill and body type), and participation has been a very positive experience so far, albeit at lower levels. School comes relatively easy to them, so I don't see the level of commitment impacting academics. Right now, they say they are leaning towards wanting to do it, though with some hesitations. I can imagine them growing to love this sport and it become a big part of their identity into high school and possibly even college.

But - if given the opportunity, they would rather invest all that effort in a different sport, one they are admit they are unlikely to achieve the same level of success in that one and for which they currently don't have opportunities to participate in at a high level. I can only imagine that their participation will also negatively impact our family life, ability to travel, relax, etc. - and my kid's ability just to be a kid and try different activities. They currently have broad interests, including several sports and other extracurriculars, plus a pretty active social life.

Anyone who has BTDT care to share your experiences?[/quote]

My sister did this (gymnastics).   She quit after two years or so and switched to lacrosse, which was just starting up for girls in our town (nowhere near here obviously).   Anyway, the hardest parts were reconnecting with friends outside school since they had always been school-only friends before and finding a new things because even in my small town in 1995, she was too old to learn a new sport at 15.   So your concerns are well founded, but it can work out even if she does quit.  [/quote]

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