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[quote=Anonymous]I am acquainted through mutual friends in rowing to a Hockaday grad and very successful rower (if you’re a parent of the school you can probably figure out who so I won’t say more). She’s short for a rower and her official height is definitely exaggerated but she is taller than your DD. I was also a short volleyball player who eventually was cut my junior year, so I can see both sides of your DD’s sports dilemma.

Volleyball, in my book, is a sport of early heartbreak and it’s crazy dependent on height and club politics and the luck of having not-too-many setters and libreros in your cohort. It takes one girl a year younger than you who the coach has decided is a more reliable setter, and boom, you’ve lost your short girl quota spot.

Rowing does get really competitive but your DD will have a spot and be able to participate for sure all the way through HS. And if she is truly devoted and has some genetic luck that results in her discovering crazy strength or aerobic capacity, she could row beyond college. Sure, if she doesn’t grow it will be a walk-on, 3 or 4v boat somewhere or a D3 program, but that’s ok.

The beauty of rowing is that it buys her time and opportunity. Right now, American HS and club rowing programs aren’t built to find the best 8th grader and keep them going, but to take someone raw and hard-working and turn them into part of a strong boat by their junior and senior years. For longevity reasons alone, I would consider rowing instead of volleyball. Your DD is at a school that could set her up for success. And as for cuts, yes, the 1V boat might not include seniors, but seniors who are getting cut from the entire team aren’t putting in the work or did something really egregious.[/quote]

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