Another way to solve this problem is to volunteer to coach your child's team. Then you get to pick your practice field, day and time. But if someone else is volunteering, they get to choose what works for them

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yeah, not knowing ahead of time is annoying. We signed DD up for another activity, only to find out practices are on the same day. We can make it work, but wouldn’t have chosen to have two afterschool activities on the same day.

As a parent of now 8th graders, there is no way around this unless you are signing up for specific sports clinics. Too much coordination between the fields permitting, coaches and organization to do much ahead of time. You just know this going in and do the best you can.

OP here. Yeah, not knowing ahead of time is annoying. We signed DD up for another activity, only to find out practices are on the same day. We can make it work, but wouldn’t have chosen to have two afterschool activities on the same day.

Man I miss my kids’ MSI days….!
(now in HS playing MLS next)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm no fan of when MSI announces schedules, but they shouldn't have to change their practices to accommodate those with 3 or more kids. We've managed to make it work with 2 kids and I suspect others do too.

It would be easy for kids to be assigned to teams by practice day.

Sure, and when you live in Bethesda and need to drive to Olney for 5:30 practices on a Wednesday, you'll be complaining about the traffic on I270. My kids teams are school based, and we practice at their ES.

I've been a volunteer coach for years with MSI. It's like pulling teeth to get my kids friends parents to register them on time. And some years, those who haven't registered on time have lost their spot on the team. And that's just my kids teams. On a large scale, it must be a nightmare. I'm glad they organize it, and keep the prices reasonable. Where else do you get 8 practices, 8 games, and a full kit (socks, shorts and jersey), for around $100?

But in the lower grades, what most kids want is to play on a team with their friends from school, not to be assigned to some random roster based on the logistical needs of their parents.

Anonymous wrote:I'm no fan of when MSI announces schedules, but they shouldn't have to change their practices to accommodate those with 3 or more kids. We've managed to make it work with 2 kids and I suspect others do too.

It would be easy for kids to be assigned to teams by practice day.