^ should obviously have mentioned baseball as another sport where intense youth sports and travel teams result in hyper competitive HS teams that can be tough to make if you haven't been playing since you were 5.

The sports with intense youth leagues obviously result in hyper competitive high school teams -- soccer, lacrosse, basketball are the toughest ones.

But there are a decent number of sports that don't start kids out crazy young and a kid with some talent and work ethic can start in MS or even HS and still make the team. Wrestling, cross country, track, rowing.

Ironically, because youth swimming is so insanely competitive and kids start really young, sometimes HS teams aren't too hard because the very serious club swimmers don't always swim on their HS teams. Very location dependent though. But diving is a sport kids often don't take up until MS. It's a good sport for a kid who did gymnastics/tumbling when younger and has great aerial awareness -- that's a skill that translates really easily even if you have no diving experience at all.

Also I have seen more schools doing recreational clubs for certain sports. Rowing and other water sports. Rock climbing. Yoga. I think this is great as it's still athletic but it's more social and just for fun and fitness. The rowing clubs will sometimes compete against each other so there can still be a competitive element, but it's not intense. A great option for sporty kids who just like being active but are not interested in or simply cannot do the intensity to make teams for certain HS athletics.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, today seems like you won't make a High School team unless you have played club sports for years. It's horrible for those families who cannot afford club sports.
As a parent whose daughter just graduated a D3 college playing field hockey, please pick the school based on academics not playing a sport. Once those 4 years are over, they gotta be able to get a good job and pay those bills!
When we were looking at colleges, it seemed like playing at a D1 school was a job?

Absolutely playing D1 is a job.

However employers tend to know this, so if you come out of that D1 academically qualified, they will positively note that you did that while juggling the immense demands of D1 athletics and know you have excellent time management skills, dedication, and discipline.

Unfortunately, today seems like you won't make a High School team unless you have played club sports for years. It's horrible for those families who cannot afford club sports.
As a parent whose daughter just graduated a D3 college playing field hockey, please pick the school based on academics not playing a sport. Once those 4 years are over, they gotta be able to get a good job and pay those bills!
When we were looking at colleges, it seemed like playing at a D1 school was a job?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the popularity of the sport at that school. Our large FCPS high school cuts more than half the kids who try out for freshman basketball or JV soccer, but JV lacrosse is no cut.

What school?

NP- but true at Chantilly

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the popularity of the sport at that school. Our large FCPS high school cuts more than half the kids who try out for freshman basketball or JV soccer, but JV lacrosse is no cut.

What school?

To answer your question. When we built massive high schools.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone can walk on at our high school. If playing matters to you, choose a high school that will let you play.

This is one reason we love our school (Justice). Our kids could have their pick of sports (well, except soccer) and extra curriculars, plus tons of leadership opportunities, etc. Our oldest at TJ could also choose her sports (but for completely different reasons).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s club league didn’t allow him to play in high school.

In the dc area? Everyone I know at high level plays club and high school. Most clubs are designed around with tournaments in fall and summer.

It’s common for very high level soccer clubs to restrict playing on your high school team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s club league didn’t allow him to play in high school.

In the dc area? Everyone I know at high level plays club and high school. Most clubs are designed around with tournaments in fall and summer.

Yes. DC United.

Anonymous wrote:Our son’s club league didn’t allow him to play in high school.

In the dc area? Everyone I know at high level plays club and high school. Most clubs are designed around with tournaments in fall and summer.

Anonymous wrote:It is all so school dependent.

At our large UMC suburban high school it is very difficult to make most cut sports teams, yes. Kids have been doing private lessons and travel teams since elementary school.

There are a few smaller private schools and public schools in our area where pretty much all the sports teams are no-cut (though not everyone will get much playing time in games). Same with the smallish town I grew up in.

The large working class high schools are a mixed bag- really depends on the particular sport. Easier to make the “country club” sports teams over there- but I think it is still very competitive for all ball sports.

There are kids who don’t make the JV teams at my kids’ school who would probably start on varsity at other schools.

To make the varsity golf or tennis teams at Langley or McLean is very difficult because of the extreme competitiveness of these two "country club" sports. Even if you make the team, you might not get to play because in tennis, only the top six gets to play. It is so difficult because so many rich parents, Asian parents included, spend a lot of money to train their kids at a young age in these sports. Kids that don't make varsity golf/tennis teams in Langley/McLean could be starters on varsity at other schools like Justice or Lewis. That's why Langley won back to back varsity tennis and golf. Kids from Justice or Lewis can't compete due to the lack of early training and resource.

Our son’s club league didn’t allow him to play in high school.

It was hard to make certain teams at my high school 25 years ago. When there are 600+ kids per grade it’s going to be difficult to be one of the best.

Come to Loudoun. Certain sports at some schools are competitive but mostly you can play.