Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 17:41     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
I hate how people suggest track. Track isn't no-cut at a lot of FCPS HS. And kids who love tennis or soccer don't want to do track. Track, frankly, is boring.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 17:40     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
I get it OP, your kid likes tennis and that is what they want to play. I think the PP was on to something, can you find a USTA league that they could play in? Are there youth leagues through USTA? I know that there are adult leagues. Maybe there is a local league and a way to look for a team in that? It would keep him playing and going and he can try out each year for HS, hopefully making the team sooner rather then later.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 12:56     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
If he truly wants to play tennis and has a passion...make sure he tries out. The reason there is only varsity could be that there are not enough students interested in the sport to justify JV or Varsity.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 11:27     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
OP, you may not realize that the Common App allows up to 10 extracurriculars that don't have to be school-related. They say listing a job or care of your siblings or other family members can certainly count, for example. Even if your child doesn't make the tennis team, he's probably playing or staying involved another way- maybe giving lessons or playing USTA matches? That can certainly be used on college apps.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 14:31     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
When you look at the size of the teams and the size of the schools you realize that most kids applying to college don't have 4 years playing a sport on their applications. I don't think anyone has not been accepted to a college because they did not have a HS sport on their application.

There are Rec leagues in this area that kids can play in if they don't make the school team and use as an extra curricular activity. You can pick up a martial art and do that for 4 years. Working, after school clubs, theatre, volunteer for the same organization, Scouts.

Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 12:55     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
I live in another area and the only freshman teams we had were boys football and basketball. And by the next year, the current freshman either make the varsity team or they re cut.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 12:47     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
It frustrates me too. I grew up in an area of the US where HS sports were very important (this is maybe a different frustration though lol). Every sport had freshman, JV, and varsity, except football which just had one huge team with starters and mostly bench players for the games. Track and field and cross country were the same, with just big teams but only certain individuals were competitive.

If he doesn’t make the team as a freshman, could he continue where he’s currently playing and try out again next year?
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:13     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
Re tennis in FCPS. My DS played tennis several years ago. His freshman year he was on the team but did not play in any official matches. Instead, they had exhibition matches. So he was able to play tennis against competition, it just didn’t count. I don’t remember how many boys were on the team. So technically he was on the JV Tennis team even though they didn’t call it a separate JV team.

Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 09:21     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:20:06 again and I’m referring to when he actually applies to college. He gets 10 spots to list all extra curricular activities combined for all of HS. That’s it. So don’t worry.


Thank you. Really helpful.


I hope it was actually helpful. My oldest already applied to college.

My younger kid used to play a sport with a small roster on the school team at a competitive HS and club. It became a lot, too much, and not worth it to continue for all of HS. The time was too much with her classes and she didn’t want to play in college. She’s older than your kid but LOVES the sport and continues to be involved outside of school. When the time comes for college, it will be one line and can be written up with all she did. She’s a junior now.

Volleyball - not quite like this but something to the effect of how she did play all 4 years (doesn’t have to be all at school), coached youth teams, ref for youth games etc.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 21:24     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
If you are a recruited athlete, it matters. If not, no one cares about your amazing sports career. My middle child did very little in HS - one club, one season of sports. He had good not great grades, high rigor, high SAT. We fretted. He is now at a top 10 college in a very competitive field. Most schools don't care or believe your long list of activities, don't kill yourself over it. You can make up whatever you want on that section, no one checks. But take my experience, he basically admitted he did nothing and got in (he did have a good essay- which now with ChatGPT is also totally disregarded- he was pre-AI)
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 20:36     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
In applying for college, being on a team may be helpful as an activity, but it is not going to carry the water for entrance.

Now, if you are an exceptional athlete and are looking for a athletic scholarship, that is different. But, I have known MANY people who assumed their child would be D1 material-and they weren't.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 20:21     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
Anonymous wrote:20:06 again and I’m referring to when he actually applies to college. He gets 10 spots to list all extra curricular activities combined for all of HS. That’s it. So don’t worry.


Thank you. Really helpful.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 20:17     Subject: Re:Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
And omg with the effing trophy BS. Go troll someone else.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 20:16     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
Anonymous wrote:I don't see this the same way some the PPs do.

I think making a team should be based on skill. If you're a freshman, but you are more skilled than a junior, you should make the varsity team over the junior. That's the way most coaches choose teams.

My niece was a varsity starter all four years of high school and was All-District (for four years), All-Region (for four years), and All-State (for three years). There were seniors on the team who had far less playing time. That's life.

My other niece didn't make varsity her freshman year, but did her sophomore year. However, she didn't become a starter until her senior year. That's life.

Not everyone makes the team. Not everyone gets a trophy. Not everyone wins.


UGH. NOT relevant. I am saying that there should be more opportunities. In my case and w/ tennis, there isn't even a JV team. So to be CLEAR: this about being FOR MORE opportunities for freshmen to play on any team. Good for you and your amazing niece. Yes, she should play on Varsity. And how about there be more opportunities for freshman to play, freshman or JV, whatever. Two things can be true.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 20:10     Subject: Why so few freshman athletic teams/How does it affect college admissions review?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, there's a clear answer here: so far as colleges are concerned, participation in high school athletics matter no more and no less than any other kind of high school extracurricular activity UNLESS you're a recruited athlete. In that case it matters a great deal more.

So if your kid can't make the varsity team he wasn't going to get recruited anyway.


My frustration isn't about student athletes and being recruited. A 9th grader shouldn't have to compete at the Varsity level to be able to play for their school, have the chance to grow by being a part of a team sport, etc. Fewer teams = fewer extracurricular opportunities for our students.


Why isn’t your kid going out for track? They don’t have cuts and you can do field events if you don’t like running. You have opportunities you just need to use them.


Agreed...but, this is where parenting is an art and not a science. He has played tennis for years and it's the one sport he feels like is "his." We knew it was a long shot and we're proud he is continuing to pursue it knowing there's pretty much not a chance he'll make the team (he numbers aren't in his favor when it comes to the older and returning players). And so a final word, this isn't about checking a box -- while I actually did encourage him to consider track and with the same strategy (he's not a runner; "you could do shot put!"), my goal isn't participation for participation sake. Think you're kinda missing the point, and that's ok. Thanks for your input.