Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

It’s really too bad that the internet is full of jerks because the quote above is an interesting answer to an interesting question. But instead this thread is dominated by trolls arguing whether XC runners are hunks or dorks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

He’s handsome and not a dork only in your eyes

Doesn't matter, if he goes to a top college, he is a rock star.

Sports are great and all, but girls aren't always looking for the high school tennis player that went to an unselective college.

My friend's dorky son (don't get me wrong, great kid but I remember how excited he got when he discovered that when you kept pressing the sin function (or was it cosine) on a calculator, it eventually kept showing the same number and then he figured out why that was happening... in 6th grade) went to MIT and works for a hedge fund and is serial dating everything from vacuous models to gorgeous ivy league girls.

His mom is mortified because it is so blatantly clear what his romantic life is like.

To the Previous PP, your son is not going to avoid girls like the PP. He will be buying them dinner then getting them an uber in the morning. This is where the values you tried to instill in him does battle with 6 million years of human evolutionary instinct. Good luck with that. My friend's values are losing that battle to male instincts pretty badly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

+1. Great response to OP

+2. Agreed. This guy should write a book.

I’m not a guy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

LOL... Ask a woman to pick between a XC runner and a tennis or soccer player, both from Harvard, guess who she will likely pick. She will not likely pick your XC son.

You’ve never seen my son. I think she would. Handsome, smart guy, attending a good school now and probably a good college. Little bit of trust fund. Running all those miles all the time….quality will attract quality, and it will not be you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

He’s handsome and not a dork only in your eyes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

+1. Great response to OP

+2. Agreed. This guy should write a book.

I’m not a guy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

+1. Great response to OP

+2. Agreed. This guy should write a book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

+1. Great response to OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe this is even a NOVA issue since it is happening all over America, whether it is California, Texas, Massachusetts, and so on. You have to put your kid in competitive sports at a young age to even have a chance of playing at the high school level. There aren't many rec options once you get to the middle school level, and every school team by then has competitive tryouts. There is no way to pick up a new sport by late elementary or middle school. Kids have to determine their interests at their young age or else it is too late. I don't want to encourage my kids to get into sports because I know it is going to suck for them in the end.

It is especially frustrating when there is basically nothing you get in return for investing so much into youth sports. Most kids will never play in the NCAA, and varsity sports don't matter much for college admissions. I don't know how it is reasonable for any family to invest so much time and money and risking their health for basically nothing.

This is a very disappointing attitude for a parent to have. I guess you’re proving the point that not everyone should become a parent. On the off chance that you are actually interested in learning something I will address the issues that you raise.

Sports in and of themselves are a great value to your child. First, making sure your child is in excellent shape will help them in every aspect of their lives from climbing the stairs to their first apartment to attracting a spouse. Second, sports allow your child additional opportunities to make friends and socialize. Third, a coach can be an important additional adult in their lives. Your teenager might not want to listen to you about the importance of not skipping school but they will almost certainly listen to the coach when he says that they can’t play in the game if they have an unexcused absence that week. Additionally, participation in higher level sports provide an opportunity to teach your child more sophisticated social skills such as how to be a good teammate when you are competing with them for the same position or how to work with incompetent leadership.

Finally, in my experience sports provide an invaluable opportunity to bond with and learn about your kid. I have spent many nights with all of my kids individually in hotel rooms during tournaments and we have had the most wonderful conversations. I’ve also gotten to know thier friends and teammates in a way I never would have if wasn’t driving them to practice or sitting with them on the sidelines between game. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the world my children inhabit. If you don’t see the value in that I feel sorry for you and your children.

As to why sports seem much more competitive than ever before I think it’s mostly a function of the changing nature of childhood. When I was a kid home was not that fun - we had only a couple of channels of tv and if you wanted to see a movie your dad had to take you or at least he’d have to go to the video rental store. In the absence of electronic entertainment kids had to make their own fun usually consisting of cruising around the neighborhood on bikes and playing games we made up. Unfortunately for all of us - screens have changed that now every child has access to unlimited entertainment and pernicious social media. Even if you restrict your child from accessing the internet your neighbors probably don’t. Sports give your child a place that is not dominated by Netflix or instagram.

I hope this has helped you and your children. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

LOL... Ask a woman to pick between a XC runner and a tennis or soccer player, both from Harvard, guess who she will likely pick. She will not likely pick your XC son.

You’ve never seen my son. I think she would. Handsome, smart guy, attending a good school now and probably a good college. Little bit of trust fund. Running all those miles all the time….quality will attract quality, and it will not be you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

LOL... Ask a woman to pick between a XC runner and a tennis or soccer player, both from Harvard, guess who she will likely pick. She will not likely pick your XC son.

You’ve never seen my son. I think she would. Handsome, smart guy, attending a good school now and probably a good college. Little bit of trust fund. Running all those miles all the time….quality will attract quality, and it will not be you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when my XC son, who is quite handsome, gets selected for a top college, I hope he avoids people like you that thought of him and his teammates as losers.

I hope they go for higher quality girls, unlike you.

LOL... Ask a woman to pick between a XC runner and a tennis or soccer player, both from Harvard, guess who she will likely pick. She will not likely pick your XC son.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This might be new to some of you, but most people eventually find a partner, despite playing a less popular sport, and despite girls flocking around the star athletes. Your star athlete - despite the multiple options they have in life - may still end up as a loser paying child support. Many of the kids that you call losers on this thread will end up with great jobs, happy families, and raising successful kids. It's not the kids who are losers, it's you who judge the kids based on the sports they are playing.

Yes dorks have sex and procreate. In other news…

We are likely talking here with a "star athlete." Either a current "star athlete" who is not mature enough to realize how anti-social s/he is, or a former "star athlete" who aged, but sadly never matured. Pretty sad story. Alternatively, one of those airhead who flocks or flocked around "star athletes". Similarly sad story. It is quite enlightening to be exposed to the "depth" of their thoughts.