Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

So how do these kids get to the practices that are mid day if they have a single working mom? We live over 4 miles away from our high school, the last 2 in heavy traffic, and the closest bus route is 1.5 miles away. Seems like HS sports are much more set up for the entitled kids.

Anonymous wrote:We moved this summer but were aware of the HS tryouts and summer sessions back in late May. Child is going into 9th. While official tryouts begin next week, there has been a summer league, a "camp," and twice-weekly conditioning practices since school let out in June. My child has attended all that were feasible (maybe 5/6ths) and feels like he knows a bunch of the kids and is now familiar with what's expected and how it works before tryouts. While he's nervous about who may show up at tryouts and knock it out of the park (he's good but not an Allstar) he's done all we can. I'd say he has a 60/40 shot, but it would have been less if he hadn't participated in these things.

We managed to get him to practices across town (before we moved) sometimes 4x a week (much easier after we moved in), he was a CIT for 3 weeks, we took an international 2 week vacation, and he's had time to relax. It hasn't been easy. But the sports things were no more exhausting than the trip or the move. DH works hybrid and I am an academic, so yes, I have more flex in the summer (though I work quite a bit at home in the summer).

DH took the lead on this. But the info was well-organized and communicated early. It's a lot, but in no way do I feel like we can't take vacations or our kid has to miss out on summer opportunities like camps, classes, or vacations in the future. We just can't do those ALL summer (but we wouldn't anyway).

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous to you, the poster, based on your life circumstances and how your family spends the summer and plans time. It is not ridiculous to working families with limited vacation time since these try outs give high school kids a free August activity. Most schools also have at least one sport that all kids are accepted on the team for (even if no playing time) so having kids do the free sports try-outs and practices are a good low cost August activity. At my child’s school for the fall, the cross country team will accept all students so if a child is cut from soccer, they can then join cross country. The fall sports season games begin the start of school so kids get in a full season before then trying out for winter sports. So while this early August start schedule is not great for everyone, it is good for many and there is not a clear better alternative. Also, for parents with the money to travel and vacation for two months of the summer, or for those who hav ether money to have their child in a summer paid sport, they can also spend the money to put their child on a paid sports team for Fall if the HS team schedule is not to their liking.

Anonymous wrote:Summer vacation = riding bikes, planting a garden/harvesting, going to the local pool, reading library books, being bored, taking the bus to the mall, etc etc.

C'mon, you entitled people!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify. There are no mandatory practices after Memorial Day.

High school teams may hold up to 12 optional practices between late May and end of July.

Those are state rules.

Not mandatory but they do count for those sports where you have to try out. No cut sports, no big deal not to attend. But for others, being at your best can make all the difference. And best is more than being the best player - it means having demonstrated commitment as well.

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify. There are no mandatory practices after Memorial Day.

High school teams may hold up to 12 optional practices between late May and end of July.

Those are state rules.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.

So when do you vacation if mandatory practices are all of July and Aug? I don’t understand.

Anonymous wrote:The first HS sports events occur during the first week of school. So to be ready, tryouts and practice have to start in the summer. And, if you’re upset about that, wait until you learn about summer practices that start July 1st.