Anonymous
01/23/2025 17:38
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
They are lying to you about the kid's actual grades and/or scores--[i]or something else was a red flag elsewhere in the app[i]. Bad rec or sucky essays--or just very mediocre recs. I'm guessing it's more likely that kid and his parents were lying about his academic record.
My kid got into UVA, 2 Ivies, ND, Gtown, Williams with the same stats you quoted and sports outside of HS, not in. His friend with similar stats also had the same type of acceptances and is also at an Ivy rd.
There is no way a kid with those stats and activities wouldn't have been accepted to at least one in that group--esp Michigan and UVA.
The kid's grades were probably achieved with less rigor. The counselor likely did not check 'most rigorous' for his HS transcript. Perfect grades and rigor are required. Perfect grades in low rigor--no APs in all core subjects and then likely did not have uweighted perfect grades, but instead had weighted perfect.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 17:33
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
They are lying to you about the kid's actual grades and/or scores--[i]or something else was a red flag elsewhere in the app[i]. Bad rec or sucky essays--or just very mediocre recs. I'm guessing it's more likely that kid and his parents were lying about his academic record.
My kid got into UVA, 2 Ivies, ND, Gtown, Williams with the same stats you quoted and sports outside of HS, not in. His friend with similar stats also had the same type of acceptances and is also at an Ivy rd.
There is no way a kid with those stats and activities wouldn't have been accepted to at least one in that group--esp Michigan and UVA.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 13:42
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
If not a recruited athlete you don’t get a nudge sorry mom!
Anonymous
01/23/2025 13:24
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
Probably a really poor essay writer.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 13:04
Subject: Re:I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree.
My kid left HS team jr year due to politics and is currently playing D1 at an Ivy. Dropping HS allowed him to keep straight As and compete club at a higher level.
The majority of HS programs/coaches are complete crap.
The majority of club programs are complete crap. But at least you get to pick your flavor of crap.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 12:41
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:This area has it's problem, I plan on leaving as soon as is feasible.
Problems:
A) Schools are too large there aren't enough teams for everyone to play on. Parents go private to pick up the slack, but there are no regulations, and the professional coaches want your money year-round. The schools themselves have started divesting of extra-curriculars, marching band etc.
B) There aren't enough public fields/pools/gyms people quit building them a while ago and the population has only increased. The teams have become more competitive as a result. Go to a swim tryout over hundred girls trying to get like one spot.
At the end of the day, just take your kid out and throw the ball around or swimming. I do these four or five times a week, results have been amazing. Much more fun than sitting there watching someone else coach your kid.
I don't know about South of here, but no where north has anywhere near the amount of pools that this area has indoors and outdoors. The dc area is a hub for swimming in the US.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 12:36
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:
His teams must not be that good.
OP said he was captain of the teams, which shows leadership but not necessarily athletic ability. With perfect grades and an ACT of 35, he would have been recruited by the Ivies if he also had the athletic ability. Without the athletic ability, he is just one of many applicants with those stats.
Sounds like he would have been a good candidate for a service academy, as they look for leadership, fitness, and academics.
Army football ended first in AAC and went 12-2. Navy football ended third in AAC and went 10-3 and defeated Oklahoma in their bowl game.
You aren't going to either school for football unless you're really really good. Their rosters are all high school stars.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 12:27
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
His teams must not be that good.
OP said he was captain of the teams, which shows leadership but not necessarily athletic ability. With perfect grades and an ACT of 35, he would have been recruited by the Ivies if he also had the athletic ability. Without the athletic ability, he is just one of many applicants with those stats.
Sounds like he would have been a good candidate for a service academy, as they look for leadership, fitness, and academics.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 10:10
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
Did he take AP Calculus in junior year and did he get a 5 on the AP?
Because if he didn’t: that’s why he didn’t get into the Ivies. That is really the number one thing my college admissions coach told me about the big schools. They all want that now before senior year- and IBs they have to take the most challenging courses.
Also, if UVA rejected him, did he take all four years (even senior year) a language that isn’t Spanish? Did he take challenging APs during the school year? Did he take summer classes too? Did he program his computer to generate interest points? Did he visit the school and go to the coaches and introduce himself? Did you take him to showcases for the specific schools?
Also- was he ranked in the state or in the district? Did he get written up by WaPo?
Because you need all of that to get into the T25 and be a legacy or be fabulously rich. What you listed would get you into JMU.
Check out “Your college bound kid” and start educating yourself. Those T25 schools are almost impossible to get into without a ton of hooks.
Wow! That seems exhausting and unnecessary. What a way to destroy kids childhood. I would rather my kid go to JMU and have a happy childhood.
PP here.
Yep. JMU is a better fit!
Anonymous
01/23/2025 10:05
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
Did he take AP Calculus in junior year and did he get a 5 on the AP?
Because if he didn’t: that’s why he didn’t get into the Ivies. That is really the number one thing my college admissions coach told me about the big schools. They all want that now before senior year- and IBs they have to take the most challenging courses.
Also, if UVA rejected him, did he take all four years (even senior year) a language that isn’t Spanish? Did he take challenging APs during the school year? Did he take summer classes too? Did he program his computer to generate interest points? Did he visit the school and go to the coaches and introduce himself? Did you take him to showcases for the specific schools?
Also- was he ranked in the state or in the district? Did he get written up by WaPo?
Because you need all of that to get into the T25 and be a legacy or be fabulously rich. What you listed would get you into JMU.
Check out “Your college bound kid” and start educating yourself. Those T25 schools are almost impossible to get into without a ton of hooks.
Wow! That seems exhausting and unnecessary. What a way to destroy kids childhood. I would rather my kid go to JMU and have a happy childhood.
But then what would you have to brag about on an anonymous internet message board?
Anonymous
01/23/2025 09:39
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole system is ridiculous, and what is more ridiculous is that people support this broken system. You have to play for years just to make it into a high school JV team, and once you make it, you have to spend 20+ hours per week training. It takes time away from academics and other extracurricular.
And all of this time and money invested into sports is for nothing for most parents. Most kids will never play at the NCAA level. It doesn’t matter much for college admissions. I know a kid who has perfect grades and a 35 ACT who was a captain of the varsity football and lacrosse teams (and was class treasurer, NHS president, volunteered, and did part time work), and he got rejected from every remotely selective college. The Ivy Leagues, Notre Dame, Michigan, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, UNC, and UVA all rejected him
Did he take AP Calculus in junior year and did he get a 5 on the AP?
Because if he didn’t: that’s why he didn’t get into the Ivies. That is really the number one thing my college admissions coach told me about the big schools. They all want that now before senior year- and IBs they have to take the most challenging courses.
Also, if UVA rejected him, did he take all four years (even senior year) a language that isn’t Spanish? Did he take challenging APs during the school year? Did he take summer classes too? Did he program his computer to generate interest points? Did he visit the school and go to the coaches and introduce himself? Did you take him to showcases for the specific schools?
Also- was he ranked in the state or in the district? Did he get written up by WaPo?
Because you need all of that to get into the T25 and be a legacy or be fabulously rich. What you listed would get you into JMU.
Check out “Your college bound kid” and start educating yourself. Those T25 schools are almost impossible to get into without a ton of hooks.
Wow! That seems exhausting and unnecessary. What a way to destroy kids childhood. I would rather my kid go to JMU and have a happy childhood.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 09:32
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
You literally gave one of the best examples of somebody who basically willed themselves into the NBA and did not win the genetic lottery.
Steph Curry is 6'2". Only 27 NBA players out of 450 total players are 6'2" or smaller. Go watch a local DMV HS game with PVI, Gonzaga, Sidwell...90% of the starting five for those teams is over 6'2".
A little note on his practice routine:
Stephen Curry, a Golden State Warriors player, practices shooting hundreds of shots every day. In the season, he typically takes around 300 shots after each practice. During the offseason, he increases his practice to over 500 shots per day.
You can't be this delusional.
Steph Curry has a gift everyone else doesn't have. Otherwise, the 6'4 HS basketball player would just shoot a couple hundred extra shots per day and make 100s of millions of dollars.
You're also missing the fact the Steph has elite level conditioning and can outrun almost all NBA players. He also can see the floor and knows how to get open which is what makes him so good.
And BTW, 6'2 is in the 95 percentile for height. So while he's a short NBA player, he's way taller than the average male.
Using Steph Curry as an example of someone who didn’t win the genetic lottery is pretty funny. I imagine Dell and Seth would be surprised by that idea.
Anonymous
01/23/2025 09:02
Subject: Re:I hate youth and high school sports
I hate the unspoken pay to play expectation in high school. Trying out for baseball? Come join the hitting or pitching groups...after you pay the coaches to participate.
Anonymous
01/22/2025 23:15
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
The issue is you really can’t start that late if the norm is 9 or 10
Anonymous
01/22/2025 23:14
Subject: I hate youth and high school sports
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I agree with many of the gripes posted, and I also want to add a MAJOR gripe about HS leagues and travel sports leagues scheduling games and tournaments on things like Easter weekend or during spring break. These kids are grinding out work all year long, and they can't go away for a week with their family or visit cousins/grandparents during their spring break? I was absolutely SHOCKED to find out that this is the norm, and the coaches will get pissed if your kid says "sorry, my family and I are going away for spring break...."
Ya, and they also cut you out if you don't pay to play on some travel team they are running or getting kick backs from. The whole system needs to be burned down.
YES to both of these. Cutting into what little family vacation time is available, and starting as early as middle school! It is all so ridiculous.
It shouldn’t even start until 13 or 14.