Doing away with middle school sports *PIOG*
My DD is just finishing up her 1st year in middle school. She played softball this year for the school and for the county league. She was pretty sad to find out there will be no sports at her middle school next year. At first, the county said they cut middle school and freshman sports, a long with other things, due to not having enough money in the budget to support those programs. Now that parents have gotten together and come up with solutions to the money problem the county says they will not change this decision. The superintendent of our school system has stated that he has been trying to get rid of those sports programs for years because it is very traumatic to kids at this age if they don't make the team.
I was wondering what you mommas thought about that. Do you think that is a valid reason to cut the sports programs? I know I don't feel that it is. My DD tried out for volleyball in the winter and knew that she might not make the team....and she didn't. This didn't deter her from trying out for the softball team. She understands that there are only a certain number of spots and not everyone can make the team.
Around here, there are high schools that are doing away with their school sports due to budget which sucks!
As for his reason.....as a coach, it's hard to tell players they are not good enough to play for middle school but, on the other hand, to manage all the players for ONE team would be really tough. I can see "everyone plays" for rec ball because there should be more than one team. Depending on how many students show up, as a coach I may keep them and say "you may not play but the decision is yours to stay on the team or not." In other words....they would cut themselves. BUT, if they were willing to hang out....who knows if they improve and end up playing really well.
DD only played one game for the middle school, but she stuck with it for the experience.
Around here, there are high schools that are doing away with their school sports due to budget which sucks!
As for his reason.....as a coach, it's hard to tell players they are not good enough to play for middle school but, on the other hand, to manage all the players for ONE team would be really tough. I can see "everyone plays" for rec ball because there should be more than one team. Depending on how many students show up, as a coach I may keep them and say "you may not play but the decision is yours to stay on the team or not." In other words....they would cut themselves. BUT, if they were willing to hang out....who knows if they improve and end up playing really well.
No that is not a valid reason. Middle school is the perfect chance for these kids to learn that you can't always make the team. Especially if there is a rec league available where they can still play and improve their skills where they can try out again next year. What are these kids going to do in high school when they don't make the team and they haven't learned how to deal with that? My son tried out for track in 6th grade and didn't make it past the first cuts. He tried out again this year and made it for 3 events and qualified for the invitational tournament for 2 of those events. Sometimes the middle school can offer better individualized instruction too. My son wrestled in the little wrestler program, grade school and middle school ages, but there were so many kids at so many different ages and skills, he didn't really learn anything. He joined the middle school team and learned so much more and had more individual attention because there weren't as many wrestlers. It also gives the kids a sense of pride in their school and even if they don't play on the team, they are proud of the team. Is the superintendent an elected official? Is there a school board? I hope this can be brought up to your school board again and the decision can be overturned.
It is an elected position. The next board school board meeting is Monday the 11th, I plan on attending.
Quoting SeaJayMom:
No that is not a valid reason. Middle school is the perfect chance for these kids to learn that you can't always make the team. Especially if there is a rec league available where they can still play and improve their skills where they can try out again next year. What are these kids going to do in high school when they don't make the team and they haven't learned how to deal with that? My son tried out for track in 6th grade and didn't make it past the first cuts. He tried out again this year and made it for 3 events and qualified for the invitational tournament for 2 of those events. Sometimes the middle school can offer better individualized instruction too. My son wrestled in the little wrestler program, grade school and middle school ages, but there were so many kids at so many different ages and skills, he didn't really learn anything. He joined the middle school team and learned so much more and had more individual attention because there weren't as many wrestlers. It also gives the kids a sense of pride in their school and even if they don't play on the team, they are proud of the team. Is the superintendent an elected official? Is there a school board? I hope this can be brought up to your school board again and the decision can be overturned.
That's a stupid reason to cut sports. Sounds to me like they just don't want to bother with having to stay after school to coach.
I know around here school sports don't start until 7th grade (junior high starts in 6th but you can't go out for sports until 7th) and if not for junior high sports my oldest wouldn't know he loves to run.
hows your season?
- smfox
on Jun. 5, 2012 at 12:44 PM