Help - Need high school sports advice

[KelNottAt]

DS is in 8th grade. Last night the HS held an informational meeting for parents. The principal and VP explained stuff like graduation requirements, weighted GPAs, advisors, etc., etc.

When they got to the part about extra-curricular activities one little thing sent me into a panic: practices and tryouts for all fall sports start August 15. This is smack-dab in the middle of our WDW family reunion vacation Aug 12 - 19.

One of the other parents there raised her hand and asked if that date was “hard and fast,” as if she was in same position as us. The principal answered, “Yes. That’s the state-wide start date. We expect all athletes to report then. So, I recommend you plan to be in town from that date on.”

After the meeting, I approached the VP to ask if there is any flexibility at all. He just kinda shrugged and said, “That’s the date. You could try contacting the athletic director to ask for permission to report late…but showing up on the 21st is really late. He really doesn’t have to allow it.”

So does anyone have any experience with this kind of dilemma? DS wants to run cross country…so it’s not like he has to really try-out for a football or soccer position.

Thanks,
Kelley

PS: I’m a little irked that they drop this news on us at a meeting that was entirely optional to attend. If I had known 6 months ago, I could have scheduled the trip to fit the August 15 date (I’m in charge since we’re using my DVC points). Can you imagine the shock and dismay among the parents who wouldn’t get the news until it’s mailed home with class schedules in June?

 

[Barb D]

That's the date. If he wants to be on the team, he has to be there. There is FIERCE competetion for those slots, and (at least at DS's school) they make the decision about who is going to be on the team based on how well they do in those summer practices.

DS14 played JV football this year, and loved it. If you have any way of changing your vacation dates, I would do it -- especially if you think he has a good chance of making the team.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm not sure what you are asking?

That is they way HS Sports work. The State sets the date that the teams can begin practicing, and the schools start on that date.

If you want to know what kind of repercussions your son will face for not being present, that is completely dependent upon the individual schools and how competitive they might be at sports.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

DS did Cross Country in 6th grade because we were on vacation during soccer tryouts. Here, there's no "trying out" for Cross Country.

As far as other sports, it is important to be there for tryouts, but if the student shows that he/she is really good on whatever days he/she CAN make tryouts, has a good excuse for not being there the other days, and has someone speaking on his/her behalf (ie, another coach), I think they've got a good shot at making the team. This happened with DS for 7th grade, because again, we were on vacation. The coach told him in 6th grade that he heard he was a good soccer player, and wanted him to tryout on whatever days he could (because we were on vacation in August again), and he did and made the team.

But really...I don't think you have to worry about Cross Country.

Hope he enjoys high school and high school sports!

 

[golfgal]

That is the start date in our state as well. I think that the Cross Country coach won't have an issue with it since Cross Country isn't like football where they need to learn plays. I would get him out running, soon, and have him run through the summer. If he can go to the coach and say he has been running for 6-8 months but can't start practice until the 21st the coach will be fine (and he will be ahead of most of the kids starting out on the 15th that haven't been running). OUr DS is in Cross Country and they are happy to take kids whenever. Most states have a date where they need to start by to be able to compete at state, usually about a month after their first meet or something along those lines.

 

[tar heel]

My middle son has played soccer his entire life. He is a senior this year and had to choose between playing soccer and going on vacation with the family last summer. He chose the latter. What happened to us is that preseason soccer camp is always the week before school starts -- except for this year. School opening was moved to after Aug. 25 throughout North Carolina by legislative decree, but somehow the NC High School Athletic Association didn't notice and couldn't change playoff locations, so sports schedules were not changed. Some schools had games before school started.

We were exactly in your shoes when he was a freshman, too, b/c he had no idea soccer tryouts were that early and missed them. The coach would not even look at him, so he did cross country which was taking late arrivals. At our school, boys' teams are so hard to make any way that getting in late just isn't going to happen.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Oh...and even tho I spoke about MS sports, we have experience with HS sports too. DD did soccer, altho she missed the tryouts. Almost everyone who wants to play soccer, plays (in our town) if they've got the slots. It's getting onto Varsity where tryouts come in, and no, she had no chance to make varsity because of our vacation, but played JV (which most Freshmen did) and got the opportunity to cross over to Varsity during the season a couple of times.

 

[Barb D]

I just reread your post and noticed that you said cross country. At DS's school cross country is a "no cut" sport (as I understand it), so your DS may be OK. Did you talk to the cross country coach?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

When my dd started high school this year I made sure to get all the dates!!! She is in Band. It was everyday (except Sunday) for weeks!!

Practices start in JULY (for some things) here!!!!! Band starts in 3rd week in July.

Cross Country will be daily & it is hard. Talk to the coach!!! Perhaps you can work something out.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Talk to the coach. August 15 is the date they are allowed to start practice. I think the coach may be more lenient with the incoming freshman, especially if you tell him now that plans were already made. I know we ran into this with band camp and soccer when my oldest was a freshman.

I would not change your vacation. It is not the end of the world. I am sure they will let your child play, he just may not start until her prives himself, at least that is how it would be here.

 

[OhMari]

If your son does not make the 1st couple of days of practice-or even a week, he should talk to the coach. He would literally be 1 week behind his other team mates. Which means he wouldn't be able to compete in the first one or two meets. Everyone has to put in a certain amount of days of practice.

We are a smaller school and the girls that go out for sports tend to do this in the fall, especially now that we are starting school Sept. 1. People are going on vacation in August-usually because of summer sports only ending at the end of July.

If your son is trying for a spot on the team, then yes, he would have to be there the 1st day.

 

[Trish5768]

DS played sports for 4 years in HS. You either showed up on the date or you did not play. Thats just the way it is when they move on to HS. Not only that, they are not guaranteed a spot on the team; our school cuts kids .

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

THey cut for Cross Country???

 

[The Mystery Machine]

THey cut for Cross Country???

Where we are they cut for everything except Band...

 

[DVCLiz]

It's really an eye-opener to move from elementary and middle school, where you can simply send a note in about your schedule, to high school, where coaches, drama and music teachers, and other after-school activity schedules start to rule your life. It's unfortunate but true - they really don't care about your family's trip to WDW. Even cheerleading has its rules- miss a practice, sit out a game. Miss a game, sit out two games. This has been the hardest thing to get used to - my need to still have my child available to do what I want to do, versus her need to participate and follow the rules with her teammates. She has "won" every time!!!!! Just a part of having them grow up and away from us - but it sure does make planning vacations hard!!!

And don't get me started on having two in different schools with different calendars....

 

[Lynn CC]

It was the same with Band Practice for my DS when he was in High School. It started in August and he had to be there, talk about heat on the field!

Talk with director, you never know!

 

[Tiggeroo]

with cross country you may be ok. My son ran 4 years in hs and is running in college now.
The way placement on the xc team generally works is there are no cuts but the top 7 kids have the varsity spot and there are maybe 3 alternates. In the beginning of the season everybody runs and they use those results to determine the varsity spots. There will come a point where they don't bring any but the top 7-10 to races.
That said, if the sport is popular they may limit sign-ups. This is because the school will only provide transportation for so many students to races.
BTW- if your son wants to run xc he should start running soon on his own. Some freshman show up with no experience but most have some mileage under their belt.
Also, once my son got serious about it and my other son was doing football we could no longer go away in the summers. It changes alot when your kids are in hs

 

[hentob]

That is how it is here too. Practice starts mid-August and they are very, very strict about it. My brother is on Cross Country and vacations with us. So, if we want to do Disney, it has to be between Cross Country and Track.

Can you reschedule your trip? Less crowds/lower heat after X-C season. He may have to miss some school, but it would be worth it.

A side note: Although most Cross Country programs don't "cut", many don't realize that it is sometimes the 5th or 6th place runners that can win a meet for the team!

Good luck w/ your decision!

 

[hentob]

Tiggeroo! My Cross Country partner in crime

We posted at the same time

 

[cardaway]

Keep in mind that your child may not want to be on the team if they miss time. The rest of the kids can be pretty hard on those that don't carry their weight.