Can't help but notice that some nice (non-HS) tourneys happen during the school year, and they aren't 2 day tourneys.
How did the school take it when your kid missed school?
Did you have a rule about no missing school for tourneys ?
What's the best way to approach this?
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Hi CaCO3Girl, we've not really been in this situation often but our general rule of thumb has been we will allow him to miss school if it is directly related to an event involving a (realistic) college of interest. These typically only include ones where significant travel is required. For example, next week we are traveling 2000 miles away so that my son can tour a school, meet with admissions, attend a class, meet with coaches, take in a scrimmage, and attend a school event. This will require him to miss two days of school and we wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't a real possibility with mutual interest, or if he was struggling in any classes. Hope that helps!
I’ve done it a few times now. Generally, schools just want you to complete the work that you will miss by the time you get back or before you leave. Not a huge deal.
My son missed some school his Junior year to play at Jupiter and to attend a couple camps on the east coast (we're in California). We limited the trips to essential recruiting opportunities. I think the longest trip was Wednesday to the following Monday. His school was fine with it since we were clear he was pursuing college athletics and this was part of that process, but he was responsible to meet with each teacher in advance, get permission to miss class and get his work done in advance. My son also worked hard to keep his grades up so he'd have a strong case if he needed to make one.
We have always prioritized school attendance over baseball, with the exception of 1 day was missed my son's Jr. year so he could attend the AZ Jr Fall Classic and the All-Academic Tryouts. This was the only exception to our rule of attendance first. Some schools have a policy that if you are missing school to try out for a National team (i.e. USA Baseball) they will let you work ahead and not count those days as "unexcused" absences. My kid has missed exactly one day of school his entire life, which is not to brag or anything, he loves school and being there with his friends and is blessed with a stellar immune system. His sister went her entire academic career without missing a single day. They laugh at the prospect of a zombie apocalypse, they know they will be just fine. :-)
I do, personally, have a serious problem with organizations like PG scheduling events that will essentially require students to miss at least one day, often two to three if their teams have to travel to the event or make it to the semi finals and championship game often held on Mondays. This, to me, is a result of these organizations putting their profit motive over the player's academics.
Would scheduling a few extra fields alleviate the need to spread the events out over 4 days? If so, put your money where your mouth is and stop scheduling these events on school days.
The school didn’t mind. The soccer coach was pissed. It was ok to miss games for soccer recruiting. But not to baseball at PG.. One player missed several games per season to play for u18 Team USA soccer. But my son was benched for one game and told to run for an entire practice for missing a game against a bottom feeder. He told the coach in August he would miss the game. He privately commented he doubted he would have been benched had it been against one of the better teams.
He was the only one on the soccer team not playing on an elite summer team. He was also the only one on the team who didn’t play college soccer. They were a powerhouse.
He always joked the coach didn’t like him saying playing goal is like playing shortstop when the ball is outside the eighteen. It’s like playing third when it’s inside the eighteen. Baseball gave him all the practice he needed. He did attend an elite soccer goalie day camp each summer.
We missed 3 days for the USA tryouts in August, the principal sent my son a card congratulating him on making the tryout but also told me it was going to have to be an unexcused absence. Its a personal decision. If my son is doing just fine, I don't care if he misses a few days. I don't really think there is anything in life that they won't be prepared for because they missed a couple of days of school. Everyone's family has their own take on it. If attendance is a big deal in your family, there are plenty of tournaments and showcases that don't interfere, just pick those, or ask to only play on the weekend.
Pretty simple, IMO. Make it clear that school is priority. Keep exceptions to a minimum. When there is an event that is deemed important enough, the student should go through the exercise of clearing with the school (different schools have different guidelines) and all instructors, getting his work ahead of time and required to have whatever grades the parents deem appropriate in order to earn the privilege.
BTW, something not mentioned yet... the student will have to deal with this quite a bit in college so it doesn't hurt to have a few "practice runs" at handling the process in HS.
If such an event affects eligibility for participation in a HS sports event on those dates, serious consideration should be given to the commitment to HS team and teammates.
The only time mine missed that I can recall was to play in Jupiter (twice). Other than that, mine always had great attendance so it wasn't much of an issue.
baseballhs posted:We missed 3 days for the USA tryouts in August, the principal sent my son a card congratulating him on making the tryout but also told me it was going to have to be an unexcused absence. Its a personal decision. If my son is doing just fine, I don't care if he misses a few days. I don't really think there is anything in life that they won't be prepared for because they missed a couple of days of school. Everyone's family has their own take on it. If attendance is a big deal in your family, there are plenty of tournaments and showcases that don't interfere, just pick those, or ask to only play on the weekend.
BaseballHS, I agree that one can make the choice not to go, the problem is that these organizations are making a habit of scheduling these events during the school year that pretty much require students missing school. Profit, profit profit...gotta keep the events scheduled and profit wheels turning.
Cabbagedad, I understand that they will have to deal with these type of situations when they play in college, but that is a known sacrifice they are taking to play at that level. Also, the academic support is typically in place to help those athletes.
We haven't had to deal with this yet . Im not sure how we will handle it.
My son is missing 2 days for the AZ Junior Fall Classic next month (he's attending the Academic Game tryout on Thurs). We are generally pretty strict about not missing school, but he is a great student and very disciplined when it comes to getting his school work done, so it will be fine. We think this is an event that justifies an exception. His school is on the block system, so they have 75 min classes and complete a full year course in one semester. That means missing 2 days of school is equivalent to 4 days of a full year course. 
GaryMe posted:baseballhs posted:We missed 3 days for the USA tryouts in August, the principal sent my son a card congratulating him on making the tryout but also told me it was going to have to be an unexcused absence. Its a personal decision. If my son is doing just fine, I don't care if he misses a few days. I don't really think there is anything in life that they won't be prepared for because they missed a couple of days of school. Everyone's family has their own take on it. If attendance is a big deal in your family, there are plenty of tournaments and showcases that don't interfere, just pick those, or ask to only play on the weekend.
BaseballHS, I agree that one can make the choice not to go, the problem is that these organizations are making a habit of scheduling these events during the school year that pretty much require students missing school. Profit, profit profit...gotta keep the events scheduled and profit wheels turning.
Cabbagedad, I understand that they will have to deal with these type of situations when they play in college, but that is a known sacrifice they are taking to play at that level. Also, the academic support is typically in place to help those athletes.
I just see it differently. Last fall, I really felt like we needed to get my son seen before spring and summer. He had made some gains at the very end of the summer and so I was looking for places for him to perform. I am glad there were things available in the fall so that we could get some of his gains documented to begin sending out emails and preparing for spring and summer. Everyone has a different agenda or way they are going about handling the recruiting process. We certainly did not have to attend, but I’m glad we did, And I’m glad they were available.
My view was/is: if my kid can't miss 1 or 2 days out of 180 without sinking academically, college was not going to work out well for him.
2019Dad posted:My view was/is: if my kid can't miss 1 or 2 days out of 180 without sinking academically, college was not going to work out well for him.
My son skipped USA 14u in Cary as it interefered with HS. I think my kid can convince his school for any future abscences, his mother otoh.....***shudders***
Having a AA Milb son who attended a NE Boarding School, where baseball was like an art class, I have an answer for you.
If Athletic exposure can not be provided at the HS level, you must seek it where it lay.
With that said, the scholar athlete MUST be able to keep up with their HS Academic obligations.
The athletes accomplishments will be noted on the matriculation chart at the end of the school year, and is a marketing tool for the HS.
Collegiate Athletic recruitment is an Individual/family effort that must rise above the HS collective.
Note: Players need to be humble through the process and maintain themselves as a member of the collective.
My son has had former HS friends and baseball team member show up to his games through College and Minors and it’s because he was a contributing member of the team that has advanced.
Everyone rises along with the player; That includes the HS.
just sayin’
Mine missed the last three days of school for baseball last year and they were fine with it. This year he will miss 2/3 days for Jupiter. Since he is not doing a college visit day and they give our students three they are counting it as college visit days. They just jokingly said make sure you ride through a college campus while you are gone so you can say you went on a college visit. But mine is the kid who hangs out in the office every day when he could be gone for early dismissal and does anything they want. Again, as stated, if you can't miss class and make up the work then you are gonna be in a mess come college.
CaCO3Girl posted:Can't help but notice that some nice (non-HS) tourneys happen during the school year, and they aren't 2 day tourneys.
How did the school take it when your kid missed school?
Did you have a rule about no missing school for tourneys ?
What's the best way to approach this?
My son never attended any tournaments that required missing school. As far as the administration was concerned it would be an unexcused absence. The only exception was if the time away from school was for a college visit (not necessarily a Official Visit for sports though).
The baseball coach had hard and fast rules about missing practice and games which he made known in a preseason meeting with all parents and players at a mandatory meeting. Even if the player cleared the time off with the coach, there would be consequences for missing practice or games - usually sitting the bench at the next game.
GaryMe posted:baseballhs posted:We missed 3 days for the USA tryouts in August, the principal sent my son a card congratulating him on making the tryout but also told me it was going to have to be an unexcused absence. Its a personal decision. If my son is doing just fine, I don't care if he misses a few days. I don't really think there is anything in life that they won't be prepared for because they missed a couple of days of school. Everyone's family has their own take on it. If attendance is a big deal in your family, there are plenty of tournaments and showcases that don't interfere, just pick those, or ask to only play on the weekend.
BaseballHS, I agree that one can make the choice not to go, the problem is that these organizations are making a habit of scheduling these events during the school year that pretty much require students missing school. Profit, profit profit...gotta keep the events scheduled and profit wheels turning.
Cabbagedad, I understand that they will have to deal with these type of situations when they play in college, but that is a known sacrifice they are taking to play at that level. Also, the academic support is typically in place to help those athletes.
I'm not sure that the academic support necessary is typically in place. Missing for games at the college level puts a huge strain on kids trying to complete a degree. Especially if their difficult classes fall on those days. It is doable, but it can be difficult, and it also depends on your major as to whether tutors are available, what time the tutors are available, etc.
If it was an important event, we let Ryno attend. Grades were a factor. If his grades had been suffering, he wouldn't have attended. I truly believe it is a case by case situation. When it meant missing a practice or a game during the HS Season, he never missed. He did miss a week for Legion one year, and the coach wasn't too happy. I benched him for 2 games when he returned. The problem with that was, he didn't hold the same for others that missed for family vacations. It was only Ryan and a couple others who went for baseball.
My son went to the 14U USA baseball tryout in NC, which was in October back then. He had to miss 2 days. I don't recall it being an issue at the time. It may have been unexcused....but that just meant that if a particular teacher wanted to be a jacka## about it that they could. We are a small school, I'm fairly certain nobody gave him any grief. Son was a 3.7 / 31 ACT kid so that may have helped. Daughter went on a couple visits to potential colleges that required more than the 1-day off that they were normally allowed for a college visit. Again no issue, but being #2 in the class may have gotten her a little leeway too. I can't imagine any school just flat out telling a kid "you can't go". If a kid is going to Jupiter, it's pretty much an assurance that he'll be playing baseball in college somewhere if he wants to. Not sure why this can't be considered the same as a normal college visit where you may take a "scholarship test" to see what kind of academic money you can get....just different....you're playing for athletic money instead 
My kid won't miss! His is school has a policy, no abscence and at least a B and you don't have to take finals huge incentive to not miss school! We
It won't matter if the kid misses a few days, as long as he keeps up the grades, nobody cares... Let'em have some fun.
Don’t miss out on exposure for a couple missed days of highschool... it’s just not that important as long as the kid can do the work he misses. In college he will miss school for weeks on end traveling for baseball games.
We didn't miss high school so much to play baseball as to visit colleges, which just happened to include a lot of baseball camps. Son did a lot of homework in hotels, on planes and in the car. He kept up his grades, and we were very careful to keep school administrators and staff (including teachers) in the loop so they knew what was going on.
As a teacher, let me say that it is not uncommon. In fact, baseball isn't even the major culprit. We have kids leaving school for volleyball, soccer, ... There are some outstanding softball tournaments at domes in the winter and so, a player or two of mine might miss three or 4 consecutive Thursday/Fridays of school to make all of those tournaments. While not a week long as you mention in the OP, the absences are just as many.
With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
Is it too late to have him take some more Honors or AP classes? Baseball or not, a rigorous schedule is one of the first factors Admissions uses in profiling an applicant.
CTbballDad posted:CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
Is it too late to have him take some more Honors or AP classes? Baseball or not, a rigorous schedule is one of the first factors Admissions uses in profiling an applicant.
Sending you a PM
2020Hopeful posted:My son is missing 2 days for the AZ Junior Fall Classic next month (he's attending the Academic Game tryout on Thurs). We are generally pretty strict about not missing school, but he is a great student and very disciplined when it comes to getting his school work done, so it will be fine. We think this is an event that justifies an exception. His school is on the block system, so they have 75 min classes and complete a full year course in one semester. That means missing 2 days of school is equivalent to 4 days of a full year course.
but you only have 4 classes instead of 8.
Just missed a Friday for AZ freshman fall classic. Our school is fine as long as it's infrequent, pre-approved, work is done off school hours, etc.
CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
My kid took ALL AP and honors classes... Zero of them mattered or were transferable to the D1 he committed to... So he had that goin' for him, which was nice... Gunga galunga...
Bolts-Coach-PR posted:CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
My kid took ALL AP and honors classes... Zero of them mattered or were transferable to the D1 he committed to... So he had that goin' for him, which was nice... Gunga galunga...
And I'm sure with all those AP and honors classes he had LOADS of freetime outside of baseball to be a kid. Wow, how useless!
Is this thread really turning into a declaration against taking AP/Honors classes and pushing oneself academically? Aside from actually learning, my daughter is graduating from William and Mary in 3 years, as they took her 27 AP credits (saving $55K as a result) and my son would not have been accepted to his D1 school without his tougher schedule. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed their high school years, academically and socially. To each his/her own I guess...
CaCO3Girl posted:Bolts-Coach-PR posted:CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
My kid took ALL AP and honors classes... Zero of them mattered or were transferable to the D1 he committed to... So he had that goin' for him, which was nice... Gunga galunga...
And I'm sure with all those AP and honors classes he had LOADS of freetime outside of baseball to be a kid. Wow, how useless!
My son passed six AP tests, took four classes online while playing summer during college and graduated in three years. Due to an injury and five years to play four baseball paid for his MBA.
Yes,, his academics cut into his fun in high school and college. The job he has after college is financing as much fun as he has time for.
Bolts-Coach-PR posted:So he had that goin' for him, which was nice... Gunga galunga...
It's in the hole!
old_school posted:2020Hopeful posted:My son is missing 2 days for the AZ Junior Fall Classic next month (he's attending the Academic Game tryout on Thurs). We are generally pretty strict about not missing school, but he is a great student and very disciplined when it comes to getting his school work done, so it will be fine. We think this is an event that justifies an exception. His school is on the block system, so they have 75 min classes and complete a full year course in one semester. That means missing 2 days of school is equivalent to 4 days of a full year course.
but you only have 4 classes instead of 8.
He has 5 classes, but yes, fewer than what it would be under a regular schedule. Of course, it's the difficulty of each class that really matters in terms of missing school. He is taking AP Chem this semester which is A LOT of work, so making up the work for that class alone will be a challenge.
2020Hopeful posted:old_school posted:2020Hopeful posted:My son is missing 2 days for the AZ Junior Fall Classic next month (he's attending the Academic Game tryout on Thurs). We are generally pretty strict about not missing school, but he is a great student and very disciplined when it comes to getting his school work done, so it will be fine. We think this is an event that justifies an exception. His school is on the block system, so they have 75 min classes and complete a full year course in one semester. That means missing 2 days of school is equivalent to 4 days of a full year course.
but you only have 4 classes instead of 8.
He has 5 classes, but yes, fewer than what it would be under a regular schedule. Of course, it's the difficulty of each class that really matters in terms of missing school. He is taking AP Chem this semester which is A LOT of work, so making up the work for that class alone will be a challenge.
2020, I PM'd you.
Regarding courses, we always tried to load my son's tougher classes in the Fall if possible. Jr. year is a tough one overall and you want to strive for as good of grades as possible because in a lot of instances those grades are the most telling to an admissions selection body.
CaCO3Girl posted:Bolts-Coach-PR posted:CaCO3Girl posted:With the consideration that my kid is NOT in a bunch of honors and AP classes, I don't see the harm in him taking 3 days off to go to Ft. Myers.
Thank you everyone for your answers!
My kid took ALL AP and honors classes... Zero of them mattered or were transferable to the D1 he committed to... So he had that goin' for him, which was nice... Gunga galunga...
And I'm sure with all those AP and honors classes he had LOADS of freetime outside of baseball to be a kid. Wow, how useless!
I hope this is sarcasm. Taking a rigorous HS curriculum (including AP and honors) prepares a kid better for college, and he's got a better chance of doing well in college. Not all colleges give credit for APs but if they don't they will allow him to skip intro classes and go straight to more advance classes and graduate with a better resume.
so here is the question. at 90 plus years and you have lived your life, what do think matters more graduating from college in 3 years and saving 55k or having an awesome college experience, preparing for life and figuring out a way for that to take 4.5 years!!
it is no brainer, 3 years of college would leave me feeling cheated!! you can always make more money tomorrow, you childhood is limited! Stretch if for as long as reasonably able!!!!!
