Why is There A Difference?

Your question brings back a memory. It's a bit off track, but it's fairly close.

This year, my HS player (currently a senior) had signed up for several courses. The school couldn't figure out how to accommidate all of his requests, so they assigned him to 2 courses he didn't select.

One of these was the afore-mentioned Chorus / Choir (or whatever you call it). He figured he could make the other one work so it would be ok.

He went to the teacher

Son: "I didn't select this course".
Teacher: "You're not allowed to transfer".
Son: "I can't carry a tune in a bucket, wanna hear?"
Teacher: "That doesn't matter, you aren't allowed to transfer classes this year".
Son: "Is this a school policy?"
Teacher: "Yes, it was mailed to your parents".
Son: "So even though I never signed up, I have to stay in here?"
Teacher: "You can leave, but you'll get an F"

Even though transfer requests weren't allowed to be initiated by students or parents, the baseball coach was able to get him moved to "weight-lifting". He's a little better at that than the singing.

So ... to answer your question, you don't have to have talent to make the school choir. My son is living proof.

HiHardHeat,

I really understand your story and it was pretty cool how your son was able to get out of that class. I just used choir as an example of a school activity at the younger ages. I still dont understand why there is a difference in rec. sports and school activities at the same age noted in my topic starter post.


Scooter P

Scooter, I believe rec-ball is there to give kids that just want to play, a place to play. If a kid goes to play rec-ball and ends up spending most of his time on the bench, where can this kid go to just play the game. If a coach is so competitive that he will only play his best players than he should be playing comp ball. Recball is a place for kids, who just wanna play, and gives them a place that they can be part of a team, which in my opinion is the most honorable thing recball creates ... a team environment. Just my thoughts, I am sure others will differ.

P.S. I am also a parent that hated the idea of playing youth sports in our early years and they didn't keep score. I really thought that was stupid because I think competitiveness brings out character in a child. I am however a strong believer if you but a child in a competitive environment and not let him compete, it will produce ill effects in later life dealing with confidence. Recball is a competitive environment, albeit a low level, but if a kid can't even play recball with his school mates what else does he have.

Ill address the rec ball vs HS ball question. Rec ball for a 10 year old is about giving every kid an opportunity to learn the game. Give every kid a chance to experience being part of a team. It is then up to the kid to either put in the work that it takes to continue to progress or not. When kids have reached the HS level it is not about giving every kid a chance to learn the game. It is not about giving every kid a chance to be part of a team. It is about giving every kid a chance to learn the game and be on a team that have put in the work that it takes to play at that level. If you still want to play rec ball there are options for kids that do not play school ball. What happens to the kids that want to play College ball but are not talented enough? They move on to softball. Thats life.

I also forgot to mention, that I strongly believe every kid, no matter what caliper of player, needs to spend some time on the bench. Not to just give time to lesser players but to learn how to cheer other players on when they really have no control over the final outcome. This doesn't have to be done in major tournaments or anything like that but there are plenty of chances for that "all-stud" SS to ride the pine during the course of the season to ensure he has a proper respect for the game.

Coach May and KC Dad,

I understand both of your points about the ability to play and all but my question is what is the difference between getting fair playing time in rec. ball if not being good but the same is not given to young kids in school activities such as school choir. I am not talking high school because I understand the high school thing.

IMO, both would be detrimental to a young kid's character and self-esteem but sports are the only one seen as bad if a kid doesn't get to play.

Scooter P

In our school system I have never heard of younger kids not being allowed in anything. All the way through elementary school (K-5), all of the kids sing in a chorus. The ones that want to are in plays for the PTA, etc.

As a matter of fact in our system all 6th graders (first year of middle school) MUST be in either band or choir. We do have two bands and two choirs in middle school. The kids that improve in beginner band or choir move up to the "A" band or choir for 7th and 8th grade. Other kids can remain in the beginner band and play or sing their hearts out badly if they want, but noone is excluded.

6th graders are not even allowed to try out for football or basketball (the only sports we have at the middle school level).

Scooter....Ah, one of my favorite subjects.

Key to all of this "feel good" nonsense in high school and other places is the VOCAL PARTICIPATION by parents in the process.

If you can't play baseball, you must be permitted to be on a team and get some time in during a game.

You are correct....If you can't sing or play an instrument, they don't even let you stay involved with the program.

What is wrong with this scenario? VOCAL PARENTS making a difference.

At some local high schools, no one has more power than the band parents. If they don't get their way, whether new uniforms or a trip or whatever, they go nuts. If the sports coaches want something, they get excuses.

They (the parents...mommies especially) really don't care that Johnnie screws it up for everyone when he takes the baseball diamond, all they want is to be sure that no one screws it up for Johnnie when he plays the flute! Or, when daughter-dear is on the football field at halftime with those insane "flags"!

Scooter,
If I have read your question correctly you are asking why is cutting in sports seen as detrimental to a childs self esteem but being cut in something viewed as not as important is not viewed as equally detrimental..I really can't offer an objective answer...to me being cut from anything is hurtful no matter what the activity may be...as a child I tried out for color guard and was cut...destroyed my ego but I did manage to pick up the pieces and move on...excuse that was offered to me was that I was not coordinated enough...funny how things do turn around though I went on to try out for cheerleading, managed to make the team, and went on to be captain in my senior year...do I believe being cut impacted my resolve to try harder...perhaps...I was unaware of it then and can't remember now
On the flip side there was a youngman that went to HS with my son...freshman year he tried out for hockey....cut...tried out for BB...cut...tried out for Lacrosse....cut...I felt very bad for this youngman but can't even imagine how his self worth was affected...well he transferred to a HS that was in a lower division...made the hockey as well as the BB teams...even managed to have his name in the paper quite frequently ...at the elementary and middle school level I feel that all avenues of activities should be open to one and all...that is the time to be feeling the waters as to what each one is relatively good at

Might be related to LL baseball requiring playing time for everyone on the team regardless of talent.

Some parents think as kids get older and play HS & other sports that the same playing time requirements exsist and are surprised when they find out they do not.

CV

What happens outside of school in REC activities has no bearing on what the schools do and every school system does things differently

At my sons HS as a senior he was given the final two periods of the day as Gym and Study Hall--thus he was ready to play hoops in the winter and baseball in the spring--

But again keep in mind we met with the AD, Guidance Counselor and Principal in his freshman year and set the wheels in motion for the right steps thru all 4 years of HS

It's ironic that after 20 years of this "nobody gets cut 'cuz we don't want bruised feelings" stuff, the most popular entertainment is reality TV, where these inclusive graduates cut each other! And usually in the most mean-spirited ways.

I mean, you're like not cut, you're just, like, voted off, you know? We all like decided that like we don't like like you, you know?

In addition to what everyone else has said, a player's parent must pay a fee, in most cases, for the opportunity to play Rec Ball. So parents have the mind set that "...if I am paying then I expect to see my child play." Most parks have a clause in the registration package that states that each player will play X amount of inning(s) each game. Of course, the kids who are not good players get less innings. But they can't say they didn't play and as they get better, they get more innings.

Scooter, I think because the parent is paying for rec ball, raises the expections that the kid must play.

In our school system there is an athletic fee associated with any sport and it is clearly stated that there is no guarantee of playing time and that is under the scrutiny of the coach. You are not paying for playing time, you are paying to participate in the program.