Do you think every kid should make the team? Or do you think it's beneficial for a child to not make the team, and therefore learn to work harder for what they want and/or accept disappointment?

Ages:
3-6
6-9
9-12
13+

3-9 I think they should all make the team & build up their skills & understand of the game.

9+ should have to try-out!

Ages:
3-6: Everyone should make the team
6-9: Everyone should make the team, but start having different level teams... ie A team of the better kids, B team of the less talented kids
9-12: Not everyone should make the team... if you aren't good enough, you are cut. Or continue the different level teams
13+: Definately cuts for those who aren't as good

Ages:
3-6: Everyone should make the team
6-9: Everyone should make the team, but start having different level teams... ie A team of the better kids, B team of the less talented kids
9-12: Not everyone should make the team... if you aren't good enough, you are cut. Or continue the different level teams
13+: Definately cuts for those who aren't as good

You sure said it all better than I did! :tu

i think everyone should make the team & everyone should get playing time, regardless of age. turning kids off to physical activity because they're "not good enough" is just one of numerous reasons why america is obese.

I think 13+ should have to try out and are probably mature enough to handle getting cut. Younger than that, there should be leagues available to let anyone play.

:shrug that is a hard call. currently my 2 younger kids ( 5 &7 ) do fun fair positive soccer. everyone wins and everyone gets to play. I think it is great because they can build skills and get ample playing time, no one gets 'benched' because they aren't as good kwim. because otherwise they would be sitting on the bench since other kids are better then they are.

I think that once in JR high you know the real rules of the world. not everyone makes the team so you just have to work that much harder to do it. ODD is in 5th grade and in choir she had to try out for some solo pieces and didn't make it, so she learned that she had to work harder the next time. something she says she will do.

:shrug that is a hard call. currently my 2 younger kids ( 5 &7 ) do fun fair positive soccer. everyone wins and everyone gets to play. I think it is great because they can build skills and get ample playing time, no one gets 'benched' because they aren't as good kwim. because otherwise they would be sitting on the bench since other kids are better then they are.

I think that once in JR high you know the real rules of the world. not everyone makes the team so you just have to work that much harder to do it. ODD is in 5th grade and in choir she had to try out for some solo pieces and didn't make it, so she learned that she had to work harder the next time. something she says she will do.

so what do you tell the kid who gets cut from every team? my friend in high school got cut from fall cheerleading, so she tried out for basketball in the winter...got cut from that. tried out for volleyball the following winter...got cut from that. finally made the softball team spring of her junior year because they didn't cut people & low and behold, was named most improved player her senior year.

so what do you tell the kid who gets cut from every team? my friend in high school got cut from fall cheerleading, so she tried out for basketball in the winter...got cut from that. tried out for volleyball the following winter...got cut from that. finally made the softball team spring of her junior year because they didn't cut people & low and behold, was named most improved player her senior year.
i figure school and sports after elementary school are like real life. I don't get every job I apply for, i didn't get into every college I applied for. I would rather my kids try and fail and be better for it then to suck but because they can't cut sit on the bench for a whole season accomplishing nothing. And if my kids want something that bad then i guess they would work hard in the summer to improve enough to make the team the next time around. anything worth having is worth working for.

i think everyone should make the team & everyone should get playing time, regardless of age. turning kids off to physical activity because they're "not good enough" is just one of numerous reasons why america is obese.

I don't think that's the case at all. I think it's a vital part of learning to deal with disappointment and accepting that you won't get handed everything.

so what do you tell the kid who gets cut from every team? my friend in high school got cut from fall cheerleading, so she tried out for basketball in the winter...got cut from that. tried out for volleyball the following winter...got cut from that. finally made the softball team spring of her junior year because they didn't cut people & low and behold, was named most improved player her senior year.

So she was better at softball than cheerleading, volleyball, and basketball. Those four sports are VASTLY different. Just because she is good at one doesn't mean she would have been good at the others.

i figure school and sports after elementary school are like real life. I don't get every job I apply for, i didn't get into every college I applied for. I would rather my kids try and fail and be better for it then to suck but because they can't cut sit on the bench for a whole season accomplishing nothing. And if my kids want something that bad then i guess they would work hard in the summer to improve enough to make the team the next time around. anything worth having is worth working for.

Exactly! And it would say putting all of the money you do into it & then the child get absolutely no playing time.

I was far from being the best athlete & got cut a few times! It just made me work harder to get better until I did make the team! I was so proud of myself when I did make it!

So she was better at softball than cheerleading and basketball. Those three sports are VASTLY different. Just because she is good at one doesn't mean she would have been good at the others.

my point is this...what if she'd given up after being cut the first time? or the second? & so forth. a lot of kids would.

i grew up in a small town, so sports was & is very political. often times playing time & making the time was all about who you were, not necessarily how good you were. i'm a firm believe that prep sports should be fun first & foremost.

my point is this...what if she'd given up after being cut the first time? or the second? & so forth. a lot of kids would.

i grew up in a small town, so sports was & is very political. often times playing time & making the time was all about who you were, not necessarily how good you were. i'm a firm believe that prep sports should be fun first & foremost.

I can understand that. But at what age do you stop coddling them, kwim? Should 17 year olds make the team just because they try out for Varsity football?

I think 13+ should have to try out and are probably mature enough to handle getting cut. Younger than that, there should be leagues available to let anyone play.

:agree

Growing up, 13 was the age where people started finding their own niche and prioritizing activities/hobbies anyway.

I can understand that. But at what age do you stop coddling them, kwim? Should 17 year olds make the team just because they try out for Varsity football?

yes. if you're willing to try out & go to every practice & every game & every team fundraiser & so forth, then you make the team. it's high school. sure not everyone is gonna get the college scholarship or go pro, but who cares? let them play.

It totally depends on the situation. There are recreation leagues where everyone should make it. There are other leagues that are tournament/travel leagues where they should have to try out. In high school there should be try outs. What if 50 people wanted to be on the basketball team? I don't see how that could be possible.

yes. if you're willing to try out & go to every practice & every game & every team fundraiser & so forth, then you make the team. it's high school. sure not everyone is gonna get the college scholarship or go pro, but who cares? let them play.

I'm not picking on your posts, I swearz!

So what happens when they get to college and because they went to every practice and every game, they think they'll make the college team and then they don't? Are they prepared for that kind of disappointment?

yes. if you're willing to try out & go to every practice & every game & every team fundraiser & so forth, then you make the team. it's high school. sure not everyone is gonna get the college scholarship or go pro, but who cares? let them play.
what about the kids who do play well and want to make an impression because they need a full ride to college?? aren't not good/bad players hurting their chances of that if they get way less playing time because everyone has to play?

what about the kids who do play well and want to make an impression because they need a full ride to college?? aren't not good/bad players hurting their chances of that if they get way less playing time because everyone has to play?

Excellent point! Those students (and for the record, the first time I typed that, it came out "stupids" for some reason. Weird) who depend on their athletic career for college, and those who want to go pro some day, NEED and actually DESERVE all the play time they can get. JMO.

I say the above at the risk of defending all the LeBron James' out there :scared

I'm not picking on your posts, I swearz!

So what happens when they get to college and because they went to every practice and every game, they think they'll make the college team and then they don't? Are they prepared for that kind of disappointment?

i'm pretty sure these kids don't intend on making a career out of athletics.

what about the kids who do play well and want to make an impression because they need a full ride to college?? aren't not good/bad players hurting their chances of that if they get way less playing time because everyone has to play?

if you are banking on an athletic scholarship as the only way to get to college, you are really taking your chances.

if you are banking on an athletic scholarship as the only way to get to college, you are really taking your chances.

I've known some kids that had to take that chance as they had no other options.

Our high school would take anyone on the fball team you would work out and exersize like the team did, but only the good players got to play.

I think above 8 yrs old kids should have to start understanding that you have to have skill to get to where you want to be.

I've known some kids that had to take that chance as they had no other options.

I wanted to add, also, that I see it as no different than a kid that is depending on an art, music, etc scholarship. Some kids' families can't afford to send their kid to college and so they strive for scholarships.

It totally depends on the situation. There are recreation leagues where everyone should make it. There are other leagues that are tournament/travel leagues where they should have to try out. In high school there should be try outs. What if 50 people wanted to be on the basketball team? I don't see how that could be possible.

:agree

if you are banking on an athletic scholarship as the only way to get to college, you are really taking your chances.

I've known quite a few people who've gotten athletic scholarships. One friend of mine got a full ride athletic scholarship to Harvard (for tennis). Athletic scholarships can come in quite handy.

I've known some kids that had to take that chance as they had no other options.

if that's what you are banking on & you are that good of player, i'm sure you'll get noticed anyways. you're probably going to clinics & camps & playing on travel teams in order to get college scouts to notice you.

i think everyone should make the team & everyone should get playing time, regardless of age. turning kids off to physical activity because they're "not good enough" is just one of numerous reasons why america is obese.

Very good point.

I am kind of torn to be honest. Although everyone making the team would definetally help kid's confidence and the obesity rate....it would also give them a much larger ego. That sets them up to feel entitled to always "make it". Whether that be a job or what have you. Sorry, I've been reading too much of the book Generation Me. lol But the author and researches made valid points. Kids expect too much and are 'given' too much. This would be just another one of those things to add to the list. So while it would help in some ways, it would make other points worse.

I guess...I agree with....


Ages:
3-6: Everyone should make the team
6-9: Everyone should make the team, but start having different level teams... ie A team of the better kids, B team of the less talented kids
9-12: Not everyone should make the team... if you aren't good enough, you are cut. Or continue the different level teams
13+: Definately cuts for those who aren't as good

if that's what you are banking on & you are that good of player, i'm sure you'll get noticed anyways. you're probably going to clinics & camps & playing on travel teams in order to get college scouts to notice you.

If there are 70 football players and they all have to play an equal amount, you'd get barely a couple of minutes, if that, to make yourself stand out to a scout. Scouts usually go to one game, to see several players.

If there are 70 football players and they all have to play an equal amount, you'd get barely a couple of minutes, if that, to make yourself stand out to a scout. Scouts usually go to one game, to see several players.

there's no rule saying equal playing time. i just think all get to play. maybe you don't get a lot of time this week, but you will next week. let it balance out over the season.

but to get technical:
offense & defense = 22 players * 4 quarters = slots for 88 players/game

there's no rule saying equal playing time. i just think all get to play. maybe you don't get a lot of time this week, but you will next week. let it balance out over the season.

but to get technical:
offense & defense = 22 players * 4 quarters = slots for 88 players/game

What if next week is when the scout comes out? And that's the week the guys who need scholarships are out of the game?

I just think it's a little over the top that in high school, you have to have your ego boosted by being "let" on a team. Where's the pride in that? If a kid wants it bad enough, he'll do it. And if not, life goes on. It's how it is in the real world, and high school should be preparing teens for life out there, IMO.

What if next week is when the scout comes out? And that's the week the guys who need scholarships are out of the game?

I just think it's a little over the top that in high school, you have to have your ego boosted by being "let" on a team. Where's the pride in that? If a kid wants it bad enough, he'll do it. And if not, life goes on. It's how it is in the real world, and high school should be preparing teens for life out there, IMO.

from personal experience, it's not an ego boost in any way shape or form.

had i gone to a larger school, i know that there is no way i would have made the track or cross country teams. i busted my @ss at both (& never got any "better") & the latter is my fondest memory of high school. it taught me a whole lot about myself.

Below 6th grade, everyone makes it. Jr. High and High school...try outs.

I think past age 13 if you aren't able to make it past try-outs you shouldn't be on the team at school. In my experience growing up in CA, not sure about other states, there was the sports in school, and there were also the same sports available out of the parks and recreation department as well as the YMCA and several junior leagues. Competition to get into the SCHOOL'S sports isn't the reason America is obese. America is obese because people drive everywhere and McDonalds has locations at every one mile interval. In my opinion of course. :D

I agree with goldi, too lazy to quote ( :giggle ) but in all honesty if you aren't playing a scout won't come back, and if you don't have stats to back up what you say you can do then they won't give you a second chance. I knew plenty of people who got scholarships due to sports. They wouldn't have been able to afford college either way. it wasn't because they weren't smart or what not, but because their families couldn't afford to send them otherwise. Had our school implemented an everyone can play type of sport, they never would have gotten those. I also think that most people know their limits. I am not athletic in anyway, so i expect to be cut from most teams, but if i had really really wanted it i would have found a way to make it.

I think everyone should make a team w/the exception of some sports until around 10.

Ages:
3-6: Everyone should make the team
6-9: Everyone should make the team, but start having different level teams... ie A team of the better kids, B team of the less talented kids
9-12: Not everyone should make the team... if you aren't good enough, you are cut. Or continue the different level teams
13+: Definately cuts for those who aren't as good

I agree but not too sure on scattering the kids in two teams... I think the teams should be evenly distributed (6-9) so that they can learn from each other. The kids on the less talented team have no one to feed from among their peers. And I agree with Trisha that it should be closer to 10yo as well...


Ya know what... I am changing my mind as I think more about it. 13+ should try out, everyone else should get a chance to play.

Ages:
3-6: Everyone should make the team
6-9: Everyone should make the team, but start having different level teams... ie A team of the better kids, B team of the less talented kids
9-12: Not everyone should make the team... if you aren't good enough, you are cut. Or continue the different level teams
13+: Definately cuts for those who aren't as good

I agree with this. I think an A & B team with integrated practices is a good idea.

i think everyone should make the team & everyone should get playing time, regardless of age. turning kids off to physical activity because they're "not good enough" is just one of numerous reasons why america is obese.

I don't agree with this for a couple reasons. As others have said, not everyone wins, not everyone is good at everything they do and there comes a point when this is an important lesson to learn. Not making a team in high school doesn't make someone be fat later, there are plenty of activities to do other than sports. I think in rec leagues it doesn't matter, but in school it absolutely does. No one wants to lose and as snotty as this sounds, if everyone made the team and everyone played regardless of talent, the team will lose. It's unrealistic to think otherwise. Also, no one will improve to their potential because there will not be enough attention for each player. I played sports in high school and had plenty of friends that didn't make the team. that was life, they moved on and did other things and we stayed friends. But i our team to be successful and win. Good players want to win and denying them that is not right either.

I was never on any teams in school and I'm not scarred for life.I think 3-6 everyone should play but then they can go to competitive teams if they want. Non competitive teams should be an option(church league, the Y etc).

I think organized sports are important for kids. I think every child should have the oppertunity to play sports but I also agree in having to try. In the city I grew up in we had different leagues. We had two leagues 1 you had to try out and you could be cut from the age of 6+. The other accepted everyone but we still had try outs. Tryouts helped in placement. They wanted to see everyone's skill levels so that the teams could be even. All teams had a star player or two and then some players that had no skill. At the end of the year an all-star team was picked out to play against other local leagues. Each team could nominate their best players for all-stars. It was just about the same way for all sports in that city. Of course you could also only participate in league play if you were not old enough to be in high school sports. All highschool sports were on a try out basis and most didn't make the team. I think it was a pretty good system. I played for the everyone leagues. I wanted to be able to play with my friends no matter what their skill level was. In baseball it was a good thing I was in the league that accepted everyone. In soccor I wish I had been in the league that had cuts. I was more skilled and was more competitive in soccor. I made all-stars every year and feel I would have been more challanged in the sport had I been with other talented players. In High school I made the wresteling and volleyball teams even though I hadn't done either sport before. I did a year of softball in the leagues but I quickly went back to baseball. I liked the rules and players better.

I say, kids 3-9 should definitely all play. 9+ should have to tryout.

Life is not the cakewalk some parents apparently want their kids to think it is. The whole "there are no losers" movement sets a lot of kids up for a rude awakening in the real world. Just because you like something does not mean you are good at it, and better they find out now than later. The kids who aren't so good can all go play on a team together at the Y, for fun.

(and this is coming from a girl who was never on any sports teams in high school. I ran track and I cheered).

3-9 should all be able to play....thats where a lot of learning about the game starts. After 9 there should be ttry-outs and cuts. And if a parent or child is worried about not making the team, arent there always like county teams to play on? At 10y/o i joined a county softball team, they didnt have tryouts and i had never picked up a softball before that, i was very athletic, but i had never played softball. I learned so much about the game that season and after a few weeks i became a starter at 2nd base and most improved player.
There is always some kind of sports team your child can join without going through the process of tryouts and the humiliation of getting cut. i think once you reach junior high tryouts are important...if you dont make it this time, go home and practice practice practice. I dont really think it's "fair" if they make it b/c there are kids who are awesome at the sport theyre trying out for and deserve as much playing time as they can get.

I'm thinking of sports outside of school, like say little league. You pay so your kid can play in that league so they can't deny them. The best players on the teams (or just the coaches kids sometimes) get picked for "all-stars" and get to play more so I guess that's the reward in that case.

In school, once they start doing sports through the school in Jr. High then they should have to try out just like they do for all other sports in Jr. High and High School. That's my take on it anyhow.

Also, some kids don't start playing until 6 or 7 so they won't be caught up with the ones who started at say 4 & 5 that quick. It's a sport, they are supposed to be fun too... not just about winning. They have their entire lives to learn to be little pricks... :lol

I think that 13+ you should have to try out... and I think before that age... everyone should get to play.

My brother plays baseball in the summers and they only have tryouts at 15+ but before that age, they split people up based on cities so that everyone can play... if a LOT of people want to one year.. a city will get TWO teams. at the end of the summer.. the BEST players will get a special 'all star' game where they split up a few cities against another few cities so that there can be two teams.

As much as I think everyone should get a chance to prove themselves... by the time you are 13, if it is something you are really interested in, you will either do everything you can to make sure you can pass a try out or you will already have been playing a lot and will know what your chances are.

I think having tryouts not only teaches children that sometimes you DO fail... but it also teaches kids to work harder at what they want. true, they still might fail after working harder.. but that is when a parent can step in and help them figure out their strong points to find a sport that will be JUST as fun, but also something they will be BETTER at.

I think everyone should get to play. If your child wants to only play with "the good kids" then they should join a competitive league. Kids should never be told they can not participate in physical activity.

I think 13+ should have to try out and are probably mature enough to handle getting cut. Younger than that, there should be leagues available to let anyone play.

i agree

It totally depends on the situation. There are recreation leagues where everyone should make it. There are other leagues that are tournament/travel leagues where they should have to try out. In high school there should be try outs. What if 50 people wanted to be on the basketball team? I don't see how that could be possible.

I totally agree with this. Not every kid is going to be good enough for a travel team or a high school team. But as long as their are rec Leagues that are for fun kids will be able to play. I think after elementary school there should be competitive leagues. At that point in those leagues the kids can be cut if they aren't good enough. If they don't make those teams they can sign up for rec and play there while trying to improve. I was cut from some teams when I was younger, it kind of sucked but I survived. I didn't make the tennis team my freshmen year so I worked my butt off and made it the next year, then I went on to get be on the number 4 doubles team in the state my senior year. We need to be teaching kids that when you fail you don't give up, you work harder, not that you will never fail.
And IMO being cut from a team does not turn kids off of physical activity. There is so much more stuff available to keep kids active. If we really want to keep kids healthy and active we need to teach them from a young age the different things they can do to stay that way.

In my opinion as I have children who play sports. I believe that all children up to High School age should be able to make/play team sports. You will never know if you like or are good at sports until you try. There are various levels of different sports.

There is local league soccer, select soccer, high school soccer... I think that there is usually a "team " for you.

Once they are in middle school, they need to try out and not everyone makes it. BUT, that's on a school team. If they still want to play but they suck, that's when the parents pay and put them in a recreational league. I also agree on the different skill levels when they are younger.

I think that if they are through the county and boro or rec leagues, everyone should be able to be on the team...I think starting in the 9th grade you should try out. I was on the tennis team and if they didnt have try outs I would have quit.

by 13 you should have the skills and the ability to make the team if you so choose. If you are unable to make the team then IMO you didn't try hard enough and should use the time you would have spent playing on the team, practicing so you CAN make the team next year. NOT being picked teaches children they have to try to EARN what they want it won't just be handed.
No offense but
A. if everyone made the team how would that help with obesity? High School teams want to WIN so that equals up to all the kids who sucked and don't get better during practice having to sit on the bench. Dumb if you ask me
B. Sports won't change obesity. Do you really think the obese kid is going to want to play soccer? No. What will help with obesity is for parents to quit shoving fat food down their kids faces and for parents to GASP unplug things in the house and send the kids out to play.
(I realize there are health issues that can make a person obsese. I am CLEARLY not talking about that)