Once a kid is discouraged from playing a sport they truly want to play, we've lost focus of what is really important about high school sports. I'm crazy competitive, I hate losing more than I love winning, but I realize that high school sports serve many purposes for our kids, and winning is only one part of that. Its an important part no doubt, but overall these are kids and preventing them from playing a sport isn't fair to them in the long run.

 

Most schools have in school weights, so a kid can lift and workout then, usually with the football team. Any kid that wants to get better, will have the opportunity. Now, I can see where some kids may try to play a sport like baseball to get out of lifting & running for football, but that kid isn't going to be getting better in the off-season anyway.

 

Our school has a couple of really athletic classes back to back to back right now (rare for our community and many rural small school in general). Most of our kids play three sports: Football, Basketball, and Baseball/Track. Success in one has led to success in the other areas. It doesn't take away from it. I don't think WC Football, Basketball, Track and Baseball have ever all been pretty good at the same time, and kids playing other sports hasn't hurt any of them.

^ Agree 100%.

 

I will add though that local leagues that I have been involved in are more about what parents control it than about the kids.....and money.

The coaches I had always recommended football players to play basketball because it helped with foot speed and agility. Baseball on the other hand gets right in the middle of spring ball/winter weights. They never said you can't play baseball but there is always a difference in physical condition come summer between the players that played baseball and the ones that went all through winter weights and spring ball. Which leads to those players that went through winter weights/spring ball all year being in a better position to win a spot on the field over the summer.

 

And baseball can help with hand/eye coordination, and nowadays there is more conditioning in baseball than most would believe (and no it's not as intense as basketball). But as a football coach over the last 10 years, I've seen a real decline in kids ability to catch the football, especially while on the move. I feel some of that is attributable to the fact that fewer kids are playing baseball for any length of time. Catching balls, and learning to track a ball in the air is a skill that translates to the football field.

 

I've seen too many kids be really successful playing both baseball and football to believe baseball is a hindrance to being successful on the football field.

Once a kid is discouraged from playing a sport they truly want to play, we've lost focus of what is really important about high school sports. I'm crazy competitive, I hate losing more than I love winning, but I realize that high school sports serve many purposes for our kids, and winning is only one part of that. Its an important part no doubt, but overall these are kids and preventing them from playing a sport isn't fair to them in the long run.

 

Most schools have in school weights, so a kid can lift and workout then, usually with the football team. Any kid that wants to get better, will have the opportunity. Now, I can see where some kids may try to play a sport like baseball to get out of lifting & running for football, but that kid isn't going to be getting better in the off-season anyway.

 

Your last paragraph is a bad mentality. Who cares if they play something to keep from lifting.

 

Too many coaches at the high school level see kids that play for them as a ticket to an extra planning period or a stipend on their check.

 

Let them PLAY what they want.

Spring football should be outlawed.

 

Baseball, basketball, and hockey build more total body skills than any other sport.

Your last paragraph is a bad mentality. Who cares if they play something to keep from lifting.

 

Too many coaches at the high school level see kids that play for them as a ticket to an extra planning period or a stipend on their check.

 

Let them PLAY what they want.

 

Isn't that what I just said? I think you misread what I said.

And baseball can help with hand/eye coordination, and nowadays there is more conditioning in baseball than most would believe (and no it's not as intense as basketball). But as a football coach over the last 10 years, I've seen a real decline in kids ability to catch the football, especially while on the move. I feel some of that is attributable to the fact that fewer kids are playing baseball for any length of time. Catching balls, and learning to track a ball in the air is a skill that translates to the football field.

 

I've seen too many kids be really successful playing both baseball and football to believe baseball is a hindrance to being successful on the football field.

 

 

I am not disagreeing with you, I was just saying how the coaches saw it where I played. Tracking a fly ball through the outfield is about as good of practice for running down a fade in football as you can find other than actually practicing football.

In tetherball a high wrap = game over... not really a great game IMO. Now 4-Square... that's a great game.

I saw this quote one time and really liked it.

 

"Coaches influencing a HS athlete to not play other sports have selfish goals and are guilty of denying great experiences and relationships"

I was encouraged and did play 4 sports in high school. Each sport helped me. With the concentration of long seasons and expectations (college scholarship, must win, etc) that people are trying to put on athletes and coaches, that an athlete can't play more than 2 sports these days.

I personally believe that spring football, AAU basketball, Fall baseball, middle school state tourneys, 1 day camps, individual wrestling tournaments, Soccer AAU, and so on have all gotten out hand. My parents were more concerned with me growing up with values than notoriety. Parents want their kids to be Great Athletes more than being a great person. Our society has shifted on what is really important.

This is just my 2 cents.

Better play as much as possible because when you graduate from HS, you may not get to play again.

Better play as much as possible because when you graduate from HS, you may not get to play again.

 

Best Mountain Ref post ever.

NO MORE AAU BASKETBALL or Travel BASEBALL!!!!! Play for your SCHOOL!

Better play as much as possible because when you graduate from HS, you may not get to play again.

 

And this is why I encourage all the kids to play whatever sport they want to. You only get one chance to play.

Success in one has led to success in the other areas. It doesn't take away from it. I don't think WC Football, Basketball, Track and Baseball have ever all been pretty good at the same time, and kids playing other sports hasn't hurt any of them.

I also am an alum of, support a small school. I agree and personally haven't seen a case where playing multiple sports has hurt a kid in his "best sport", with the exception of an injury in one sport that carried over, prevented the kid from playing. As for mullple sports, if anything imo improves a kid. They stay in good physical condition and develop and/or improve on overall athletic ability.