High School Dilemma Question

So this is a question for parents that have a kid in high school and/or any kids out of high school but played soccer. My dd just made varsity as a freshman at a big 5A school. She is also first chair violin at the same high school. However to play varsity her schedule needs to be adjusted to practice during 2nd and 5th block schedule. The top orchestra practices during the 2nd block.

She is more than willing to drop orchestra. However as her parents we want her to have something other than soccer in case anything happens.

The question is this. If we ask the coach to skip 2nd block and go to orchestra every other day, does that send the wrong message?

pinkyy97 wrote:So this is a question for parents that have a kid in high school and/or any kids out of high school but played soccer. My dd just made varsity as a freshman at a big 5A school. She is also first chair violin at the same high school. However to play varsity her schedule needs to be adjusted to practice during 2nd and 5th block schedule. The top orchestra practices during the 2nd block.

She is more than willing to drop orchestra. However as her parents we want her to have something other than soccer in case anything happens.

The question is this. If we ask the coach to skip 2nd block and go to orchestra every other day, does that send the wrong message?

I would say that if she dislikes orchestra enough that she would be "more than willing to drop" it, then it might be time to let her drop it.

On the other hand, if she really likes orchestra, then skip the second block soccer requirement. If the coach needs her badly enough, he or she will be ok with that. If the coach doesn't go for that, then let her play on the JV team this year. High school soccer is just for fun and all of her development so far has come from select play. Since she's already involved in multiple practices and games each week in club play, skipping a practice at school isn't going to have much of an impact on her talent (if any). The "honor" of playing varsity soccer tends to be a bit overrated, and a lot of freshmen who make the team don't see a lot of field time in the close games anyway.

2MuchTime wrote:

pinkyy97 wrote:So this is a question for parents that have a kid in high school and/or any kids out of high school but played soccer. My dd just made varsity as a freshman at a big 5A school. She is also first chair violin at the same high school. However to play varsity her schedule needs to be adjusted to practice during 2nd and 5th block schedule. The top orchestra practices during the 2nd block.

She is more than willing to drop orchestra. However as her parents we want her to have something other than soccer in case anything happens.

The question is this. If we ask the coach to skip 2nd block and go to orchestra every other day, does that send the wrong message?

I would say that if she dislikes orchestra enough that she would be "more than willing to drop" it, then it might be time to let her drop it.

On the other hand, if she really likes orchestra, then skip the second block soccer requirement. If the coach needs her badly enough, he or she will be ok with that. If the coach doesn't go for that, then let her play on the JV team this year. High school soccer is just for fun and all of her development so far has come from select play. Since she's already involved in multiple practices and games each week in club play, skipping a practice at school isn't going to have much of an impact on her talent (if any). The "honor" of playing varsity soccer tends to be a bit overrated, and a lot of freshmen who make the team don't see a lot of field time in the close games anyway.

Having had two daughter's go through this already, I fully agree with your statements. However, you forget you are dealing with the ego of the High School coach. He/she may not be secure enough to allow this to happen, based on a supposed message it delivers to the rest of the team. Based on our experience, and the complete ineptitude of our high school coach, I would have encouraged our daughter's to do orchestra, drama, debate, theatre, and any other school activity, and then play high school soccer if they had time.

If your daughter still wants to do Orchestra, then she should. Colleges will not come calling because of high school soccer.

wornout wrote:

2MuchTime wrote:

pinkyy97 wrote:So this is a question for parents that have a kid in high school and/or any kids out of high school but played soccer. My dd just made varsity as a freshman at a big 5A school. She is also first chair violin at the same high school. However to play varsity her schedule needs to be adjusted to practice during 2nd and 5th block schedule. The top orchestra practices during the 2nd block.

She is more than willing to drop orchestra. However as her parents we want her to have something other than soccer in case anything happens.

The question is this. If we ask the coach to skip 2nd block and go to orchestra every other day, does that send the wrong message?

I would say that if she dislikes orchestra enough that she would be "more than willing to drop" it, then it might be time to let her drop it.

On the other hand, if she really likes orchestra, then skip the second block soccer requirement. If the coach needs her badly enough, he or she will be ok with that. If the coach doesn't go for that, then let her play on the JV team this year. High school soccer is just for fun and all of her development so far has come from select play. Since she's already involved in multiple practices and games each week in club play, skipping a practice at school isn't going to have much of an impact on her talent (if any). The "honor" of playing varsity soccer tends to be a bit overrated, and a lot of freshmen who make the team don't see a lot of field time in the close games anyway.

Having had two daughter's go through this already, I fully agree with your statements. However, you forget you are dealing with the ego of the High School coach. He/she may not be secure enough to allow this to happen, based on a supposed message it delivers to the rest of the team. Based on our experience, and the complete ineptitude of our high school coach, I would have encouraged our daughter's to do orchestra, drama, debate, theatre, and any other school activity, and then play high school soccer if they had time.

If your daughter still wants to do Orchestra, then she should. Colleges will not come calling because of high school soccer.

Agree 100%. It has taken a long time, but many parents finally seem to be realizing this. Keep spreading the word.

pinkyy97 wrote:So this is a question for parents that have a kid in high school and/or any kids out of high school but played soccer. My dd just made varsity as a freshman at a big 5A school. She is also first chair violin at the same high school. However to play varsity her schedule needs to be adjusted to practice during 2nd and 5th block schedule. The top orchestra practices during the 2nd block.

She is more than willing to drop orchestra. However as her parents we want her to have something other than soccer in case anything happens.

The question is this. If we ask the coach to skip 2nd block and go to orchestra every other day, does that send the wrong message?

High School soccer is for fun and the opportunity to play with friends and make memories.
College coaches could care less about it.

If your daughter enjoys it and the coach makes it enjoyable then by all means play. If they make it unpleasant, then do a different high school aciivity like orchestra.

We tried our best to get our daughter to skip HS soccer and play another sport or continue with her French Horn but alas the we failed. She wants to letter four years in soccer and has made the varsity team as a freshman also. She does now admit that she probably should have played BB then come out for soccer but it's too late this year but maybe she will see the light and give up on HS soccer and let her Select world be her soccer.

Based on where it appears your daughter goes to school from a previous posting of yours, I am willing to bet the coach wont even allow this as an option.

I completely agree with all the other posters. High school soccer is for fun and memories and if a coach hinders that or other activities then it really is not worth the headache it can cause.