Getting cut from a sport team can be a very tough thing for a child or teen to handle. There are at least ten reasons why schools should re-examine cuts below high school varsity,
I remember in 9th grade, I tried out for varsity field hockey. Although it was the first time in my life that I had participated in try-outs, I was already aware that it was very intimidating process, as I had an older sister on the team.
On the first day, we were told there would be "cuts." After the try-outs, I was selected for the junior varsity team. My friend, Hillary, who was a talented athlete, was not so lucky. Suffering from heat exhaustion, she performed poorly. On the second day of the three-day tryout she got sick to her stomach. I remember going with her to the locker room. She was hurt, humiliated and embarrassed by the tryout process. Sadly, Hillary didn't come back for third day of tryouts and was cut, forever out of the loop, never to return to a team to try out again.
Since that day I have always been against cuts.
Re-examining cuts
The practice of cutting athletes from middle or high school teams, while it has existed for at least fifty years, is arguably the most controversial practice in youth sports. While the arguments proponents advance in favor of cutting are well-known, the practice is outmoded and needs to be re-examined in light of twenty-first century realities.
Proponents of cutting often argue that cutting is necessary to prepare children for an adult world where there are winners and losers. The belief is that children are better off for having been cut because getting cut "toughens them up" and exposes them to the disappointments all of us experience in adulthood. They also argue, with some justification, that, since parents should be teaching their children not to base their sense of self on their identity as an athlete, a child with a healthy self-image will not unduly suffer from being cut, and will simply find another sport or extracurricular activity in which they might excel.
While it is true that it is important for kids to learn the value of overcoming obstacles with hard work, the fact is, however, that being cut from a middle school or high school sports team is often one of the most upsetting and traumatic events in a teenager's life. One high school sophomore described it like being punched in the stomach. For many, being cut represents a direct assault on their self-esteem. They feel the pain and embarrassment of being rejected, excluded from an activity in which they wanted to participate, and denied the important social connection sports allows athletes to make with their peers.
Nearly nine out of ten mothers surveyed in the recent Motherhood Study and many child psychologists agree that the goal in childhood is to prepare children for adulthood by giving them a chance to develop coping skills, and the self-confidence needed to succeed in the adult world, in a safe and nurturing environment. Cutting children from athletic programs fosters an environment which hurts, rather than fosters, self-esteem.
Sport in the education
Sport in the education system is an important part of learning and development. I know there is some systems where competitive sport is not encouraged, this does not work as humans are competitive and like to participate with the view of prize at the end.
Middle School Sports
I agree completely with middle schools having a no-cut policy. I understand that kids develop at different rates – whether we’re looking at sports, music, or academics. Everyone has his/her own developmental path – and we should always teach kids to not compare themselves against others. Of course that’s pretty difficult to do, but I think it’s something we should emphasize nonetheless.
But is it OK to have teams split by ability level? Everyone still gets to play, but they play with teammates of similar ability. Our district just recently switched to having middle school teams all split evenly. In years past, the sports program worked like this: kids in grades 4-6 played on teams that were split evenly and all kids received equal playing time. Then, in 7th and 8th grade, students were not cut from teams, but they were placed on either an A, B, or C team. Also, playing time was not equal. We are also now being charged $100 to participate; last year it was free.
In a sport like volleyball, isn't one person's ability to participate (to a certain extent) dependent on the skill level of others? Isn't it ever OK to group kids of like ability together?
What's more, our district has other programming that seems to contradict this new sports philosophy. Our district touts its “talented and gifted” program for kids in grades 3-5. I know of many kids who did not test in to this program and who then felt like they weren’t as smart as those other kids (which is so not the case). We also have another academically challenging opportunity for kids in grades 6-8 – again, though, kids have to test in to these classes. Also at the middle school level, students must audition for chamber choir and jazz band. All kids can be in the regular band and choir, but not everyone gets into the other options. In chamber choir and jazz band, kids work with more difficult music and have separate opportunities to perform.
If we’re worried about athletes feeling bad and possibly quitting, then why aren’t we worried about our musicians and students doing the same thing?
How to split teams.
Brooke de Lench
Publisher / Editor In Chief
MomsTeam.com
Author:
Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports
Sports only?
I understand trying to keep everyone engaged. And, again, I support a no-cut policy at middle schools. But how can a philosophy about how to treat middle school kids only apply to sports? I guess that's one of the main things I wanted to hear your opinion on. Do you think the other programming I mentioned (academics, music) goes against the philosophy of keeping everyone engaged? How is it possible for a district to support elite groups in academics and music and yet not think it's OK in sports?
Title IX
Brooke de Lench
Publisher / Editor In Chief
MomsTeam.com
Author:
Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports
Grouping students
I'll give three examples, two from music and one from academics. And I would love input on them.
First, my oldest daughter (8th grade) loves to sing. She's just started her 8th year singing with a community children's choir, and she's had voice lessons for over a year. At her middle school, she has been in choir class. This is a class that anyone can sign up for. This year, though, she has the opportunity to audition for a select Chamber Choir through the school. This choir will meet on alternating days during the last hour of the day (it's called resource period -- similar to a study hall). Not all kids who try out will make this choir. The kids who don't make it will still be able to be in an "extra" choir, but it will meet on days opposite of the Chamber Choir. It is my understanding that the Chamber Choir will study more challenging music. Now, I have no idea if my daughter will make the select choir. I do know she will be disappointed/frustrated/embarrassed if she doesn't.
Is it OK to have such a choir? What I like about it is that it is a chance for those who are more serious to push themselves. Many people in the "regular" choir are just taking choir to fill an elective spot. But the two extra choirs will be separated by ability. This is similar to a sports team having an "A" and a "B" team.
But anyone who knows about music will tell you that middle school is a time when voices are changing -- and people's voice mature at different times. My daughter's voice matured early, but everyone else will eventually catch up. So just because she might be "ahead" now doesn't mean she will be in high school. If she's serious about music, she has to work hard -- just like everyone else.
Second, my 6th-grade daughter signed up for band this year. Everyone can take band as an elective. But our school also has a jazz band (which meets during resource period). Kids audition for jazz band, but there are not that many spots available. I know that my daughter will not audition for jazz band, because she knows that those spots will be filled by the older students -- ones who have, for the most part, been taking private lessons and have just been in band longer. If jazz band was just an option for everyone, she would probably sign up.
As a parent, I recognize that the kids who audition for jazz band have more ability than my daughter. They've been in band longer and have had private lessons. I do not want to set her up for failure. I recognize that when the participants' skills are so varying, it makes it difficult for anyone to improve. The experienced drummer already knows the basics while my daughter is still learning. My daughter, I'm sure, would feel intimidated by the better drummers -- and the more experienced drummers wouldn't be able to move on to more challenging music because they would be waiting on the new people, which would probably make them frustrated with those kids who are just learning. The key, though, is that she's just starting. I'm not angry that she doesn't want to try out for jazz band. I look at jazz band as a potential goal for her. If she has fun in band this year and wants to continue, then jazz band could be something she chooses to work for. I would expect to see her practicing -- and maybe asking for lessons.
Third, our school offers two options for parents in terms of more academically challenging curriculum. The first is a program for kids in grades 4-5. Kids are tested in third grade to see if the qualify for the program. These kids, then, automatically get placed in what we call AT classes in middle school. The students also enter high school being one year ahead of their peers in math. Kids are allowed to try one more time to get placed into the AT middle school classes. This is done ONLY by taking a test. A teacher cannot simply recommend a student be placed in the other classes. I can tell you that I know of students who feel like the AT kids are "smarter" than everyone else. The kids who don't make it feel bad about themselves. Our school, though, touts this program as being a great option for parents who "want more" for their kids academically.
These are the situations I struggle with. I don't want kids to feel bad about not making something -- whether it's a select choir, band, or sports team. But I also want kids to be able to be exposed to more challenging opportunities. That's why I like having a no-cut policy, but I also don't think it's wrong to sometimes split kids by ability.
How do districts strike a balance? Is it enough to offer regular choir and band for everyone and then select options for those who have higher ability? And if we say yes to that, how can we say it's wrong to separate sports teams by ability? Have a general program that is all inclusive and supportive of all kids, but also provide an opportunity for higher-level kids to play together.
It just seems like schools need to have a consistent philosophy for how they treat kids.
Thanks for your time.