Sports Prior to I-Day

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MIDNDad64

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My son accepted a USNA appointment last week. He’s now struggling with a decision of whether or not to play a spring sport (baseball) in his final HS semester due to risk of injury. Has anyone had experience with trying to decide whether or not to play a final semester sport in the final HS semester? The fear is that of getting injured and impacting ability to attend the academy. Running track is a secondary option, with less risk of injury.
 
MIDNDad64 said:
My son accepted a USNA appointment last week. He’s now struggling with a decision of whether or not to play a spring sport (baseball) in his final HS semester due to risk of injury. Has anyone had experience with trying to decide whether or not to play a final semester sport in the final HS semester? The fear is that of getting injured and impacting ability to attend the academy. Running track is a secondary option, with less risk of injury.
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I told my son to enjoy the last semester and not to do anything stupid !!! Or stupider than before lol
 
No need to skip any spring sport. Anything can happen anywhere to cause injury. Candidates get hurt while jumping on trampolines at HS graduation parties. If you make the decision to disallow spring sports, then you may as well just lock them in the house until I-Day.
 
As much as we want to bubble wrap our kids, it is not in their DNA. There was a candidate who who literally injured his ankle getting off the shuttle bus on I-Day, and had to delay a year.

And it gets more stressful for us parents as they get older. My current 2/C went skiing for his first time two weeks ago, and went down a black diamond slope on that first day. This is why I drink...
 
DS was a wrestler and team captain. Due to COVID the sport was moved to spring after SA acceptance. He talked with his coach about the issue of the effect of an injury. (Plus we had already had to get a waiver for stress fracture). Coach suggested staying as team captain and working in practice, but no competition where more likely to get hurt. DS had been a regional qualifier his junior year, but he felt it best to follow coaches suggestion. DS did not want to jeopardize what he had worked so hard to achieve. This compromise allowed him to be involved with the team but reduced chances of injury.

It is an individual decision and perhaps wrestling is more likely to lead to injury, but I think you have to figure if playing the sport is worth potential set back, or worse case scenario a medical disqualification. Wish your son the best.
 
Yes a while back mine played in the spring of their senior HS year. . Yes they would play again. No doubt about that it was their recruited sport not a rec experience. Yes they tore up a knee and had surgery with a years rehab.

And while I have no idea about the data of track vs baseball as far as injury , track would be my suggestion to mine. Get in better shape . Run Run Run.

But do it sensibly to get in better shape not to win states,
 
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Over the years, DoDMERB has had to DQ previously Q'd/Waived applicants due to injury, illnesses, and conditions prior to R-Days (West Point) and I-Days (other Academies) due to sports or life issues. Folks need to live their lives and have safety front and center:wiggle:
 
I think he should make the choice himself. Think about the pros and cons each way. He may or may not be passionate about playing, or not.

One thing to keep in mind, is NOT doing a ‘sport’ (or training program) can also open them up to injury come plebe summer.

And if they continue, pay attention to proper stretching, safety, etc. ie: hamstrings can pop in a race when temps are cool (☹️) kind of thing. Be smart.

We held our breath and crossed our fingers and toes through wrestling and track seasons….until Iday. I get it.

My advice would be to have a convo with your son about the pros and cons (a biggie for baseball, being in season up until he leaves. Our friend literally walked off the field of his last game, into the car to Iday. It’s nice to have some ‘chill time’, too). So that whatever happens, it’s not something he can blame mom/dad for. It was his choice.

AND CONGRATS!!
 
IMO once a student decides a SA is for them or at least once they have been accepted I’d want mine to start acting much much less like a HS senior and begin to act as an almost SA or prep school student.

Yes that means giving up some of the joys of being a HS senior.

But it also means not doing a lot of things the HS class mates are enjoying because many of the things those class mates will be doing will or could lead to a DQ at a SA.

IMO they need to do things differently than their mates who will be going to CC or State or U or Tech In the fall.
 
Personal risk assessment for him based on how likely he is to get injured (guessing pretty unlikely?) and how much he enjoys it. I personally don’t like the idea structuring life around minor risks to the point of avoiding enjoyable activities. Is he going to never ride in a car to avoid accidents? Is he going to strap a respirator to his face any time he leaves the house to avoid catching—well, nevermind.
 
My DS played baseball spring of his senior year (not recruited athlete) and it was an experience that would have been very unfortunate to not have had. He was named an all conference and all section pitcher and threw a one-hitter in state sectionals. It was unlikely that he would ever pick up a baseball in competition again. Your kids are way more than midshipman-candidates. If something happens that delays USNA a year, is that worse than getting to experience your last months as a “kid”?
 
MIDNDad64 said:
My son accepted a USNA appointment last week. He’s now struggling with a decision of whether or not to play a spring sport (baseball) in his final HS semester due to risk of injury. Has anyone had experience with trying to decide whether or not to play a final semester sport in the final HS semester? The fear is that of getting injured and impacting ability to attend the academy. Running track is a secondary option, with less risk of injury.
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You could suggest he play like Roger Dorn, the great Cleveland infielder immortalized in Major League.

I think the risks of playing baseball wouldnt be much worse than whatever he would do to burn off energy and/or train on his own. Plus he might throw his rhythm off regarding time management just before he needs to perfect it.
 

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We could look at the data :)

Baseball obviously does have injuries many that require surgery but as HS sports go it’s very low on the injury scale.
 
MIDNDad64 said:
My son accepted a USNA appointment last week. He’s now struggling with a decision of whether or not to play a spring sport (baseball) in his final HS semester due to risk of injury. Has anyone had experience with trying to decide whether or not to play a final semester sport in the final HS semester? The fear is that of getting injured and impacting ability to attend the academy. Running track is a secondary option, with less risk of injury.
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Congratulations on the appointment! Have you had a chance to enter his information into the appointment list?
 
Skipper07 said:
East coast “black diamonds” require facetious quotation marks.
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Certainly not as steep or long as real mountains, but add the ice factor and east coast skiing can be exciting.

Back to regularly scheduled programming ---

This issue comes up every year, and there are as many opinions as participants. FWIW - my opinion is the kids have to live their life and continue to do the things that got them to this point. USNA and other Service Academies deal with the kids that get hurt on a case by case basis, but as I say repeatedly --the Offer of Appointment means that Service Academy see something that makes them WANT them; they aren't looking for ways to disqualify someone after they are offered an appointment. Of course, needs of the Navy control (ie.. they won't admit someone that can't meet physical requirements or serve as a Commissioned Officer) but young men and women are pretty resiliant, and bounce back after injury.
 
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