Varsity Sports and Classes

[Tanawei]

Any idea how difficult it is to balance playing a varsity sport (football) and managing the coursework. I realize that a great deal will depend on the student, but I am just curious. My DS (I guess that is the term used) is interested in playing but worried about balancing both. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

And just as an aside, was I the only one surprised that my DS had to have his wisdom teeth removed? Of the many things I have worried about this was not one of them.

 

[baxted]

Balance is everything

Our DS didn't do football, but he is in Band company and did cross country the first trimester. He struck me as a busy lad! As he put it; time management is everything. Our DS "joined" the cross country team when the coach came up to him after their 5K run during Indoc and congratulated him on his time and thanked him for joining the team! While he wasn't going to do cross country, he really seemed to enjoy it and is looking forward to it when he has the chance again in two years (he's a B-splitter).

Congratulations to your DS. I would encourage him to hone his time management skills, give sports a try and see what happens.

 

[kp2001]

Playing a sport definitely adds to the time commitment; however, thousands of midshipmen before him have found a way to balance both academics and athletics. There have also been many who have started with a sport and felt they needed to stop to spend more time on academics.

I was a varsity athlete and graduated with a good enough average to get into med school. There were several athletes ahead of me in my class as well. There were also several athletes down around the 2.0 mark.

In my eyes it is better to try it out and see how things go instead of never knowing.

 

[deepsea]

What is interesting to watch is that playing a sport or being involved in an activity can really help with time management. Our sailors always seem to to better in first and third trimester when they are on the water ever day than they do during the winter with time on their hands. Seems that when they get in off the boats, having had a time to let off some steam, they are better able to focus the smaller amount of time available. This doesn't work for all cases, and we watch grades closely for all of our team members, and know when to tell them to back off the activities and hit the books.

 

[lgottliebdds]

My DS Classof 2013 is on the sailing team. Not only did he manage but the upperclassmen helped him learn the time management needed to balance everything. Connecting with the team is a real plus.

 

[wolfe834]

Being a part of a "Team Sport" at the Academy will actually help your son. While at practice, he will receive some respite from the daily "Regimental" lifestyle. Upper Class teammates can also help the Candidate/Plebe Candidates/Plebes through their first year at the Academy both in mental support and academically. The teammates have all been there and know what it's like. Most are willing to step in and "mentor" their teammates. It's a great support system.

Another added benefit is the possiblity of traveling with the team and not having to stay on campus. Nothing like staying in a hotel bed and eating food not from Delano....

 

[Madrid19]

Sounds good then. Can't wait to play soccer there.

 

[jasperdog]

Tanawei: I was going to post a reply yesterday but didn't and others have already beat me to the punch on my main message but hey I gotta be me.

From what I experienced 30 years ago when I went and have seen through the years up to and including what I see now with my Son's experience, as long as you keep your priorities straight and exercise a little bit of sound time management, participation on a sport is nothing but a positive for your life at KP.

As has been noted, getting through USMMA to graduation is indeed a challenge and requires drive and time management. It also "usually" helps to build a support network. One that includes yourself as part of a group of students that mutually help one another through the challenges you'll face as you work toward graduation.

My personal experience was that network consisted of, in order of value and commitment to one another's success: 1) my teammates on the teams I was on (Sailing Team (all 4 years) and Swim Team (2nd and 1st class years)); 2) my academic section mates (the same people I went to classes with for 3 1/years from the middle of Plebe Year till graduation; and 3) the people in my Plebe Company (something about cleaning toilets and buffing decks together just somehow bounds you together in a way that is hard to describe to your friends who went to a normal college and spent their freshman year partying together....).

So my 2 cents is as long as you remember no one going to KP is on an "Athletic Scholarship" and in any case in order to maintain your eligibility you must also maintain your grade point standing when setting and making priority decisions for time management, you'll be fine.

Said in blunter fashion:

- Miss a week of practice and sure you might not be a starter for a while on a team;
- have a dirty belt buckle or unshined shoes and you may get stuck, restricted or IT'd
- fail a course and at best you'll be on a cycle that includes lag classes and at worst you'll be dis-enrolled.

I think based on the list of possible intended and unintended consequences from failure to perform against your Regimental, Athletic/Extra-Curricular, and Academic, it's fairly obvious what the Senior Administration of the USMMA think should be priority one.

Welcome to the KP Family and BEAT Coast Guard!

 

[Tanawei]

Thanks!

I appreciate everyone's input. This board has been a great help and all of you have been helpful. This is all new to us. I appreciate all of your posts.