High School Sports

Honestly, I am stressing more than I should be over this but, I can't seem to find a balance between club and organization desires with sport desires (I have very little but understand it's necessary) as well as sport selection. Out of all the sports in my school, I would only consider doing X Country, swimming, Track and Field, and golf. Running is not my forte. I really wish it was but I just can't do long long runs. I want to cry but I still run because I know its important which is why I consider doing X Country. Only problem with that is I've already missed half of the pre-season due to the move we just did and very bad timing. I would have gone this week but i'm going flying, and I went on a 20 mile bike ride with a friend and a lot of other stuff. I can't go next week because I am going to Space Camp (won a scholarship) and by that time everyone will be running 10 miles a day and the most I've ever run was half that once. I would be so unprepared and I feel it would be a big waste considering everyone their will be a twig with some gnarly running legs. Keep in mind I would like to get a Varsity letter in something. Swimming is my next option. Although I enjoy being in the water and swimming, the whole entire race part I have no experience with. I'd probably be the worst on the team. Golf and Track? Well golf, which I am good at and have won a minor event in, is too slow paced for me. I want something that will get my heart pounding. Something that will get me and keep me fit. Track just seems like everyone can do it and it has way to many options for me especially when I have NOOOOO experience with anything. Remember I want to letter in something. I do drama and I would like to do the musical but some sports might stop me from doing that. Now that I have been ranting forever, let me know what you guys think. This will ultimately be my downfall on my application and I am just not very gifted with sports. I get sooooooo much crap from my twin and older brother, both football players, and I want to prove them wrong. Thanks for your help.

Being bad at something is the first step to eventually being good at something.

Let your ego go and join that x-country/track/swimming team.

Who cares if you're the worst on the team? If they do, use it to as fuel to keep pushing yourself.

edit: Just skimmed your posts and it sounds like you're entering your sophomore year of high school, right? Choose a sport and stick with it. I've known plenty of runners who didn't start until halfway through high school and ended up being very successful.

Keep in mind that a lot of the recommendations here are to put you in the no brainier category and if were easy to get into that category everyone would do it.

I strongly recommend you do a sport that you'll be happy doing and fits your schedule as best you can. Is that hard to do? Of course it is but learning to find the balance is important and sacrifices will have to be made. At the AFA you're going to have a ton of stuff thrown at you at the same time it would be better to learn those skills now.

As for worrying about your skill level don't even worry about it. Everyone starts somewhere but its up to you where you take it. And I would recommend a slight change in the way you're looking at this. Don't try and prove your bothers wrong show yourself you can make a change and get better. Trying to live up to others expectations you'll never be happy. Set your own expectations and set them high and you'll live a happier life especially when you see the fruits of your labor.

Agree with the posters above, don't worry about being the best or the worst. Instead, worry about improving yourself and challenging yourself to accomplish new goals within the sports/activities you do choose. Nine times out of then, you are not the best at something and sometimes, you are the worst at something. It happens to everyone and being the worst does not mean that you are failing, especially if you are trying three new sports beginning your sophomore year as opposed to the competitors who have been participating in these sports since they were young.

Second piece of advice: If you hate it, don't do it. Sure, it may look great on an application that you're a three sport athlete but is it worth it if you're miserable all of the time to the point that running XC makes you want to cry? Probably not. Why not participate in two sports, swimming and track? In your off season, find something you really enjoy such as a club or community service event and channel your energy into improving it or coming up with new ways to get tasks done. Show some leadership and passion and that will take you farther, in my opinion, than forcing yourself through something you hate when you don't have to.

As for track and field, as you can tell by my name, it was my sport. There is plenty to do and don't worry, the coach isn't just going to throw you into every event out there. (1) It's illegal in most associations because the most your can participate in is four events maximum in competition and (2) It doesn't help the team for you to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. They'll be able to see where you fit within the design of their team. Nine times out of then, at least in my experience, the track coach decides what you should train in, not you.

Last piece of advice: get used to the idea of taking the initiative to do things on your own. You've missed preseason practices because of a move? Understandable. But going to hangout with friends or space camp doesn't mean you can't workout on your own. Find out if its possible at space camp, run in the mornings before your first scheduled event or wait until after the last event of the day. If you want something badly enough, you can find the time.

Don't let this stress you out too much. You still have a lot of time left. It may not seem like it, but this is the time to have fun and enjoy being in high school. Make memories while also striving to be excellent.

I completely understand what all of you are trying to say, but should I just blow of acting for this year and try to find a sport that I like so that I can set myself up for the coming years? Is drama even good to put on an application?!? It's like giving up a hundred dollar bill for 100 one dollar bills. Both are worth the same amount but one choice is easier to deal with and more desirable. Acting being the 100 dolar bill, sports being the 100 bills.

SP4C3M4N said:

It's like giving up a hundred dollar bill for 100 one dollar bills. Both are worth the same amount but one choice is easier to deal with and more desirable. Acting being the 100 dolar bill, sports being the 100 bills.

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Wrong. Unless of course they change a couple of the CFA events to Improv and Dramatic Reading.

I am not saying that you shouldn't do drama and we know that USAFA values well-rounded candidates. However, if you think that the acting club is going to replace athletics on your application and count the same you are incorrect.

Stealth_81

I'm not referring to them on the application. To me both are just as important but I favor one over the other.

SP4C3M4N said:

I'm not referring to them on the application. To me both are just as important but I favor one over the other.

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But if you are looking at getting into USAFA, you need to think how they will look on your application.

Stealth_81

That's my problem. You have answered one of my questions though. Sports are obviously more desirable by the academy.

Ok let me put it this way my DS did not play any sports throughout his HS time. He and I went round and round on this topic several times. He did NOT get a nomination and I strongly feel it was from the lack of sports and therefore did not get an appointment. He did get a Prep School slot and is there now. His grades, leadership, and ECs were great, he didn't max out his CFA but got above average in all categories except the mile.

Once again I strongly feel if he did a sport it would have put him in the no-brainier category we talk about here. During one of our conversations about sports and his application my son said something that showed me what type of person that he was growing to be. He said "Dad I know it's a big minus not having a sport on my application but I know that. I excel at JROTC, I love it and I've made my commitments there. I'm fully aware the consequences of that that decision and I'm prepared for the consequences of my decision." What he showed was that he gave it complete thought and made a decision and was prepared for the fall out of that decision. Still till this day he doesn't regret is choice.

If you want to do both then do both will you have to miss things here and there in both yes you will. Will you favor one over the other? of course just make your decision and just be prepared to live with the consequences. If things go bad for you make more changes.

Edit: Oops sorry I posted over you and didn't see your repose sorry for beating a dead horse!

Boozebin said:

Ok let me put it this way my DS did not play any sports throughout his HS time. He and I went round and round on this topic several times. He did NOT get a nomination and I strongly feel it was from the lack of sports and therefore did not get an appointment. He did get a Prep School slot and is there now. His grades, leadership, and ECs were great, he didn't max out his CFA but got above average in all categories except the mile.

Once again I strongly feel if he did a sport it would have put him in the no-brainier category we talk about here. During one of our conversations about sports and his application my son said something that showed me what type of person that he was growing to be. He said "Dad I know it's a big minus not having a sport on my application but I know that. I excel at JROTC, I love it and I've made my commitments there. I'm fully aware the consequences of that that decision and I'm prepared for the consequences of my decision." What he showed was that he gave it complete thought and made a decision and was prepared for the fall out of that decision. Still till this day he doesn't regret is choice.

If you want to do both then do both will you have to miss things here and there in both yes you will. Will you favor one over the other? of course just make your decision and just be prepared to live with the consequences. If things go bad for you make more changes.

Edit: Oops sorry I posted over you and didn't see your repose sorry for beating a dead horse!

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No this actually help. Thanks by the way for being like the first person twice to post a comment that I don't have to defend myself on. I want to do a sport. I just don't have any real skill or talent in them. I am good at acting, getting lead roles every time. At this point, I am just considering not doing acting this year. The only sport i can actually play confidently is volleyball but it's only for girls at my school. Will the academy care if I don't letter?

SP4C3M4N said:

No this actually help. Thanks by the way for being like the first person twice to post a comment that I don't have to defend myself on.

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Good lord! Whine much?! GET OVER YOURSELF. You've come asking questions. You've gotten answers. And then don't like them.

Do drama, go enjoy it. When your application goes up and a committee glances at it noticing no sports, you can find out how they feel. It might come in a thin white envelope saying thanks, but no thanks.

Seriously, you're defensive and turning posters against you because you don't like the answers you're getting. Do what you want, it's your life.

Did I not just say I was going to do sports?!?

Wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble.

Choose a sport. Do your best.

If you really dislike sports, it may be that you should not be considering a slot at USAFA since sports do fill out a huge majority of your non-academic time.

Really, do you think instead of doing boxing you'll be called upon to sing the lead in "My Fair Lady?"

SP4C3M4N said:

... post a comment that I don't have to defend myself on...

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There in lies the problem. In my opinion (for what that's worth ) you're taking the initial responses to your post personally and it escalates from there.

We don't know you from Adam and we don't know you personally so we try and give the best advice from our experiences with the limited information we can receive in this method of communication. Is this very near and dear to you? Hell yeah it is, but you know what? It means just as much to the major contributors on this forum. If it didn't they wouldn't be here for us so we can learn from their successes and failures.

When you see responses to your question you need to detach yourself a bit and take in the advise as given and just as with any advice it's up to you whether to take it or leave it.

Once again just my 2 cents take it or leave it

Maybe something else to think about...You say that you love acting and not so much the competitive sports. I understand that, but drama is really not so much the USAFA skill set. Sports involvement at any level (letter or not) reflects some commitment to being physically fit and pushing yourself to achieve physical challenges. Competitive sports involvement, especially team sports, shows teamwork, more long term commitment and often leadership. Maybe you need to get involved, and maybe even initiate some club or team through which you can show your desire to be physically fit and ready for any physical challenge USAFA throws at you and at the same time show leadership and initiative. What about a weightlifting club? Crossfit Club? Tai kwan do at a local dojo? Just throwing out random suggestions. We don't know what the rest of your resume looks like so it's hard to say what you may need to fill out the "whole person."
And my cadet just finished being cadre for BCT 1 and she said that the basics with the most challenges are the ones who are not physically fit enough and who do not have the mental toughness to push through a physical challenge and not give up, something that is a usual trait of a successful athlete. Then they get discouraged and they stop trying, which just makes everything else bad. Boy Scouts, JROTC, Boys or Girls State...or Drama Club president...those activities, as wonderful as they are, may not prepare you for that kind of challenge. Competitive athletics does. Good luck in your choices and in your high school career.

Okay folks...

Cease fire.

SP4C3M4N...you've asked some good questions and posed some situations and folks have responded. Perhaps their wording appeared a little terse, or perhaps you've had someone come at you differently from what you're used to and it seemed to be personal...I don't think it is.

The folks here are typically very helpful and they want to help in any way they can. In some situations...that help can sound painful; when it's not meant that way at all. I'm guilty a LOT of taking things too personally initially; it's a flaw I have that I have to work on constantly.

I'd recommend you sit back and re-read the initial answers and then your responses (everyone could do that here) and then see how they "might" sound to someone that doesn't know you.

I think you're getting good feedback...everyone just needs to check their wording a bit.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83