Playing sports - chance of getting injured

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FightingFalcon2027

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It's only few more months before BCT - Right now I am playing varsity soccer and will play varsity tennis and was asked to play for a highly competitive travel team this spring , I plan on trying out for the USAFA team ( I was in ODP for 2 years). Playing for a travel team will help me stay in shape and play a higher level of soccer than my school. My mother thinks that there is too much risk of getting injured, she is dissuading me to play more soccer. Any input is appreciated.
 
Even in the off-chance you are injured, if you have an appointment you're guaranteed admission the following year granted the injury is something that isn't a disqualifying condition. I'd say take the risk, you're gonna want to be in shape when you show up at BCT.
 
For what it’s worth I agree with your mother.

I had the same talk with my son regarding wrestling. In the end he decided to take the risk. He felt an obligation to the team. To me that a valid reason. If your only reason to do it is to get or stay in shape I would say there are much less risky paths to that end.

Good luck w whatever you decide.
 
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The injury risk associated with soccer is primarily getting an ACL tear. The risk is highest in teen and early adult women. It's about a 5% risk per year of playing the sport in that age group.

That said, if you let the risk of injury or other negative outcomes dictate your choices, your experiences (and enjoyment of life) will become very narrow.

Even if you tear your ACL...you get surgery, you recover, and you keep living life to its fullest...at the academy.
 
This discussion happens every year. There isn’t a RIGHT answer. You have to do a risk analysis. If you play, and are injured, and cannot report, are you ok with that?

Or

Are you OK with not playing tennis? And keeping in shape another way?

IMO, It is a lot to risk. But you could also get injured riding your bike. If you were mine, as a mom, my personal opinion would be to honor commitments to a team you are on. But not beyond that. There is a lot at stake!

Only you can decide. Bubble wrapping is one theory that some support. You can use the search function and read lots of discussion about bubble wrapping before reporting. Choices and consequences. Risk and reward. That’s what YOU have decide, for yourself.
 
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Personal opinion only here.

The physical competitiveness of sports is one of the more highly regarded activities by the academies. The academies look for these traits because they translate well to the battlefield. If a candidate stops doing athletic activities because they “might” get injured, then where will their determination to continue be in battle?

I never did have this discussion with my kids. Even if I would have, I’m 100% sure that none of them would have stopped playing.

Stealth_81
 
Risk-Reward

id be asking this question of the SA coach. Not only to know what they think but to have them buy in to the outcome whether good or bad.

I have seen several recent ACL HS injuries shortly before arriving to the SA. All for recruited sports types.

It’s usually a year of rehab And admission the next year. In one case the injured showed up to prep school on crutches. But they were likely prep school even without an injury.

But it would be silly to suggest you have no risk or would be an automatic admit the next year. There are other injuries that are not an ACL.

OK I reread your O Comments

Are you trying out for the team as in a walk on or are you what they call a blue chip recruit?

I don’t know the AF mens soccer team as well as I do other SA sports but if you are an optimistic walk on rather than a “I want you to attend the USAFA and play for me” type of recruit you are risking a lot for quite possible little in returns.

Pure walk ons who have not been recruited always face an uphill battle.The SA Club team often is where they often end up playing.
 
Mom of 4 kids who all played soccer, three played thru college. They also played football, basketball, ran track, cross country, and played tennis in high school. Two ACL surgeries, a couple of ACL and MCL strains, and a hamstring tear during this time. I'm with mom. Playing on the club team this spring "to keep you in better shape" is not enough of a reason to take the risk. Do some skills work and run before you report to be prepared for tryouts.
 
Above responses share different perspectives which is great. I’ll add one too. Much as some of us parents would like to, we can’t bubble wrap all of you future officers against all dangers.

Take a ride in an your imaginary time machine and imagine how you’d feel in either scenario - Set your destination to intake at BCT for the USAFA Class of 2027 – imagine you’re there and all that entails = living your dream. Then imagine alternatively you’re not there being sworn in, getting your uniforms and gear issued, enjoying some brisk instructive guidance as you move station to station and swearing in/ ceremonies/customs. Imagine you’re home propped on a couch with your ankle/ knee on ice, scheduled for ACL surgery or whatever, with a hope you’ll recover and resume your dream to attend a service academy, albeit one year later, but you have a risk with mechanical injury that the return path may be challenging or never happen.

One recommendation - no sad faces if you are detoured from starting at USAFA because you took this risk for a club sport opportunity. Ya gotta live your life but you more than anyone also have to live with the consequences of your choices. Good luck to you/ thank you for your willingness to serve.
 
FightingFalcon2027 said:
It's only few more months before BCT - Right now I am playing varsity soccer and will play varsity tennis and was asked to play for a highly competitive travel team this spring , I plan on trying out for the USAFA team ( I was in ODP for 2 years). Playing for a travel team will help me stay in shape and play a higher level of soccer than my school. My mother thinks that there is too much risk of getting injured, she is dissuading me to play more soccer. Any input is appreciated.
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If you are willing to give it up, you should. If you aren’t, you shouldn’t. There’s no right answer, it’s about how much the sport means to you. Your answer will tell everyone, including yourself, how much it means to you.
 
I was in this situation last year. It was a few weeks before R-day at West Point and I ended up breaking my wrist during one of the last high school baseball games. I had considered sitting out the rest of the season when I originally got my appointment, but I didn’t feel like it would be fair to myself and my teammates if I didn’t finish the season.

I was given an LOA for USMA Class of 27 and I’m also reapplying to USAFA this year. Ultimately it’s your decision, but talk to your family, friends, and coaches before making the decision. You only get to play your senior season once, so take the time and think about it.
 
DS received appointment to USNA CO27. I would never tell him not to compete. He’s wrestling right now even though he has had multiple past injuries. Despite all that, he’s had to push through fears of getting injured. Today not only did he qualify for state but placed 3rd in his weight class for our school division. Last year season ended poorly without a state qualify, one match away from that, and a lingering leg injury that required surgery 4 months later. We thought he would never want to wrestle again but he had other plans. His confidence is sky high right now.

At our wrestling tournament today we meet a coach who was a past USNA graduate who served in the Marine Corps. Gave him lots of great input on what his future could look like if he went to the academy along with his contact info with the invite to call anytime.

So all I can say here is that if you bail out because of fear it closes doors. All the experiences our DS went through today, I guarantee he’ll remember for a long time. Be strong and brave, that’s what we you need to succeed.
 
I have a USAFA club soccer player. Similar profile to yours. (8 years club travel, 5 years ODP) Pretty sure that there were no walk on players last year for D1 soccer. Cadets aren't in top form after BCT and D1 teams are pretty much set. There are a lot of soccer players at USAFA which is a good thing in terms of fitness. Even for USAFA club soccer, which plays local colleges, there are try outs and getting on is competitive. Being on a team (including club) is a big positive doolie year.

So I don't think it will help you for walking on D1 to play one last season of travel but if it is something that you feel that you have to do then play. You might be able to move from club to D1 later on if that is your dream. I tend to agree with your mom that it isn't worth it due to injury potential and your time may be better spent prepping for Academy/BCT @FightingFalcon2027
 
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What's your injury history? How rough is the league you're in? What position? The conditions vary from player to player so there's no single answer. My DD player her last season of club VB leading into swab summer because covid wrecked her previous seasons and she wanted one complete year before calling it a career. Could she have been hurt? Sure, her sister was blown up in high school, things can always happen, but usually they don't and in this case it was a good year and she reported normally.

Parents see risks where kids see opportunities, and that's both a blessing for them and utterly hair raising for us some times. The answer here depends on the circumstances. Good luck.
 
I’m one of those who advises “bubble wrap” after getting offer of appointment. But I mean that fairly facetiously, and intend it mainly to say, “don’t do stupid stuff.” Or as @Capt MJ puts it, don’t fall into the “it seemed like a good idea at the time” trap.

But I don’t put sports into that category. Especially if it’s the sport that helped bolster your resume that helped you land offer of appointment. Usually that means you’re part of a team. And I take commitment to a team very seriously. They’re counting on you and don’t expect to be forsaken just because you got into a certain school. You’re essentially saying that you’re bigger than the team (try that approach at an SA). I presume the sport is also part of your identity, your DNA — a large part of who you are. If you were my kid, I’d advise you to keep your commitment and not lose who you are.

Sometimes teams play to not lose, rather than going all out. Sometimes athletes play to not get hurt, rather than going all out. In my experience, that kind of behavior often leads to losses and injuries. YMMV.
 
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You know it's not a question of bubble wrapping you really. Just consider other factors also. This sounds like a completely new team at a completely new level that you would be joining.

Think about time commitment to two teams. Varsity tennis and adding on a new competitive travel team could be causing time conflicts.

Travel soccer can be expensive! Understand the travel/tournament commitment. Usually it cost thousands of dollars for uniforms, fees, hotels etc.

It is different at your age because players are not playing to showcase for colleges. Teams tend to start falling apart as players no longer need them or want to pay. Make sure the team is still good as it winds down it's last season.

Get a feel for how much play time you might get. As the new guy, you don't have time to earn your play time.

There will be many things that you will need to do to prepare for USAFA. They'll be paperwork and organization. They'll give you a fitness program to work on that you do.

And you'll need to keep your grades up and you'll probably want to do all those right of passage events as a senior.

It's a lot to add to your plate but if it's an absolute bucket list item, you'll make it work. But understand that the value is primarily the joy of play it will bring you.
 
My dd was a recruited D1 softball player (not my SA USAFA). In May of her senior year she hit a gopher hole in the outfield and tore her ACL. It cost her scholarships and a year of rehab.

Like others have said, and since you’re not a recruited athlete, I would not risk it. There are far safer ways to stay in shape.
 
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