Skipping Spring Sports Senior Year?

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jm15

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I have recently been offered an appointment to USNA co ‘27, and I am wondering if I should abstain from playing lacrosse senior year of HS. I tore my ACL last Spring playing lacrosse, and am worried that it could happen again, which would cause me to lose my appointment. I’ve been going to tryouts this last week and my knee feels a little wobbly when cutting hard, so I am worried about it retearing. To me it doesn’t seem very worth it to risk my appointment and possibly my future career on a sport, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks!
 
This comes up each year. There are two thoughts… 1, protect yourself and do not play. 2, if it’s something you love, play. I am of thought, do what you enjoy. But, only play because you want to. If you are going to constantly be thinking about not getting hurt, then do not play. You will only hurt yourself and let your team down. If you don’t feel your knee is your stable, then it sounds like you need to find a good PT and get to work and focus on that.
 

Possible Injury

I'm a prospective candidate for West Point c/o 2027. I play baseball and at our last game, I suffered some sort of knee injury. I'm currently waiting to get an MRI to see the extent of the damage. I've seen 2 physical trainers and 1 doctor and so far they have all given me conflicting reports...
www.serviceacademyforums.com

Above FYI

You already have an injury that is not quite 100%. And I am guessing you are not a recruited lax player.

id be suggesting more rehab and strengthening if you were mine.

And if you were a recruited lax player this is exactly what the SA coaches would be telling you,
 
jm15 said:
I have recently been offered an appointment to USNA co ‘27, and I am wondering if I should abstain from playing lacrosse senior year of HS. I tore my ACL last Spring playing lacrosse, and am worried that it could happen again, which would cause me to lose my appointment. I’ve been going to tryouts this last week and my knee feels a little wobbly when cutting hard, so I am worried about it retearing. To me it doesn’t seem very worth it to risk my appointment and possibly my future career on a sport, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks!
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DS is a stand out soccer Goalie, loves playing the position and going through the same decision process. He has not had any injuries and debating on playing club soccer this spring. He does want to play/tryout for which ever SA he choses to attend and each SA has an interest in him for soccer.
He asked his momma and dad for direction. We told him if it were us we would sit out and he needs to be the one to decide and we would support that.
It is a big chance to take.
Personally I would not play.
JMHO
 
Luke Gs Dad said:
DS is a stand out soccer Goalie, loves playing the position and going through the same decision process. He has not had any injuries and debating on playing club soccer this spring. He does want to play/tryout for which ever SA he choses to attend and each SA has an interest in him for soccer.
He asked his momma and dad for direction. We told him if it were us we would sit out and he needs to be the one to decide and we would support that.
It is a big chance to take.
Personally I would not play.
JMHO
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Thank you so much! My mom is impartial but my dad is trying to pressure me to play, which is adding a little stress.
 
USNA offered you appointment partly for your athletic accomplishments and leadership contributions. If playing lacrosse fulfills you and if your teammates are counting on you, decide accordingly. You’d simply be following through on your passion and commitment.

However, if you’ll be playing gingerly, tentatively and even timidly — so as not to get hurt — you’ll probably get hurt. (Not unlike when teams “play to not lose.” They often lose.) And you won’t be doing your team any favors, either as a teammate or as a leader.

Both DD and DS, after securing their officer-accession paths, played their spring sports (one of them being lacrosse). The question of “should I or shouldn’t I” never came up. (Probably understandable since DD was a team captain and DS had a whole season wiped out by Covid).

If you were my kid, I’d say do what fulfills you and honor your commitments. I’d also say to show up on I-Day physically and mentally ready to tackle the rigors of plebe summer. It’s a balancing act that requires some adult-level decision-making. Suggest you discuss this with your coaches and team leadership (or if that’s you, then your closest teammates).
 
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jm15 said:
Thank you so much! My mom is impartial but my dad is trying to pressure me to play, which is adding a little stress.
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That is tough.
DS friend just tore his ACL in baseball practice the other day and I think that helped him decide that he is not going to play Club Soccer.
Have that adult conversation with Dad and I am sure he will understand. Especially after receiving an appointment.
Good Luck
 
Great words already. My oldest did his spring sport (that he was recruited for), pulled his hamstring and wasn’t able to actually compete. Did PT most of the spring and rehabbed.

YOU have to decide. Not mom or dad. Senior year varsity sports for a high school team are pretty special. My ‘24 didn’t have his (Covid) and we learned how important that actually is for a team that’s been together for years. No closure, so to speak.

You have your appointment. It won’t be pulled if you don’t participate in your sport. It COULD be pulled, if you are too injured to report. You have to decide that risk/reward. To the extent that you are comfortable with it, so if the worst happens, you have no regrets.

I would suggest to my own, to focus on healing and do PT. And to maybe be a team manager if you wanted participate in the season. I am pretty sure your coach would understand, especially if you aren’t confident of your own healing. That is a recipe for further injury, bc of your mindset, if nothing else.

BTW, does your doctor know you still feel a bit ‘off’? Maybe you should follow up with that? Maybe you actually won’t be cleared yet for full competition?

CONGRATS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT!!
 
DS, now at West Point, was a wrestler. He loved wrestling and being on the team and he had qualified for regionals his junior year. He spoke to his coach about his appointment and the concern for injury. He and the coach worked a compromise. He remained a team captain, participated in practices and helped develop the younger wrestlers, and only ”wrestled“ in matches where other team did not have a wrestler in his weight class thus giving the team points. Perhaps there may be a similar midway between play or not.

Congratulations on your appointment, and good luck with your decision.
 
I'm with @Allectus, get with your coach and trainer and maybe see about a role on the team where you can "coach" or manage while rehabbing your knee. I had a college friend who was a coach for our track team after he hung up the spikes, mostly timing splits and hanging out with the real coaches. In your case you could help run drills and work with the JV. Not a lot of JV teams get second coaches.
 
jm15 said:
I have recently been offered an appointment to USNA co ‘27, and I am wondering if I should abstain from playing lacrosse senior year of HS. I tore my ACL last Spring playing lacrosse, and am worried that it could happen again, which would cause me to lose my appointment. I’ve been going to tryouts this last week and my knee feels a little wobbly when cutting hard, so I am worried about it retearing. To me it doesn’t seem very worth it to risk my appointment and possibly my future career on a sport, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks!
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Congratulations! REHAB!!!
 
I think the idea of rehab and getting stronger mentioned above is a good idea. There's also the thought that most high school seniors have - you've been admitted after a strenuous and rigorous high school career, not take the last semester to relax and enjoy life a little more.
 
jm15 said:
I’ve been going to tryouts this last week and my knee feels a little wobbly when cutting hard, so I am worried about it retearing. To me it doesn’t seem very worth it to risk my appointment and possibly my future career on a sport, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice.
Click to expand...
I'd say that for your specific circumstance, you've answered the question correctly. Work on strengthening the knee and don't risk re-injuring it. The risk to the appointment in your circumstance does not seem worthwhile. My advice would be different if your inquiry did not show the level of concern that it shows. Good luck.
 
And it’s only been since last spring since the injury?

Get well, get stronger, get ready , because pleb summer is going to put a lot of pressure and strain on that knee.

Id be concerned about a new injury. I’d also be concerned your knee holding up even without a new injury.

I knew one that rehabbed seriously for 14- 15 months from ACL surgery to pleb summer——they still spent quality time in PS limping, in discomfort, and on crutches
 
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