I have read a lot about "bubble wrapping" DSs and DDs who have secured admission. With spring sports come the risk of injuries. Any advice on the pros and cons of playing versus skipping the spring sports season? Leave it to the athlete to decide?
You pretty much already know the answer. You know the pros and cons. Pros: Your son has had a team relationship probably in the past with many of his teammates. These are his friends. It's part of his life. Especially if it's a spring sport that he's been playing for many years. As adults, we sometimes forget what our lives really are. For us, it's primarily work, with a few hours a day attending our kid's activities, time with our friends, etc... For our kids, their lives are school, extra curricular activities with their friends, etc... So don't right off your son's spring sport as simply some "Extra" thing to occupy his time with. It's a "PART" of his "LIFE".
Having said that, you also know the Con of doing ANY activity with an appointment to the academy in your hand. He could get hurt and lose the appointment. Something as simply as a broken bone could lose the appointment.
You already stated the right answer. Let your son make the choice for himself. Your job, is to make sure he is aware of the pros and cons. You shouldn't advise either way. But he needs to know that this will be his first major decision whereby he is 100% responsible for the outcome. "Good or Bad". Support him either way, but the decision has to be his. And he has to be willing to live with that decision.
For what it's worth, in our schools, because of such a low population and the weather, Football is in the Fall and Soccer is in the spring. (They'd never have enough players to field either sport if they were competing for players). My son played both sports for almost 10 years. State champ. All state. All his friends were on both football and soccer teams with him. He received his appointment early; "Oct/Nov" of 2007. He received the official appointment the same day as the state championship football game. "Which they won". After the game, and he found out he got the appointment, he decided in the next couple weeks NOT to play winter basketball or spring soccer. He had many disappointed friends who hoped they could finish their senior year with another excellent soccer season. He decided he didn't want to risk an injury and losing his appointment. We supported him.
Point is; the decision has to be his, 100%. There is no right or wrong decision. The only thing is that it has to be his, and he has to be responsible and live with the outcome no matter what that is.