<p>I did post my concerns on NatureChild in Music area, but in case some of you parents are familiar with this through dealing with your own childrens education, and have experiences to share, let me post here as well. </p>
<p>You are a senior, study violin seriously with daily practices and constant performance at national venues, and for this senior year, you will do college auditions additionally. But then, school mandate you to take PE team sports( freshmen PE) now, saying its required for a diploma. Of course, when you were a freshman, you were allowed to skip it, because the school leader then said all you needed was 3 (whatever) PE classes. But that old leader is gone, and now new leader request you take the course or you would not get a diploma. Now, you find no way out. Should you be concerned about potential injuries in fingers, wrists and hands in this important time? Thanks.</p>
<p>Sure you should be concerned, but all you have to do is take the course, you don’t have to be the star player. It would seem like there are ways to reduce the chance of injury, by playing very cautiously and picking the sport judiciously. Do you have a choice of sports? How about soccer?</p>
<p>Thank you, qialah. No, a kid can not choose any sports to play. the class teacher will assign one sports at a time to play for a week or so, then switch to another sports, so on. So class kids will be exposed to many type of sports eventually for a entire semester.</p>
<p>Have you considered online gym? I am not advocating one way or another, but it may be a solution to your problem. It does exist. I know someone who took it and worked out in a gym and bowled. Her mom said the class was a pain in the a…, but it would get around the finger worry thing. I understand your concern. My son is a pianist and when he started playing ultimate frisbeee, I held my breath.</p>
<p>Thank you, WayOutWestMom. The class has to be the same for everyone, can not be replaced by any other PE activities/classes. Even tennis is not regarded as “team” sports. No individual/dual sports is allowed either.</p>
<p>From my experience, freshman PE generally isn’t very rigorous. There are the students who are particular athletic and really enjoy sports, who will participate more, and there are students who just go through the motions. They generally don’t grade on athletic ability, so I expect your child will be able to just participate cautiously. They don’t need to be the best in the class, but just need to show some effort. I don’t remember anyone hurting themselves when I took PE in high school (but that was a long time ago), and I had played the clarinet for years. They’ll be fine as long as they’re careful (i.e. don’t be too aggressive or competitive).</p>
<p>Thank you, momofmusician17. No PE online is allowed. It has to be a team sports PE, and it has to be taken at the school only. I see no way out at this moment.</p>
<p>Thank you, baktrax. That’s a good point, to try to be careful. But if you are better in those sports, you have better idea how to avoid injuries, I guess. So if you are not so good in such sports, I worry how you would manage to avoid injuries while showing necessary effort for grades.</p>
<p>It’s freshman PE, for heaven’s sake. You are likely guaranteed a B (and maybe an A) by simply showing up on time every day. If you are forced to play a sport with a ball or other flying object, simply run away from it when it comes in your direction. Since it must be a team sport, you will have a teammate who will run to catch it in your place.</p>
<p>OP’s kid is a senior. The only sports injuries I know of were to lower extremities. Eg, twisting an ankle playing soccer- and even that was rare. They won’t make him/her play rugby, right? Or tackle football? You could walk outside, trip and hurt a finger or wrist.</p>
<p>This is an issue for dancers as well, who get exempt. I think, if necessary, you should hire an advocate of some sort to come up with a solution: perhaps a paper on fitness issues related to music or something. I imagine you are getting different answers on the music forum.</p>
<p>If they want to go through life being afraid of things because of what * might* happen, they are going to miss out on life. :(</p>
<p>Ds high school is one of the top in the country for orchestral & jazz musicians and while I have heard of students getting waivers in order so they can use team sports after school for PE credit to free up time for another academic class, Ive never heard of a student so worried about being injured, they wanted to get out of it. Not saying it doesnt happen, but unlikely.</p>
<p>D played soccer, rugby, volleyball, basketball, and swim team & the only time she was seriously injured was when she was 5, and she contracted a greenstick fracture on her wrist from crashing around the yard with her friends.</p>
<p>Keep your muscles & joints strong & you’ll be less prone to injury.</p>
<p>My S was a violinist, and broke his wrist playing soccer right before his youth symphony concert. I’d try to get another waiver, based on the prior arrangement and your kid’s special circumstances.</p>
<p>Another possibility is simply to do without a HS diploma. I believe that it is not required to attend many, if not most, colleges.</p>
<p>Suck it up, Buttercup! My daughter went to an arts academy and plenty of extremely talented musicians still enjoyed outdoor and athletic activities without being paranoid.</p>
<p>I’m with momofwildchild and emeraldkitty and at first I thought this post was a joke. Being even the tinniest bit athletic and a musician are not mutually exclusive. The kiddo could get hurt playing frisbee or swimming with friends, or on a bike or any half dozen other things healthy boy and girl teens do. Take the class as soon as possible senior year and be done with it.</p>
<p>My kid is a musician. He also took PE all the way through high school. And he went to summer music programs for years where physical activity was also done daily.</p>
<p>I would suggest you ask your high school if your kid can participate in PE activities that are less likely to harm the hands…yoga, swimming come to mind.</p>
<p>@thumper1 - thank you. NatureChild does have all 3 PE classes done, has thought pe is done, but now was told that team sports “itself” is required.</p>
<p>@MomofWildChild, &, momofthreeboys - Based on your comments, I assume that your kids play non-string instruments. right? Sorry, if I wasn’t clear before. it’s about a “violinist” at the “senior” year when performances and auditions are scheduled numorous times, to play with balls daily. Appreciate it very much if someone who is more familiar with violin instrument could share experiences. Thanks.</p>
<p>My D has a friend who was a violinist. She did exactly what RMLDad said when she had to play football or baseball–anytime the ball came near her, she went the other directions. Needless to say she was picked last for teams. OTOH, my D, also a violinist chopped off the tip of her left ring finger cutting carrots. As others have said, there are far more dangerous activities than freshman PE.</p>