<p>What sports do you participate in and at what level? Did anyone enter boarding school not knowing how to play a sport? How do you manage your time for practice/studying/etc.?</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>bumpity-bump</p>
<p>Yes... I had NO idea what the following was a few years ago:
-squash (isn't that a vegetable?)
-crew
-field hockey
-water polo (NOT like polo, the game)
-croquet (well, I knew what that was but c'mon- a CROQUET club?)</p>
<p>It's very easy to start off not knowing anything freshman year and be on varsity by senior year- my theory is it depends more on your fitness more than skill usually. A girl here started as a new 10th grader- three years later, she was the captain of the crew team. Also games like squash are similar to tennis, so if you know how to play that, you're fine.</p>
<p>I have done interscholastic track and crew, intramural frisbee, and dance, and quite honestly, I've been better organized when playing competitive sports as opposed to when skipping. Sports, believe it or not, force you to organize your time better. They're usually purposely scheduled at different times than clubs so you can attend both.</p>
<p>My schools has these sports:
V, JV, IIIs Soccer, Volleyball, LAX, and B-ball
V/JV field hockey, softball, crew, XC, skiing, tennis, and squash
and just varsity for ultimate frisbee ( new for 2006), swimming, badminton, and golf.
I've played field hockey, swimming, and softball but next eyar I'm running XC and playing softball</p>
<p>I go to boarding school, and I used to figure skate and dance before I came here. Now I'm on JV Ice hockey as a goalie...</p>
<p>Which just proves that if you're motivated, you can do whatever you want. </p>
<p>squash and crew and water polo are really easy to make the team.</p>
<p>Which do you prefer? Team sports (like soccer, crew, etc) or individual sports (squash, tennis, etc)? What are the advantages/disadvantages?</p>
<p>My D played field hockey, basketball, and is currently playing lacrosse. Field hockey and lacrosse are new to her. As for time allocation, it has been a learning process. Many times the 2 hour study hour is not enough. This I believe has been the biggest adjustment for her. Between class, sports, other ec's, etc, it's 24-7.</p>
<p>fxMom: it really depends on what your child is interested in. I personally prefer team sports because they help you make good friends and often are a good way to get motivated when you see someone better than yourself.</p>
<p>Team sports help teach cooperation and is a good way to make friends. Individual sports teach a person that they are responsible for their successes/failures.</p>
<p>My S is a varsity athlete at a boarding school. His particular school is very strong in several sports (national level competition) but encourages participation from everyone in ALL sports. In fact, I think sports participation is required. The top athletes dedicate a lot of time to their sports, but in a way it is easier being at boarding school. You can roll out of bed and you are already there! Meets/games are on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday afternoons, which usually doesn't conflict with classes.</p>
<p>yes, I believe all boarding schools from jersey to maine, compete Wednesdays and Saturdays. I guess this partly explains why there are saturaday classes. Wednesdays are really half days.</p>
<p>... and so are saturdays. I hear that it isn't really that much of an issue though having six day weeks</p>
<p>I don't think it will be an issue for me to have to go to classes on Saturdays, since I'll have two half days per week.</p>
<p>What extra expenses are incurred with athletics? (uniforms, equipment, etc)</p>
<p>fxMom, there are extra expenses such as the sticks (Iguess thats what you call them) for field hockey, If i'm not mistaken, you have a uniform fee, the cost of mouth guards, etc. Your D or S will not have to give cash/check, they will add it to your bill.</p>
<p>usually you are required to AT LEASt play one season of sports, mostly two. That is why you have thirds and jv though. people really learn to play in these schools. Usually, games are scheduled on weds and sat with an occasional random game (usually in the spring cuz it is the short season) on another day.
My school (and my bro's) don't have uniform fees. But if you don't have your own... mouthguard , stick, etc. they just charge it. Sometimes they even just let you borrow one for the season. talk to the athletic director</p>
<p>At Middlesex, you are required to play 3 sports your 1st and 2nd year. I belive the third year requires 2 sports, and one sport your 4th year. Of course you can play 3 sports your 3rd and 4th year. My rcollection is that all the other schools we looked at, such as loomis, peddie, choate, and st. pauls all had the same requirement.</p>