My daughter fences competitively and is nationally ranked and rated. She fenced for high school last year but it was a waste of precious time. She is undecided if she should fence for school this year just to have a varsity certificate and for college admissions. Fencing for school does take up a lot of time as she has to be there for meets and practice sessions couple of times a week in addition to going to her club.
If she has a chance to be recruited, fencing for the school will likely dilute the time available for club.If she’s not looking to be recruited, varsity will not make the application any stronger.
“Waste of precious time” is a judgement.
Are you asking if she should drop fencing for her school but keep fencing competitively outside of school? I’ve seen a fair few students wrestle with that challenge and the happiest outcomes seem to have been when the school makes some accommodations for the student, usually involving flexibility in the amount of practice time required or permission to miss school matches that interfere with club matches. That, obviously, is coach and school dependent.
There is also a social element: what sort of team is it? how is it being part of the school team? what are the social implications of dropping it? As an example, one of our lot was on a ‘no-cut’ team with a superstar athlete. The team was known for it’s tremendous spirit and the star student loved being part of it- it was the sport for the joy of the sport and feeling part of the team. Some concessions had to be made for national/international trials/competitions, and during twice daily practice season the student usually only did one of them but the student wanted to stay with the team as much as possible, despite the challenges of a full academically ambitious course load. The student did not see it as a “waste” of time, because it meet some important social needs (not how the student phrased it, obviously- that’s from an adult perspective!).
How much weight the social/team/school community considerations should have on the decision is up to your daughter and you; just saying that they should be considered and weighed before making the decision. If your daughter decides to drop the school team even some of the people who understand the reasoning won’t be happy about it. To me, those considerations vastly outweigh the question of whether colleges will prefer to see ‘varsity’ on the app over ‘ranked #x nationally’. To that point, she will have shown commitment and growth over time either way.
If she were a senior, not going for recruiting, adcoms care less about being on the school team if she’s continuing in club. She’s covered, in terms of commitment and challenge.
Presumably, she has the right rounding and will use the free time in valid ways.
But she’s in 10th? And you’re moving? If so, I might wait to see the new choices and how she acclimates.
Or you’ll stay where you are?
Thank you! Maybe I should have worded it correctly! School does not make any concessions and 2 practice sessions and 2 meets have to be attended every week. This is in addition to club practices (atleast 3 times a week) and competitions. With a full workload in a highly competitive school, a balance will have to be sought. Sleep is equally important. I guess I have found my answer! Thank you for all your responses!
Have you been over to the Athletic Recruits area of CC yet to see the majestic, comprehensive and quite active collegiate fencing thread over there?
EDIT: I have a fiddle and violin playing daughter who was pressured by the school to join their fledgling orchestra. She plays a lot of different genres with a bunch of groups, and her classmate was a violinist on the state youth orchestra as well. But they could not justify the time participating might have cost them, so neither went more than once or twice. They played for school masses, the talent show, my DD was in the pit for the spring musicals every year, but man the school orchestra was not gonna happen.
Also I know a bunch of kids who skipped high school sports to play at a higher level. In MN there are plenty of guys who leave school early to live with billet families and play junior hockey. Volleyball and softball players who go to schools with terrible programs don’t bother showing up to lose. The club seasons are long and the twelve weeks in the fall might be the only time they get off all year.
Easy. If her objective is to fence in college, drop the HS team and focus on improving grades and/or choosing an unrelated activity to fill the time.