<p>FWIW, we live in a big town and go to a big high school - Texas 5A - 'nuff said if you know anything about TX and sports. And definitely not the laissez-faire type - spent so much time running both kids around to anything they were interested in trying - too many sports to count, dance, guitar lessons, drama, band, karate, horseback riding, swim lesson, skaring lessons, etc, etc. And no doubt there has to be some talent along the way and kids will naturally gravitate to where they have success. I still strongly disagree with making choices in 5th or 6th. I PROMISE you D DID NOT look like any kind of an athlete until 7th - at it wasn’t until 8th that we realized we had a pretty special player. And she is achieving success far beyond where her God-given ability should be taking her through a work ethic that blows my mind everyday. I can’t imagine how different her life would be if we had “gently steered her away” in 5th grade based on her lack of prowess.</p>
<p>I guess the original post was trying to find an under-represented sport where there’s little competition to drop your kid into late in the process, and perhaps that means less emphasis on talent or hard work. With the rise in kids participating in everything these days, I would think everything’s more competitive, but perhaps those types of opportunities still exist.</p>
<p>Another important note - through all the activities, push the academics HARD. Her grades garnered as much attention as her playing. D’s scholarship is half academic, and it looks like she’ll be NMSF, so if (God forbid) something happens to her ability to play, she should still have great college choices.</p>
<p>NOW we’re talking…Indeed “the original post was trying to find an under-represented sport where there’s little competition to drop your kid into late in the process, and perhaps that means less emphasis on talent or hard work”, tho I don’t agree with less hard work. It might be more hard work, but have a greater chance of success, success being getting to play a sport in college AND the recruiting edge that said level of skill brings.</p>
<p>EIGHTY PERCENT and higher of recruited athletes who apply ED to NESCAC schools are accepted! I think it’s worth a few golf lessons, or maybe a week at crew camp instead of soccer camp-just theoretical examples. I don’t mean force your child to do something they don’t like, for crying out loud. But parenting is not a spectator sport, in my book.</p>
<p>Right now Middlebury men will need some distance swimmers-anyone who can do the 500 in under 5 minutes will look darn good. We have a lot of sprinters, unless, of course, you are better than all the sprinters we have. We have 1 male diver. We don’t have much in the breast stroke, but we are over-subscribed in the backstroke. </p>
<p>So if you are in the 9th or 10th grade, swim, and want to go to Midd, maybe brush up on what the team needs. You can look at the roster of your chosen sport and school, the years of the athletes on the teams, their times/positions, and maybe position yourself…It is called planning ahead. </p>
<p>I only use Midd because most people know my S swims at Midd…</p>
<p>Just to carry your suggestion–distance swimmers have a higher percentage of white or slow twitch fibers and sprinters have a high red, or fat switch fibers-- some coaches on some national teams such as China and Germany go so far as do a muscle biopsy before a young athlete starts a sport. Training can make a marginal, but not a statistically significant, change in the fiber content–and without a very high percentage of slow twitch one can’t do distance and vice versa. Likewise, if you can’t have a strong turn out, you can’t be a ballerina, no matter how much you train-- (also a full bust kinda does you in too–try modern dance.) If you are not flexible you can’t be a gymnast, regardless of the needs of a particular college.</p>
<p>Kids have natural talents and interest (and the interests almost always, though sadly not always) follow talent. Trying to fit a child into a mold in order to increase the odds of a child’s acceptance just is counterproductive. OK, a sprinter will not be easily recruited at Midd but either she/he will go there without recruitment or she/he will find a fine college that needs sprinters. </p>
<p>as i wrote earlier you can lead a swimmer to the pool but you can’t make her swim</p>
<p>So if your child wanted to study old norse, but your school had an excellent arabic program, you wouldn’t say, “Gee honey, why don’t you try arabic?”</p>
<p>Actually, many studies show that great athletes are made, not born, and that repetition, whether from high interest, high motivation, or both is as valuable as natural ability.</p>
<p>I had no idea there were so many people who feel the “natural athlete” and the advise/interest of their child is more valuable than planning. People seem upset that I am even suggesting that there might be something to gain in trying a new or less popular sport. Weird.</p>
<p>What’s the “make” in all this? What’s the mold? If you’ve never played tiddly winks, how can you know you are the next champion?</p>
<p>And also in the vein of “never force your child”- I must be a bad mother because I have forced one or both of my children to do a variety of things: eat foods he didn’t like, bathe, throw out torn or soiled clothing, not quit taking piano lessons, not quit taking a foreign language, play a winter sport instead of coming home and laying on the couch, not drop a computer class at the local community college because it was “too hard” when he was 14. He got an A, eventually. He just had to actually do some homework.Etc, etc, etc.</p>
<p>So obviously, while I am being grossly misunderstood by anyone who states I am advocating “forcing” a child to play a different sport, it is a behavior I , in general, condone for involved parents.</p>
<p>My take on the discussion is this… I think it is an interesting question to pose. There are many ways that parents try to find an advantage in college admissions. However, most of the people who post here have children who are talented, driven, passionate, and absolute about the sport for which they are recruited so it is hard to imagine swaying our children from his/her particular sport to learn something new for the sake of college admission. Most recruited athletes are those kids who loved (fill in the blank) for (X) number of years and pursued it to the highest level available. That’s why they are recruited. I ruffled as an immediate reaction, too, because I know my strong-minded, self-driven kid would never have changed course at my suggestion. </p>
<p>But of course most of us have encouraged our children to try new things, or stick with old things, as we have parented. So this is a fair question… if my child isn’t driven to compete in a current sport or isn’t talented enough to be recruited for the sport (and the child is willing), what might help get past the “gatekeepers”?</p>
<p>So back to the original question, I agree with men’s diving. They are scarce and with strong nerves, some instruction during high school, and moderate success they could probably get notice at some top tiers. The same is probably true for female divers but it is a bit more competitive. I disagree about distance swimmers. I’m sure there are anecdotes about kids who came to the sport late and had success but in general distance swimmers are highly specialized beasts and they make my kid and other sprinters or mid-distance swimmers scratch their heads at the talent and drive they possess. </p>
<p>So, I think it is an interesting question but I believe the people who will benefit from this discussion are probably not on this board. It would likely reach a more appropriate audience in the prep school, high school or individual top tier/Ivy forums. I think most who come here are deeply in “it” …whatever “it” may be. </p>
<p>Thoughtful answers could benefit some middle school and early high school students. If a child is not passionate about what they already do then suggesting an admissions advantage sport is not really any different than making sure they take four years of a language, do community service, do SAT test prep (or any number of things) that will help them meet the requirements of targeted schools (or help them stand out from the crowd of other qualified applicants). </p>
<p>One final thought, college level athletics take an enormous commitment (as we all know) and I wonder if the majority of kids who would pick up a sport just to get into a competitive college would have the drive and staying power to compete at that level for four years. I guess that is up to the coach to determine during the recruiting process.</p>
<p>Thank you, MS, I obviously couldn’t say it better-or as well-myself.</p>
<p>For Ivy or NESCAC, 4 years participation are not required or enforceable, as scholarship is need-based.</p>
<p>This should cause another round of criticism.But as we’ve read before(“Fess up, who is still competing” thread), many wash out, drop out, or are injured-looks like maybe 50% continue for 4 years?</p>
<p>Anyway, I think the advise seems to be crew and golf. I also think women’s hockey at those schools. Any other thoughts? Or have we gotten all we’re gonna get out of this little discussion?</p>
<p>I have a slightly different perspective and wanted to bring up another point. As a parent of a bassoon player and a swimmer, I enjoyed etondad’s bassoon comments. It is technically called a contrabassoon (not a double bassoon) but you were close. Also, the bassoon parts in Firebird and Hall of the Mountain King are so amazing that it makes up for the more ‘boring’ pieces. But you also have to like bassoon I guess. </p>
<p>I support encouraging athletes to present all aspects of themselves to the colleges. Not all have to play an unusual instrument in addition to being an athlete, but I think it is a positive for parents to encourage another interest outside of athletics to help ‘broaden’ their child’s life experiences. This interest may turn out to be a passion that will shine through in a college application so colleges will see more than the athlete piece. I think it really is about being open to where their passions are and could be. However when one of these interests takes root, it is definitely tricky balancing it all. But it is worth it because in the ‘balancing’ act, life lessons of tradeoffs and figuring out what is most important happen. They learn that most times you can’t be the best at both and sometimes for some kids that is OK because they get to do both things that they love. The colleges will see the passion for both things.</p>
<p>My son’s passion and sport of choice is soccer, however, he also plays squash. His squash is mostly for fun and cross-training. He was surprised when several of the coaches at DIII schools were inquiring about his squash and 3 insisted on introducing the squash coach.</p>
<p>chemusic: mea culpa! dumb mistake…as a former oboe player I love all double reeds-- In my post I was think about the amazing way Stravinsky uses the top of the bassoon’s range for the haunting opening–brilliant. </p>
<p>Sorry everyone for the diversion.</p>
<p>OldBatesieDoc–i agree that this topic has burnt down to its final embers.</p>
<p>I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread! As the mother of a kid who has recently discovered a passion for playing his trumpet, another who only wants to play baseball, and another who wants to leave the pool for the tennis courts, I share many of the sentiments shared on this thread. We have tried to expose our kids to things we think will suit them and enable mastery of the things for which they express a passion. It’s so much fun to watch their passions develop. We’re disappointed our 13 year old D despises golf, but who knows? Maybe she’ll want to row someday!</p>
<p>Agree with everything MSG said and personally feel this level of commitment should be student drive.
BUT, if you live on the west coast, have elite east coast college aspirations and are looking for an athletic edge, play water polo. Many wopo kids who were not necessarily the “top” athletes in general in, say, middle school, garner very impressive acceptances.</p>
<p>off topic -
etondad - so you are a former oboe player? - come on - start soaking those reeds again and pull out that oboe. The second oboist in my community orchestra just started playing again after 30 years! He is doing a pretty good job. Some community orchestra out there needs you. We have a lot of fun with the music in mine. </p>
<p>And I agree the Rite of Spring bassoon solo is just brilliant Stravinsky!</p>
<p>Oboe-Bassoon-for Williams I suggest varsity athletics AND ensemble-level musical talent=acceptance!(Plus the requisite grades and test scores, of course)</p>