<p>Our son has brought up a very difficult decision many HS athletes encounter at this age (Soph.)- choosing between playing 2 sports. He has played both football & basketball since little league. He is an (slightly) above average player at a public HS of about 1,300 students. He started both teams last year as a freshman. Attended both HS camps this summer. Has a chance of being placed on Varsity team for both sports this year. His coaches would prefer he played only their sport. He has friends on both teams, but is one of only 3 boys who play both. He brought this up after football camp- he does not have the passion for football that he has for basketball. As parents we have told him- it is his decision and we will love him no matter what. He is torn by pressure from his teammates and coaches and "does not want to let anyone down". I suggested he make a pro and con list. Does anyone else have a kid who plays 2 sports- and "loves" that sport best- depending on the season? Any suggestions on how to help HIM make a decision?</p>
<p>LeoMom,</p>
<p>Welcome to CC, and thanks for your post. Probably one of the most important questions in my mind (in the context of this site -> athletic recruiting) is what does he want to do beyond high school? That is a huge question as skills, projectability and passion all come into play beyond high school athletics. </p>
<p>If he is playing two sports in HS, and likes them both…why change anything at this time? I’m not really clear what the issue is since they are not in the same season? Does your son feel that he is not giving 100% because of the two sports? Or is the issue really pressure from the coaches? Can you please clarify?</p>
<p>I did two varsity sports in high school - soccer and track. Does he play in any leagues outside of high school? That will make it more difficult for him to keep up with both. I know that for me, the spring was hellish because there was track practice every day, and then three-hour soccer practices three of the days after. But I loved both of them, so I was able to do both. Actually, I probably would have played basketball if I didn’t have soccer tournaments every weekend in the winter as well.</p>
<p>If he’s only playing the sports in high school, then I’d recommend that he sticks with both of them. I really don’t see why he can’t do both, to be honest, especially since they’re in different seasons and he enjoys both sports. I have many different friends who do several sports - one who plays Volleyball and Lacrosse, another basketball and lacrosse, and a third soccer, basketball, and lacrosse (!). Because they are at the high school level, practices don’t overlap, and you lessen the possibility of repetitive-strain-type injuries from playing the same sport over and over again.</p>
<p>Many kids play 2 and 3 sports in HS, and are able to balance it all beautifully with everything else on their plates. There is definitely increased pressure these days for HS kids to pick one sport…to specialize and focus all efforts in one area; especially if they are planning to continue playing in college.</p>
<p>IMO, if a kid doesn’t have a passion for any extra curricular activity… they shouldn’t feel obligated to participate in it - for any reason.</p>
<p>My oldest son has a friend and classmate who is an extremely gifted athlete, who has had several D1 verbal offers for baseball since mid-way through his Sophomore year when he was clocked hurling 93 mph. He was also the captain of the basketball team in 10th grade… and has had numerous other DI offers come through for both sports, as he approaches his Sr. year. He would like to play both baseball and basketball in college, and it looks like a few of his DI suitors are willing to allow it.</p>
<p>He was also the QB for my son’s freshman and JV football teams, but had to quit Junior year - in part because he didn’t want to risk getting hurt and possibly losing a scholarship - but MOSTLY because he couldn’t logistically fit all three sports into his schedule - with school commitments, AAU teams, elite national teams, etc. His football teammates (and their parents!) would LOVE if this kid would play football one more season his Senior year - and this athlete is certainly feeling that pressure. He ultimately has to do what is in his best interests… guided by logic and passion.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, high school sports have expanded well beyond their previous calendar boundaries. Now high school basketball coaches may want (demand) their kids to play “fall ball”, and probably also are scheduling summer captain’s practices–both of which could conflict with football or soccer. This may vary by region and school, but in our high school the 3- sport athlete is largely gone except for the cross country and winter and spring track kids, and the 2-sport athlete is struggling to hold on as well. And these conflicts don’t even take into account club team schedules!</p>
<p>Part of the reason is that the “official” practice for football overlaps with the “unofficial” basketball team practice. I think DS would say basketball is his first love- he also plays AAU basketball in the spring/summer. Football is his second love. But he is wishy washy on which sport he loves playing- during football season, he loves football. During basketball season, he loves basketball. Comparing both camps this summer- basketball was nice- in an airconditioned gym vs. being outside doing football drills. Bottom line is that no one is forcing him to choose one sport- but he is struggling with choosing one. Feeling some peer pressure from his teammates- who have chosen one sport. They are at my house a lot- and I hear the boys talking about who is going to play up on the varsity team this year…they are only sophomores. I just think the pressure is getting the best of him. We are trying to support his decision- but feel he should play both- if he wants too- until he HAS to make a decision to play one. He is 15, and this is one big decision for him. Thanks for our input.</p>
<p>He attended his first practice last night- he’s hooked (again) and LOVES football. Ah…teenage boys =) .</p>
<p>Let him choose, but it sounds like he wants to play both.</p>
<p>My D was a two-sport athlete…soccer and basketball. She is talented enough in each that other parents assumed she would be playing in college (bball parents assumed she wanted to play basketball in college, soccer parents assumed she would play soccer in college). Which was her favorite? It depended on when you asked.</p>
<p>She had to give up some things once she got to high school. HS girls soccer is a Spring sport around here, so D had to stop playing AAU basketball. This hurt her chances to develop her basketball skills to their full potential and to be seen by college coaches. HS basketball tryouts and the early part of the season overlapped with the late fall exposure tournaments for soccer; she missed the tournaments that would have helped her soccer recruiting.</p>
<p>So, D’s wishes to play two HS sports hampered her development / college recruiting for each sport. But in the long run it didn’t matter. She’ll be attending her #1 college choice: a large D1 school with no chance to play varsity intercollegiate athletics. Even if she had concentrated on a single sport, she wouldn’t have been good enough to play at this school. (She got some interest from D3 coaches, so the opportunity was still there to continue playing at the college level if she wanted to.) She’s happy with her college choice, a little sad to know that she’s done playing, but ready and excited to start a new phase of her life.</p>
<p>And because she stuck with both sports in high school, she has five varsity letters, two league / one district championship, two state tournament runs, All-League selection in each sport…and a lot of wonderful memories.</p>
<p>mrsref makes the points I was going to mention and has personal experience to base it on. There are a number of DIII schools where athletes who have kept up their skills in two sports can play both in college (the beauty of DIII), but there has to be one that is strong enough to have gained the support of a coach if he’s looking to be something more than a walk on at one/both and to get a boost in the admissions process. And, I certainly know of kids like mrsref’s D who have a passion to go to a school with big-time D1 sports and are willing to give up the opportunity to play a sport they could play DIII. Club and intramural remain an option at the DI school.</p>
<p>If your S definitely wants to play at least one of his sports in college, he needs to decide which one and focus on doing the things that will get him recruited and he should be able to stick with the other sport in HS (maybe in a non-starring role) so long as he’s able to comply with the rules re not missing practices/games due to his involvement with the other sport. Kids at my son’s school were able to do this and it’s great when the administration is behind it.</p>
<p>My daughter played 3 sports throughout most of high school, one per season. The Fall and Spring coaches were cooperative and supportive; the Winter coach was difficult. She ultimately dropped that sport senior year, and was recruited for her Spring sport in which she’s now entering her third year in D1. Far and away playing multiple sports was a great experience for her. She never struggled with her schoolwork, and her athletic success was multiplied. Not to mention the fact that she stayed in great shape year-round!</p>
<p>Many athletes at her high school played multiple sports, and the rule was that the “in season” sport took precedence. With the exception of that one coach, things usually went pretty smoothly and I’m sure she’d do it all over again.</p>