<p>Lol, the decision date is coming, and I'm actually thinking specifically about some stuff... I mean, I had like zero confidence (I still do--my username is clear proof xD) about getting accepted to any school so I never really imagined what it would REALLY be like if I went to Exeter or Andover or other awesome BS...</p>
<p>Sports is really just not my thing. At all. I'm considered mediocre in my not very sporty (to say the least -_-) school... I mean, everyone has his/her own talents, but since sports is something I'm going to have to take at some point in BS, I'm worried. I'm scared that the BS "beginner" level is not "beginner" enough for me... plus it seems like there aren't that many people who are like me in that sports isn't really their thing... wrong impression, I hope!</p>
<p>OMG I was worrying about the same thing. I mean I’m pretty fit, but I have like little to no skill in ANY sport except for horseback riding. xD Don’t worry, I think that there definitely people out there like us who don’t really do sports. Anyway, about what to do. Well this is something I will be looking at on revisit days if I am accepted. The two most convenient options for me would be for the school to offer classes like dance or yoga for sports credit, OR for schools to have legit beginning teams for sports. At a couple schools I visited they called these ‘club’ teams, where it is not competitive, but you still play games against other schools’ teams of similar levels. I think this sounds pretty good, as I do LIKE playing sports, I’m just no good at all. Hope this helped!</p>
<p>doomed-
you will be fine - all of these schools offer sports for multiple skill levels, from beginner to recruited athlete. Boarding schools promote the benefits of sports for teens - an active lifestyle, team building, character building, self esteem, etc. They want you to expand your comfort zone, and offer many, many ways to accomplish this - don’t worry about it; embrace the opportunity!</p>
<p>@doomedforfailure: I’ll chime in with a specific example for you. Our DS had no sports experience at all, not even at the little league level. He, too, was concerned about the sports requirement, but found that there were MANY options for true, zero-experience beginners and has found something he loves. So, I’ll second everything @imallin said because I’ve seen it happen. Please don’t worry about this.</p>
<p>There’s sports for all levels of athletes. Some sports such as rowing, most kids come in with zero experience. In some ways coming in without a primary sport is better, as you get to try many/all the sports a school offers. The athletes who come in with a primary sport, are stuck with it for that sport’s season. For example, a lacrosse athlete wouldn’t be able to try rowing, because they’re the same season. And yet, it would be great to try rowing, since boarding schools are one of the few places this could be conveniently done.</p>
<p>Heartily agree with all above. My S also had no great sports experience (beyond YMCA soccer – not even travel team) before entering BS as 9th grader. With 3rds teams, (one level below JV), you will have ample opportunity to try just about any sport, and see what fits. It’s even surprising to us (his parents) that now as a senior, our “nerdy” S has developed into a 3 sport varsity athlete, even after not making a few teams that he initially tried out for in 9th and 10th grade! You will find something that works for you, so please don’t worry.</p>
<p>Sorry to burst the bubble, but this IS still high school and at many of these schools there is very much a “jock” crowd. I’m not saying they dominate, but the schools ALL recruit athletes and athletic prowess is highly valued at BS. If you look around the sports threads here on CC you’ll find repetitive testimonials of kids who were recruited to X school for Y sport as freshman/sophomores, only to find that the school recruited juniors/seniors/PGs who prevented their advancement.</p>
<p>So I just want to provide a (possible) reality check in 2 parts:</p>
<p>1) you are going to find yourself in a sports-oriented culture, unless you’re at a specifically arts heavy BS. Sure you can get thru on club sports, maybe trying something new and excelling, but you also have to be able to deal with a culture that revers its athletes, because boarding schools do.</p>
<p>2) You need to take into account that by choosing the prestige and competition of a boarding school environment, you might not be able to excel as far athletically in a particular sport as you would have at home. (Same is true for music, drama, Model UN, etc…there are limited spots in these activities and you’re suddenly in a VERY competitive candidate pool.)</p>
<p>I agree with much of what you say, PelicanDad, although in some cases such as the one we have in our ultracompetitive town, most kids couldn’t EVER make the local high school teams. The school is so huge and there are so many kids who have been playing these sports since birth with travel and year round training–no walk ons would stand a chance. So many kids know this and just become lazy and go to school in their pajamas and give up. What is great about private day or boarding is the mandatory sports program and the fact that there are thirds, JV and varsity teams, so at least you can play on some level. Also from what I understand, it is encouraged to try new sports and activities. As for the non-athlete, we have at our school several options that are non-team an pretty low key. Cross training (weight room) comes to mind–it is social hour on a treadmill. The thirds teams really are low level, so anyone worried about that shouldn’t worry. You will be fine.</p>
<p>OP mentions Exeter & Andover, two schools that are in a league where most varsity sports are played at an elite level. For some sports such as LAX, squash, soccer, & rowing the caliber is perhaps higher than any other high school league anywhere. Most varsity starters at large schools like Exeter/Andover/Deerfield/Hotchkiss/Choate will be playing college athletics. On the other hand, these schools are also large enough to have ‘Thirds’ and ‘Fourths’ teams in some sports. On those teams, the primary focus is fun and participation. From what we’ve seen, those kids really do have fun in the Thirds/Fourths team, perhaps more than the varsity athletes. Kids, and parents, have to adjust their expectations.</p>
<p>Each school will have different levels of sports cultures. It’s all harkens back to ‘best fit’ for the student.
In the end, the value of athletics in boarding schools is a result of the colleges. Athletes are still the largest category of ‘affirmative action’ for college admissions. Boarding schools are merely preparing their kids for college.</p>
Hope this helped!</p>