High School Athletes

[AmFamFan]

Somewhat lost in all the Covid-19 sports cancellations are the high school athletes around the country. I am a High School Varsity Track and Field Coach and really feel for my athletes. Winter sports athletes had their seasons cut short and were looking to spring sports to be able to try and finish the year on a high note. I have several seniors on my team that were more than likely going to find themselves on the podium at the WIAA State Track and Field meet this year, and now, face the real possibility that their careers as athletes are over. I am struggling myself also as I put a lot of effort into the team and really feel at a loss when trying to comfort them, when I am feeling the same harsh fears as they are. These athletes do not collect a paycheck or sign autographs, but I can attest that they truly love their sports and my heart breaks for them.

[pacopete4]

It stinks. That’s the reality of it. But it will be a very small piece to your overall life when it’s all said and done. That’s hard to hear today as you’re living it, but it’s the truth. Keep holding out hope that you’ll get your opportunity to play and compete. But if it doesn’t happen, understand that it will all be okay.

[Oxy]

I hated High School Track/Field. Absolutely adored basketball and baseball (summer ball) and tolerated football (games were fun...everything else notsomuch). I went to state my jr year in track and didn't even go out my sr yr so I could fool around playing golf that Spring (and have one season in HS I wasn't obligated to a sport). I always wish I would have taken golf up as a middle schooler so I could have done that instead of puke my guts out in track and field for 3 years. No offense .

[yourout]

My son raised a point this weekend. With the extra year of Eligibility that's going to be granted to some college athletes what's going to happen with the scholarships that would normally go to this year's graduating high school seniors. Are they also going to Grant extra scholarships?

Are they going to increase roster size?

[AmFamFan]

We have been talking about this also as I have a few athletes with a good shot at the next level. At this point we are looking into some summer USATF meets and am also thankful that I had some of them running indoor track over the winter. They were at least able to get some recorded times and distances down for recruiting. I did here from Kate at the WIAA last night and she assured me that they are going to do everything they can to somehow get some of the spring season in. They are looking into as many options as they can. However, state and federal governments can shut it down if they wish at take it our of the Board of Controls hands. They are meeting on Thursday and it sounds like decisions will be made then.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Yep. My son runs cross country and track in highly competitive Southern California, and had goals for his senior year. He had a good chance to advance to CIF and/or break 2 minutes in the 800 m this year, but might well have run his last competitive race. It's one of many heartbreaking things for high school seniors, along with potentially no prom, no senior night and graduation ceremony, no admitted students events at colleges...he said some people were cheering when they announced school closing but others were in tears.

 

I told him though that many years from now he'll be able to tell people that he was high school class of '20, and people will say, whoa, that's crazy, what was that like.

[Jimbo]

Call me naïve, but still am a bit miffed the WIAA basketball games couldn't be completed with limited spectators.

 

To the OP, yeah the NCAA has roster sizes. Will the fifth-year seniors take away spots from others?

[MrTPlush]

Call me naïve, but still am a bit miffed the WIAA basketball games couldn't be completed with limited spectators.

 

To the OP, yeah the NCAA has roster sizes. Will the fifth-year seniors take away spots from others?

 

That’s the problem. The NCAA would almost have to grant additional scholarships so teams could keep those seniors in many cases. Problem is this would be an incredibly unfair advantage to teams that had seniors this year that are willing to come back. What about teams with no seniors (impact seniors)? What about freshman-junior. Why exactly does their year count and for seniors it doesn’t? What about seniors that were already done playing...they get a waiver for no reason at all?

 

As far as high school athletes...it’s a real big shame. I can’t imagine losing out on a year of baseball etc. like that. Especially for a senior.

[pacopete4]

Call me naïve, but still am a bit miffed the WIAA basketball games couldn't be completed with limited spectators.

 

To the OP, yeah the NCAA has roster sizes. Will the fifth-year seniors take away spots from others?

 

You're naive. How does a high school basketball game become more important than the health of the public? It's high school sports. Those kids will be just fine.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

My senior year in football I broke my wrist on the first day of pads. I also broke the bone that distributes blood to the thumb. 3 months minimum in a cast. I dreamed for 10 years of my senior year gone in one play. I got over it, and so will these kids.

 

I know I'm in the minority. Hell, I might be the only one, but schools can get rid of most sports in high school. There is such a large AAU presence now. The popularity of high school athletics over AAU is an American passion. In Europe, the players place much more importance in AAU over high school.

[pacopete4]

If one has to go, it’s AAU. These types of leagues have done no good for kids and sports.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If one has to go, it’s AAU. These types of leagues have done no good for kids and sports.

 

Yep ... kids specializing in a particular sport and playing it year round from 8 years old and up is bad. It burns kids out. I know there's the "what about those kids in the Dominican?" argument, but it's apples and oranges. The kids in Latin America really having nothing else besides baseball ... and soccer, if they are lucky.

[pacopete4]

If one has to go, it’s AAU. These types of leagues have done no good for kids and sports.

 

Yep ... kids specializing in a particular sport and playing it year round from 8 years old and up is bad. It burns kids out. I know there's the "what about those kids in the Dominican?" argument, but it's apples and oranges. The kids in Latin America really having nothing else besides baseball ... and soccer, if they are lucky.

 

They also just play backyard baseball for the most part. It isn’t all organized. It isn’t 10 games on a weekend with a dad coach that doesn’t have the slightest clue what he’s doing or care about his players other than his own son. The travel sports is one of the biggest turds we have going. Ripping people off of a lot of money because people are too stupid to realize they don’t need it.

[young guns]

My senior year in football I broke my wrist on the first day of pads. I also broke the bone that distributes blood to the thumb. 3 months minimum in a cast. I dreamed for 10 years of my senior year gone in one play. I got over it, and so will these kids.

 

I know I'm in the minority. Hell, I might be the only one, but schools can get rid of most sports in high school. There is such a large AAU presence now. The popularity of high school athletics over AAU is an American passion. In Europe, the players place much more importance in AAU over high school.

That's funny. I also broke my wrist my senior year in a scrimmage a week before our first game. Cast came off day of our last game.

[JohnBriggs12]

Call me naïve, but still am a bit miffed the WIAA basketball games couldn't be completed with limited spectators.

 

To the OP, yeah the NCAA has roster sizes. Will the fifth-year seniors take away spots from others?

 

You're naive. How does a high school basketball game become more important than the health of the public? It's high school sports. Those kids will be just fine.

 

It's not naive to think banning such a scenario won't save one life or prevent one person from getting the disease. I haven't played high school sports in 50 years, but I can tell you that part of my life even on losing teams remains among the most precious memories I have, and I think I speak for many. I get why they did it in a litigious society, but it still stinks for the kids involved.