So disgusted with the US public schools about this. No wonder we are becoming such a bunch of fatties.
This is a tricky thing. I went to a HS that only had about 100 kids per grade, so there were few, if any, cuts in sports. The uniforms were 20 years old, we raised money when they needed to be replaced. The school budget covered the buses to go to away games.
What do you expect in a middle school with 1300 students competing for 15 spots? Do you expect a public school to have a budget for 3x as many teams? Especially when other schools don't have those teams?
1. The budget is not there. I've seen our local school budgets. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE MONEY FOR SCIENCE, MUSIC, PE, AND COMPUTERS. Do you expect a budget for 6th grade soccer?
2. The volunteers are not there. If there is no money for a sports team or coach, then you need a volunteer.
What is the expectation for schools these days anyway? I didn't play (and stick with) a sport until 9th grade. To me, sports is about fitness, and being part of a team, and discipline, and skill. But it's not a requirement. I'm happy if my kid is comfortable enough to throw a frisbee, play catch, kick a soccer ball around with his friends.
So why the club sports? I don't know, I guess it's a competition thing. One of my best friends asked me when I was going to "let" my kid play sports. What do you mean...let him? See, her son was in soccer. At first, age 5, he didn't like it because he wasn't good at it. They didn't let him quit. Then he got better, and liked it, and now he's in AYSO and traveling soccer, at 10. So, let me see - 2 afternoons a week, plus weekends, plus travel on the weekends? How is that fun?
But I see her point.
There's no soccer for 5 year olds at the school.
Our elementary school has "school soccer" starting in 3rd grade. 3rd grade co-ed, 4th grade boys/ girls. How does that work if you've never played before?
Firstly, they have to have a parent volunteer coach, or it doesn't happen. So they need a few coaches for the different teams.
Second, you have to get to the games. At least it's only 1 day a week. But our school does not qualify for a bus. So you need parents willing to drive their kids to the park.
When my son was 6, he had a baby brother. I didn't have the time or energy for carting around kids after school, especially with a full time job.
What about baseball? There is no school baseball. If you want baseball, you do club baseball or YMCA baseball. Same with soccer until 3rd grade. Lacrosse. Basketball.
Why should the elementary schools be required to provide teams? When they cannot even afford a freaking science curriculum?
If you wait until middle school, then it's pretty much too late.
I'm fine with paying for...swim lessons, baseball, a small soccer league. If you can't afford it? Big deal. There are plenty of other opportunities for fitness. Lots of people do "pick up" soccer in the parks, or they go to the beach, or they go for hikes or walks, or they ride their bikes. Organized sports aren't the be all and end all.