<p>I know there have been many threads about EC’s so sorry to start another one. I have read them and this question is a bit different. I wondered your thoughts.</p>
<p>My son races motocross. He is 14 and has raced since he was 5. He has won multiple local and regional championships and has been one race away from earning a spot in the Amateur Nationals 3 different times (on a side note, my daughter made it to the Nationals this year - we leave for Loretta Lynn’s ranch in TN in a week). </p>
<p>It’s certainly not a main-stream sport or one that he can participate at in school/ Although I do know of 2 kids who got permission to do motocross as a sport one term by wriring a proposal of what their training would be and keeping track for the AD and it was approved (yes, it was at a private school in New England - not one of the “biggies”). In any case, he has learned a lot from it - focus, determination, not to mention the time we spend as a family each weekend from April - October racing. </p>
<p>It has also however, limited some other EC’s that he could have been involved in due to the massive time commitment. </p>
<p>Just as a side note: YIKES! Motocross has always seemed like the most hair-raising sport to watch as a parent.</p>
<p>Perhaps it will be the subject of one of your son’s essays. Clearly, it isn’t the type of EC that he could use to become a recruited athlete in the traditional sense. But as you say, he has shown great dedication to this time-consuming activity outside of his school work, which is certainly a good thing from the point of view of any prep school. AND he’s good at it; even better! So, there’s nothing bad about having that on his record as a major extra-curricular. It may just require some extra explanation in his application in order to convey its full importance to him.</p>
<p>That’s what I was thinking Smile.<br>
Answer to the side note: My son is much easier to watch than my daughter and not because “she’s a girl.” He has always riden in control and won’t try things until he is 100% ready and condifent. She on the other hand will ride a little out of control sometimes or a little over her ability. She’s now caught up - which I guess is why she’s gotten as fast as she has.</p>
<p>It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck just thinking about it! I’ve spent most of my years as a mom on the sidelines of hockey and football games which can certainly be white-knuckle events for the faint-at-heart. But I imagine they’re nothing compared to watching your child fly around a course (out of control no less!!) at 40?, 50? (whatever it is, I have no idea) miles per hour.</p>
<p>I think it sounds interesting and intriguing – and you are correct, participation for such a long period of time and at such a level has imparted some excellent life lessons to your son. I agree with smile dog – it would be nece to discuss it in the essay – and I think it might also be good to bring it up in the interview. You might think of ways that what he has learned or experienced in motocross relates to what he might learn or experience at BS – practice is important, working with others, setting a goal, etc.</p>
<p>Having a girl in a higher risk sport (though not as high as motocross) I understand the mentality it take as a parent to support your kids passions no matter how crazy they may seem to others. I’ve watched her get drilled into the posts (they are solid steel without padding), get up and keep on playing. You get used to it after a while.</p>
<p>And like you, I spent almost every weekend my daughter’s 8th grade year (September to April) on the road (20K miles worth) as there wasn’t even an age appropriate boys ice hockey team available to her where we live. So her “home” games that year were 325 miles away.</p>
<p>Yeah, and her other extra curriculars suffered as there wasn’t the time to fully participate with other things.</p>
<p>Fortunately for us, that extra curricular was a skill that made her desirable to boarding schools.</p>
<p>In your case, if you are looking to send your son (and maybe your daughter?) to a BS that has the flexibility to allow outside sports, your son’s dedication to his sport can only be a positive in terms of the application. Yes, it doesn’t help any of the school’s “teams”, but he does bring a certain sense of pride to the school having an accomplished athlete choose them for his education. If he is otherwise an interesting candidate (good grades, personable, etc.), I see no reason why a single very time-consuming EC wouldn’t be as good as or better than several less intensive ECs.</p>
<p>Thanks. We all (both kids included) realize that motocross will be limited once secondary school starts. Saturday classes being a big possibility as well as Saturday sports. We also realize that the permission to do motocross for the term is certainly the exception.<br>
He loves lacrosse and that will definately be his spring sport. Current school has few weekend games so it hasn’t been a conflict. His school is not known for sports and so while he’s a good player, even being somewhat “stand out” at his school, won’t get him really noticed at a secondary school. He is attending the Naval Academy Lacrosse Camp next week (his long term goal is to attend the Academy) and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), plays in the band (although it is required that all kids are either in band or chorus so I’m not sure that really counts), is an alter server at church (since 3rd grade when we are home weekends). He was a CIT at the summer camp his school runs for 2 years and this summer is working full time for a friend of ours who owns a small carpentry/construcion business. </p>
<p>As far as hockey (and lacross for that matter), we always say that at least in motocross you aren’t hitting people on purpose. LOL</p>
<p>I think that playing motocross would set him apart… BUTTTTTTTTTTTT if you’re asking permission for him to leave practice while at school…this could be a hugeee turn off for the school. Schools want to build communities… esp boarding schools… they want to build a cohesive environment of kids who live, eat, practice, hang out, and study together. Diversity (excelling at an interesting activity) counts for very little if the kid isn’t there to add to the environment, I’d say.</p>
<p>We are not asking permission for him to leave. We all know that motocorss will be part time once secondary school starts. I tossed out the example of two kids we know that attend boarding school and got permission to do mx as a sport one term just because it was unusual, but we won’t be asking. I’m sure he’ll race on weekends when he’s home anyway, but that’s different.</p>
<p>Definetly have your son write an essay about it! It will make him stick out and show that he is really passionate about something. Also, make sure to say how the sport is a huge time commitment in order to explain the lack of tons of ECs.</p>