<p>I was just wondering if any of you have children who are at the national or international level in their sport? This was inspired by watching the US Figure Skating Championships last night. All these 15.16.17 year olds give up so much to do this. Most are homeschooled, ( Im awed at the ones that manage to go to public school ), skating 6 days a week. Along with that their is the financel sacrifice . They were saying one girl even moved across the country to train without her parents, and one got up at 4:30 am to skate, then went to public school, made straight A’s, was in all honors classes and then went back and skated more. Im just awed at this kids. I guess part of it is feeling insignificant to these girls who are my age and out there living their dreams.</p>
<p>tell us what your dream is…</p>
<p>I was talking to a mom whose little girl was moving up the rankings in figure skating a few years ago, competing nationally (cost a lot of $$ for skates, coaches, travel, costumes, etc. not to mention TIME), and basically the mom’s life revolved around her doing this for a couple of years, and then when the girl was 11 years old she quit. It was quite an adjustment for the mom! It takes a LOT, on the part of the kid and their families for kids to get to and continue at that level! Most families could not provide that level of committment in $$ or time, even if the kid has the drive/talent. Anyway, the little girl decided she wanted to dance, and last I heard, was doing very well at ballet.</p>
<p>For a while it was competing in horseback riding, then it was getting onto team in gymnastics which I realized was not going to happan simply because I was 15 and my level was that of a 4 year old. The one thing I was always sure of was that I could sing. That was my talent. So now I am 16 and really into musical theater, out there auditioning and going to camps and getting lessons and trying to catch up with those that have been doing it since they could walk. Part of it is that I felt I was always playing catchup. I was never one of those children who decided at 4 they wanted to be x and stuck with it. I started dance when I was 4. I did your little toddler ballet,tap and jazz classes till I was about 6. Then you had to pick and I chose jazz. At 7 I got bored and did gymnastics ( if you can even call it that for a year) and then did jazz again at 8 and then finally quit. The empisis was on the performance in June and I was tired of it. I tried a soccer league for a year when I was 7 ( at that point I was convinced that mommy was mean becuase she was making me try soccer. I did it with this girl Vivian and it was an all boys team and needless to say I didn’t like it). That was the end of that. There was violin and piano, and art lessons and chior anmd ice skating lessons,horseback riding,painting, nothing ever stuck. This frusterated my mom becuase she knew I had a good voice and I wasn;t interested. Then I would start getting dilusions that I could be one a travaling soccer team at 14 and even tried out for one, and made the callbacks needless to say I did not make it. I wasn’t in any sort of shape either for it. Tehn I went through my riding phase. I had started riding when I was 9 and mostly rode at summer camps. Then I took lessons and went to horseback riding camp but that fizzled out. Then came the 2 years of gymnastics lessons . I was okay when I was little but because I was in a class with 9 year olds who were so much better then me and 4 year olds who stared when I tried something those dreams faded. I wasn’t getting anywere after two years. And now were are at the present.</p>
<p>I play soccer in college, and this year our team went to the National tournament and were runners up. Even though I had the experience of a lifetime and wouldn’t want to change it, I couldn’t manage to keep my grades up at the same time I got 2 A’s and 2 C’s. The week before my finals, we flew out to another state for a week to play in the tournament.</p>
<p>So even though I compete at a high level, I don’t know how other kids manage to keep their grades up and find time for a social life</p>
<p>I certainly don’t have kids at the level of those figure skating competitors and yes it is amazing the schedules they keep, while also maintaining excellent achievements in academics. </p>
<p>While my kids are not on that national scale, they are heavily involved in their areas of passion…sports and the arts… and do keep intense schedules, one of whose involves travel as well. They are also still high academic achievers. I don’t think they are unusual at all. One is involved in theater and also is in a rigorous professional degree program with many hours, not even including her shows/rehearsals. I find that she is not alone but that her peers who also are in this field often ALSO tend to be excellent students. Other kid is in varsity collegiate sports with an intense schedule, plus travel, while also in a demanding Ivy school where she maintains high grades. She also is not alone as I find many on her team who also excel in academics and she wasn’t the only Academic All American on the team either. </p>
<p>My opinion is that those who are very commited to a sport or an art, tend to be driven, motivated, and passionate about it and set high standards for themselves. That same “approach” is how they also approach academics. While it seems amazing how they can still perform so well in academics with such demaning athletic or arts pursuits, it is that same drive or approach…they use it for everything. </p>
<p>While there is a tendency on CC to think of athletes as “lesser academic types”, and maybe some students like that exist, MANY athletes are terrific students because they are excellent at time management, driven, motivated to excel, set high standards of achievement, and so on. Some of the best students in our high school were also some of our school’s best athletes. The kids who had the least free time to do homework due to athletic or arts commitments, were still the ones excelling in the classroom. For instance, I have a kid who was val and played three varsity sports and was also heavily commited to performing arts…and the kids ranked in the top five of the class also were in several varsity sports. It was just that sort of kid who did well in school too. The ones who hung out after school and had more time available, were the ones who were not the best students, in our community. Same with the theater and band kids…huge outside commitments, but some of the top students in the school. I see this amongst my kids’ friends from other places as well. Those who are exceling in their sport and their arts, are also very good students. </p>
<p>How those kids on a national playing field do it, does seem amazing but I think that same inner motivation, work ethic and drive carries over from their sport to their academics. Just my observation from personal experience, albeit not quite at that level. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>I used to compete internationally in taekwondo. I think part of it was just getting started early (when I was five) and really loving the sport. I trained 7 days a week and almost all of my competitors were homeschooled. Towards the end, when I was getting really competive and traveling every weekend to compete(I learned how to navigate through the airports alone by the age of 12!) my school started having a problem with me missing Fridays and sometimes Mondays. I was an honor student in advanced classes but they still said if I missed more days, I would not be allowed to come back. Also, my coach wanted me to quit school and move to the other corner of the country to train for the olympics, but I chose school instead. I just train recreationally now and I question my decision every day. It was hard watching the Olympics in 2004 and knowing everybody there. Plus, one of the few girls I lost to ended up winning my division in the Olympics! I feel like I was so close and I wish I could have continued competing. </p>
<p>I guess I had a different experience than Susan, but I noticed that many of the kids sacrificed everything (including their education) for their sport. I remember once when my teammate gave me a note and l could barely read it and simple words were misspelled (luck, wish, etc.). She was 18! I think what happens a lot of times is that the kids are “homeschooled” but the parents use the extra time to train their kids instead, a lot of times the parents try to live through the kids and I believe that can affect their decisions. Sometimes, they might not do what is necessarily best for the kid but instead what will get them more glory.</p>
<p>It’s also extremely expensive to compete nationally/internationally. I attended classes Monday-Thursday and had private lessons Friday-Sunday. Add on to the training and equipment costs: competition fees, traveling fees (hotel room, airplane ticket, meals, etc.), coaching fees. If I had to give a rough estimate, I think it would be at least 5,000-10,000 dollars a year. Maybe more, I was very fortunate to have my parents pay for all of it.</p>
<p>DefyingGravity, the phrase to describe your life experience with sports, arts & music lessons is, “having a childhood”. </p>
<p>You are very fortunate because you have had a chance to explore and experience many different things, and I’m sure you have had some fun along the way. </p>
<p>It is amazing to watch youngsters doing so well competing at nationals and at the Olympics, many do so at tremendous emotional and physical cost. And the kids who make it to the top represent a very small fraction of the kids who are in the running at that level – the hundreds who train every bit as hard, but just don’t have the combination of luck and extraordinary talent that gets them to the top-most ranking. </p>
<p>So don’t envy them – those who have the intellect to go along with their talent will be able to leverage their fame to get into top colleges, but more often than not the kids you see competing at that level are not college bound. And the sad thing is that they are competing at a sport where they are pretty much considered over-the-hill by the time they reach age 22 - if they haven’t made it to the top by then, they don’t have much of a chance. </p>
<p>My daughter used to do gymnastics and nothing irked me more than people who would invariably ask if she wanted to go to the Olympics. I would think, “Geez, she’s SIX! Why can’t she just do this for fun?” My d. was very talented and did have fun, but as soon as she was good enough to qualify for the competitive team at her gym, at age 8 – she quit. Scored a perfect 10 for common sense.</p>
<p>i used to ski and got invited to join a ski team on a national level, but couldn’t do it due to how much time it took up to train and how expensive it was. I too look at the skiiers who are winning world championships at young ages and wondering “what if,” so don’t feel like you’re the only one.</p>
<p>I think a lot of those kids who do things from such a young age turn into burn outs.</p>
<p>A friend of mine plays soccer on the international level and he just had his pick of any ivy league school he wanted.</p>
<p>My cousin is like Florida’s top swimmer ! and he has been training since he was very young, for the Olympics. He is currently a college freshman (he was offered full scholarships by many universities in his Sr year). and his secret is practice in the morning and after school every day. even when he came to NY to visit us for christmas he had to leave early in the morning on some days to practice at a pool. plus his dad (my uncle) is a really good swimmer too. its sort of in the family. i am really good at it too but my dad didnt want me to pursue it (competitively) because i am deaf and if i ever got swimmer’s ear then i couldnt wear my hearing aids and thus i wouldnt be able to hear anything for a few weeks (=bad)</p>
<p>In baseball, it seems as if some of the Latin American countries push baseball more than academics. There are nondrafted guys coming out of the Dominican Republic who are about 15-16 years old. Sometimes these excptional talents make it to the bigs early, often due to an injury/struggling player on the ML level or because of a GM who likes to rush players through his system.</p>
<p>An example is Chicago Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez. Not sure where he’s from country-wise, but I do know he made his ML debut at age 19 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Guy had talent, Pirates had no other real options for 3B that year.</p>
<p>Our younger daughter is an upper level gymnast who hopes to get a college scholarship. She is 15 and a HS sophmore currently. She was never interested in being an Olympic athlete because while she loves her sport, and spends 20+ hours a week in the gym, she has always wanted to have other things in her life too. She does get frustrated with friends who tell her she has no time to just hang out. That is not exactly true but she does have to organize her time. </p>
<p>She has been injuried most of the last year (what should have been a couple months recovery became a year because the first doc didn’t really listen to what she said was hurting. A new doc and another surgery later she is back to pain free and getting back skills and endurance.) The year of lots of conditioning, and trying to work through pain has given her plenty of opportunities to quit, but she loves it and is chomping on the bit to regain everything. She goes to school part-time (4 periods) and homeschools part-time, and spends 2-6pm at the gym 5 days a week. Up to HS she homeschooled full time, not because of gym, but it did give her more flexibility. She really wanted to go to HS so we came up with a plan that worked for all of our schedules. It is definately a challenge but we have made it work. </p>
<p>For me having her in gymnastics, or something that takes that level of energy, has been wonderful and worth the time and money I have to put into it. She is a high energy person and needs that kind of physical/mental focus, she has learned and grown lots through gymnastics, and she would have driven us nuts as a little kid without it.
Ellen</p>
<p>I have a kiddo who played multiple sports in high school - but one sport dominated all - and essentially she spent 9 months out of the year playing it - up to and including the national leval - and the other 3 months doing other things that would keep her in shape for that dominiating one - she had played this sport since she was in 2nd grade - and had excelled at a very young age - had participated in mullti ‘‘private’’ lessons programs as well - for many years. At one time she actually played this sport on 3 different teams - all at the same time. Her team was state and regional champs - and at the national level - they arrived there twice during this time - within 3 years. The time and financial committment for her - and us as the supportive parents - was something we had to work thru - on a yearly basis. Time missed during the school year was made up by prior agreement - tho there were limitations as to how much time she could miss from school - we were able to be creative when it came to her school obligations. The travel was extensive and time spent on the road was spent on school work during travel time.</p>
<p>For her to achieve that national level again at the college level - she would have had to play at the varsity level + the other levels as well - the possibility of playing this sport professionally does exist - but… Decision time came when it was time for her to consider a college education - choices had to be made - but by her at this point. </p>
<p>A very good athlete - and smart as well - top 10%/NHS and all that jazz - could have gotten lots of good $$ college wise - but… when it came time for college - she had decided NOT to participate in this sport on a varsity level - which would have been great for us. She was interested on a club or IM level - but her decision was based on this statement - ''I will NEVER be owned by a coach again!!!“” She had had enough - her life had revolved around this sport - which to her - had socially stunted her in some ways she felt. She wanted to ‘enjoy’ her college time and make other choices and experience what ever came her way. </p>
<p>Playing a varsity sport would mean a 10 month obligation to team/coach - missing out on other possible opportunities - which is exactly what has happened. She now participates on several IM teams - and is also a major player in 1 college sport - a club sport - very competitive - but has national recognition - that again gives her an awesome outlet in something she now loves - tho without the time committment involved.</p>
<p>Participating in a high level/national level of anything requires total committment by all - the person involved and their support system - and individual circumstances - and passion - and yes - $$$. It is a personal choice that involves giving up alot of other things - and being responsible and realistic regarding that committment. There are those out there whose failies will do anything for their kiddo to be accomplished at that amazing level - and willing to give up their own lives to make that happen. Educationally - many of these kids do quite well - being home schooled or tutored - or a mix of all possibilities.</p>
<p>For my own kiddo - we have NO regrets about her choices - and neither does she - she learned alot from her own experience that will carry far into her adult life. Knowing what was possible and what it entailed - she choose to be who/what she is right now - and has never looked back.</p>
<p>ILOVEMATH - LOL your cousin reminds me of my other kiddo LOL - every time we went anywhere - we had to find a pool too - had to stay up on the practice schedule - had to keep the coach happy LOL … Can’t count how many pools - and colleges - we got to experience thru those years - but the 285,000 put on my vehicle should tell you something - and that was on 1 of the cars. The above kiddo cost us 275,000 miles - on a different car!!! - yup - LOTS of traveling we did.</p>
<p>And those 4:30 am practices!!! The hockey team finally figured out they were not the only ones up at that time.</p>
<p>Tho this kiddo did not achieve national ranking - a few of his pals did tho - it did open some doors for him - college wise included. He was a different animal from the kiddo described above - much more self directed - never missed a beat in a year round sport - very dedicated and passionate about swimming - and on to college that went with him.</p>
<p>The kiddo is still involved in the sport tho - at the coaching level - so was all worth it for him in the end.</p>
<p>Very little difference in the time committment between the 2 kiddos - both very time involved and milage wise as well.</p>
<p>Have no regrets tho being the parent of kids who kept us very much on our toes - and out of trouble for them as well.</p>
<p>My d was a competitive cheerleader for 5 years which was extremely expensive and extremely time-consuming for our entire family. But we indulged her because she had spent the previous five years in a scoli brace and because she seemed to be a natural. (In about one year, she went from pretty ugly flipflops to beautiful layouts.) Her teams won at least one national competition each year…though the word ‘nationals’ is quite the misnomer in competitive cheerleading. We lived on the road, spending free weekends at NCA qualifiers, eating bad food and popping aspirin. (For those of you who have never been to a three day cheer competition in a big venue like the Dallas Convention Center or the Alamodome…it’s like being stuck in a nightclub for 72 hours straight. At end, you stagger out of the place head pounding, hard of hearing and blind as a mole.)</p>
<p>I was a band kid, so I couldn’t really relate too much to the whole cheer thing, but I have to admit the experience did have some pluses. Her grades were never better than when she was bouncing from nightly tumbling/cheer practice to her National History Day performance practices to her various school ECs and volunteer obligations. Something about being overscheduled does make for great plate juggling. And performing in those big venues for thousands of spectators taught her how to handle stress and fear. She is a very self-confident girl. </p>
<p>A pretty bad foot injury put her out commission for senior year school and competitive tryouts and it was perfect timing. She has really taken all she can from the cheer experience and was ready to move on to other things. (Thank goodness…my daughter is growing up and I can put the aspirin away.)</p>
<p>DefyingGravity - if you have a dream, you do not need to give it up because other kids got started way far ahead of you, knowing from age 4 (or whatever) that their talent was their destiny. If singing is your passion and dream, then go for it. </p>
<p>There are many role models out there who started “late” to reach the top of their game: Steven Spielberg (rejected from film school), Michael Jordan (cut from the hs basketball team)…</p>