<p>Just a reminder - the OP is 15 and entering 10th grade. Lets not be too indignant if he sounds like he’s 15.</p>
<p>xchha12, are you an SIB? I ask because it sounds like the SIB value system - sports get no respect at all. Unless it’s cricket and it’s someone else’s son playing it. I sympathize with you over the lack of respect it shows. It took us a long time to give our S credit for his dedication to his sport - which we gave readily for our D’s interest in music. We regret our narrow-mindedness. </p>
<p>In the meantime, be patient with your folks. For SIBs, academic success is the key to happiness. It’s what worked for them, their families, and all their friends, and has worked for generations. If you tell them that you are rejecting it, they will get very heavy-handed and controlling with you - and do things like threaten to cancel your sport - because they are afraid for you. Rather than battling them, try negotiating instead: You will keep your grades at an agreed upon level and in return, they won’t use your sport as a weapon. And if your grades do drop below an agreed upon level, you will give up your sport until you have the grades back up. That’s a reasonable deal.</p>
<p>I think the other issue, which they may not have perspective on if they don’t have older sons, is that lots of guys make a big leap academically in 10th and 11th grade as a result of cognitive and other changes. An okay student in 9th grade can turn into a star by 12th grade. If they agree to back off a little and you agree to do your best - whatever that turns out to be - everyone may be pleasantly surprised.</p>