Advice for Students Interested in Sports

Suffolk County Section XI organized sports begin in seventh grade, with tryouts beginning the first week of school, Jeremy Thode, director of health, physical education and athletics for the district, said. For parents and students, that means understanding the commitment needed for such an activity.

Middle school sports begin in grade 7 with students in grade 6 eligible for Cheerleading, Dance and Kickline. Students must try out for teams every single year and attend a physical session, offered by the district during the last two weeks of August.

Establishing a routine is more important when students have sports and religious activities to deal with. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Your child will leave the house at 7 a.m. and won't finish school each day until 5 p.m..  They will then have homework to do.  The amount of homework depends on each individual teacher and his or her preferences. This is often the most difficult aspect to balance when first starting sports.
• Religious instruction then begins and may conflict with their schedules. You should remember that these scheduling conflicts would need to be discussed ahead of time. Additionally, children will still want some form of a social life and that must be scheduled as well. Getting a wall calendar to mark play dates, games, practices and other events should help you coordinate this in your household.  
• Carpooling is also a difficult situation, at times. Try to organize a group of parents who can share a weekly transportation schedule, that way you can bring your other children to their activities as well.

Coordinating school, responsibilities, sports and parents' jobs can be difficult at times, but children ultimately benefit from the organization of middle and high school sports.

Being part of a team helps them understand the need for teamwork and allows them to understand how important it is to stay on top of their schoolwork.