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I'm just wondering if this is the Norm? So it's a grade k-6 school and the student is in grade 5. Do all sports for school have try-outs? I'm just curious as some one in our house tryed out for a sport, all but three kids made the cut. I'm wondering if this is a best practice at school. I can see in higher grade levels but aren't we supposed to be trying to encourage kids to step away from technology and get more active? Isn't sitting the new smoking and all that? How do they learn skills and enjoyment for the game when they get "cut" in grade 4-6? I'm asking cause my kid made the cut but her best friend didn't and now she doesn't want to play! Like serious isn't "try outs" a way of excluding at this grade point level? Shouldn't everybody get the opportunity to play?

I don't think kids in k-12 should have to try out at all! If it's school related, maybe they won't be on the first string or the A side, but they should be able to play any sport that is offered by school, as long as they then attend practices etc.  
Why should my child's public school (which we ALL pay taxes to support) make it a competition to play a school team sport?? Also, it's intimidating to try out for something, don't you want kids to develop their skills at sports? They won't if they try and get rejected! Honestly I think that is a demeaning practice and it steps on the rights of students to have access to all the programming offered by schools that are publicly funded. Schools should forget having parents volunteer if they are going to deny space to kids that want to play and have the benefits of fun active sport.

Tater said "I don't think kids in k-12 should have to try out at all! If it's school related, maybe they won't be on the first string or the A side, but they should be able to play any sport that is offered by school, as long as they then attend practices etc.   Why should my child's public school (which we ALL pay taxes to support) make it a competition to play a school team sport?? Also, it's intimidating to try out for something, don't you want kids to develop their skills at sports? They won't if they try and get rejected! Honestly I think that is a demeaning practice and it steps on the rights of students to have access to all the programming offered by schools that are publicly funded. Schools should forget having parents volunteer if they are going to deny space to kids that want to play and have the benefits of fun active sport. "

I wonder is it's worth contacting the school about it? Don't want to be "that parent". However I have pretty strong feelings about this.

There shouldn't be any cuts for sports in K-8 in Brandon according to policy. Students may not be allowed to play if they are not keeping up with their schoolwork.

Not all kids should make it. Kids need to learn that life isn't always fair, you don't just automatically get anything. Hard work, practice etc pays off.  
There's plenty of other options and sport programs available that you can play without try outs.  
This is the main reason kids these days are the way they are, they are babied too much and we are afraid to tell them no.

BudLimeLover said "Not all kids should make it. Kids need to learn that life isn't always fair, you don't just automatically get anything. Hard work, practice etc pays off.   There's plenty of other options and sport programs available that you can play without try outs.   This is the main reason kids these days are the way they are, they are babied too much and we are afraid to tell them no. "

How would they learn, practice, get better if they are not on teams? We are talking about children here. Not teenagers or adults, where they should know life isn't fair.  
 
But children in elementary schools should get all of their chances to prove their worth. It is only sports, let them play. They may be the best on the team by being able to play and get better. They will definitely learn in other area's life is not fair.  
 
There are a lot more important things in this world where these children will learn life is not fair, sports should not be one of them.  
 
Yes, some kids are babied, but again this is sports in a school, attended by pre-teens, it is not life and death.  
 
You sound like "one of the hockey dad/moms"  
 
Edited by Brenda, 2017-03-23 19:28:58

BudLimeLover said "Not all kids should make it. Kids need to learn that life isn't always fair, you don't just automatically get anything. Hard work, practice etc pays off.   There's plenty of other options and sport programs available that you can play without try outs.   This is the main reason kids these days are the way they are, they are babied too much and we are afraid to tell them no. "

This is absolutely ridiculous. So you're telling me that a 6 or 7 year old that's maybe trying out for a sport they have never played should be cut from a public school team based on skill alone. It's one thing to be in high school and not work hard to make the cut, but to expect a child in elementary that is just learning the basic concepts of a sport to come out and train hard to be the best is to me unbelievably ridiculous thinking. Everyone at a young age should be allowed to play no matter what skill level. Especially if it's in a public elementary school imo.

BudLimeLover said "Not all kids should make it. Kids need to learn that life isn't always fair, you don't just automatically get anything. Hard work, practice etc pays off.   There's plenty of other options and sport programs available that you can play without try outs.   This is the main reason kids these days are the way they are, they are babied too much and we are afraid to tell them no. "

Nor are we a "trophy just for showing up" kind of family. Many times I have said sometimes you win but sometimes you lose too. However I often wonder how the school determines who is "good" enough to play and who isn't. Truly isn't school supposed to be a place of learning? Where do children get the confidence and the skills to carry on playing sports that interest them? I don't think any kid interested in playing a sport should be turned away because they aren't as good as their peer. I would sooner see them learn what they like and are good at or aren't and try other things. Seems like an exclusive way of teaching kids.

^

There should not be any cuts before grade 6. Once a child is past that they need to start learning that they don't make every team or get every job they want. If they want to keep plaYing the sport then maybe they should look in a rec league direction.

and is it intermurial (house leagues) or extracurricular?

Basketball. I think they only play during lunch hour although I'm not sure. I didnt know my kid was "trying out" until she came home and said she made the cut but her BFF didn't and now may not want to play!!! I still think any kid enthusiast about playing a sport in school should be encouraged to. If they suck at it, odds are pretty good they won't want to continue. However how do you know if you don't learn?

ece2 said "Basketball. I think they only play during lunch hour although I'm not sure. I didnt know my kid was "trying out" until she came home and said she made the cut but her BFF didn't and now may not want to play!!! I still think any kid enthusiast about playing a sport in school should be encouraged to. If they suck at it, odds are pretty good they won't want to continue. However how do you know if you don't learn? "

Never heard of that happening for the in school house sports.  
 
Then again doing a search of the Brandon School Division and some of the school pages, I see no mention of anything related to sports.

I would call the school and talk to the teachers involved. I can speak of volleyball and basketball at my daughters school, as she's in Grade 8 now and my third daughter who played sports in grade school. At my daughters' school as long as they maintain decent grades and are respectful of teachers, coaches and other players, they are on the team. There have never been cuts on any of my 3 daughters' teams. They only play volleyball and basketball after school in Grade 7 & 8. I am "one of those parents" who is super competitive, and I don't necessarily agree with our school 's practice, but I can respect that's how it is at that age.  
Maybe if you talk to the school you'll get more of an understanding of the process and maybe your daughter misunderstood the reason? The only way to find out for sure is to talk directly to the teachers involved.

your school team in Manitoba High School Athletics Association sports, definitely there would be tryout and cuts depending on how many students tryout for those teams. For those teams you would want the best to represent the school. Those teams start in JV or Grade 7 I believe.  
 
But for house league noon hour sports, then there shouldn't be cuts or try-outs. It should be open to all students no matter their skill since it's just for fun and bragging rights in the school.

ece2 said "Basketball. I think they only play during lunch hour although I'm not sure. I didnt know my kid was "trying out" until she came home and said she made the cut but her BFF didn't and now may not want to play!!! I still think any kid enthusiast about playing a sport in school should be encouraged to. If they suck at it, odds are pretty good they won't want to continue. However how do you know if you don't learn? "

Sounds like it could be a group of students "making cuts"...  
 
With that said, cuts have no place before Grade 7. Grade 7 & 8 are reasonable and Grades 9+ it would be ridiculous to expect everyone to make the team.

This is going to sound critical but perhaps you should talk to your kids and get the full story before "sounding the alarm" on this very public forum.  
 
Is it a lunch hour intramural program set up by the school? or is just a bunch of students or student volunteers that play organize it themselves? Seems as though that some information is missing.

Hawk83 said "This is going to sound critical but perhaps you should talk to your kids and get the full story before "sounding the alarm" on this very public forum.     Is it a lunch hour intramural program set up by the school? or is just a bunch of students or student volunteers that play organize it themselves? Seems as though that some information is missing. "

Of BSD. It's a rural school. However my point is why are children k-6 not encouraged to play in any sport they are interested in. It turns out there were four kids cut. I spoke to the teacher. The teacher didn't do a great job of explaining why try outs were the process in this age group. I will spend some time researching the sports bylaws for our division this weekend and follow up as is necessary on Monday. I think that schools, and not just ours have to be very careful when they preach to our kids about equality and inclusion. School organized sports up to grade 6 should be inclusive for everybody who has an interest.

Could be a numbers problem, too many kids for the team. What a lot of parents don't realize is that the coaches are generally teachers who graciously donate their time free of charge so the school can field a team. Might be too many students wanting to play and not enough adequate coaching ie supervision. In any case use this experience, early on, to learn from it. Tell the student to try not to be discouraged, ask the coach for direction on improvement, work hard and go back next year to make the team!