05/31/2023
It's that time of year again. Tryouts, team selections, and big decisions on where to cheer.
Here's a BIG question that I have often wondered what others think. If you make a team, receive the practice schedule, and determine that you have some prepaid, planned event during a choreography day or a blackout week......do you A) screw the event, I want to be on the team (skip the event), B) I want to do both so I will talk to the coach ahead of time about the conflict and see if there is a resolution before deciding, or C) I want to be on this team but I will wait until the week before the event to tell the coach, and miss practices during black out week?
I am sure I missed an option but it really isn't about the options. It is about the athlete and whether they want to decide for their benefit or the team's benefit. If you have had an athlete on a team or you are a coach or athlete, then you have lived this reality all too often.
Really...it happens like C more than you know. The athlete and/or parents think if they wait, there is no way the coach can take them out of the routine the week before a competition. Then they can go to the event AND be on the team.
The coach is then having to choose between enforcing the rules and hurting the team that has worked so hard to be the best, or hurt the team and let the athlete miss practice during blackout week. And believe me, 10 times out of 10, an athlete missing the week of a competition (blackout week) hurts the performance.
I guess by the way I wrote this, it is obvious that I prefer athletes who, if they choose to join a TEAM, will dedicate their time to the TEAM and not miss important practices. Because, of course, this is a TEAM sport.
I digress... Now tell me your thoughts on this topic!
PSA - Don't be the athlete that does this to your team.
