Which sport for unskilled, non-competitive daughter?

My daughter is a student at Berkeley High and she needs to join a sports team/club as PE waiver (she doesn't have space in her curriculum for PE but is required to have 2-year PE to graduate, long story). BHS requires that students to have 5 hours/week sports activities signed off by a non-parent as coach for PE waiver. Our problem is that she has no interest or skills for competitive sports. I wonder if anyone runs or knows some sports teams or clubs that meet regularly and are non-competitive that she can join for PE waiver. The sport itself is not very important (running, bandminton, golf, tennis...). Thanks. -Serena

There is also a badminton team at the high school, but I don't know anything about it.

BHS team sports fulfill the PE credits. You could look on the school website to see if any of the other teams appeal your daughter. Go Jackets!

If not that, how about teaching a sports program with little kids? Perhaps at one of the locl elemnetary schools afterschool? How about at Washington Elementary jsut across the street from BHS? Would that count for her PE credits? Could be great for ehr resume, too.

Also, perhaps working out with a masters swim program at Clark Kerr or King Pool. The coaches could do the sign off and she wouldn't need to compete. They work out in the early morning and/or in the evening. At King she could probably do 2 nights a week to get the hours she needs. The coach at king (Blythe) is an excellent swim coach for all abilities and doesn't make people compete. Not sure if she'll take on minors, but you could ask. Anon

That being said there are about a hundred martial arts dojos in the area, there are some good dance studios in Berkeley, there is dragon boating and sailing at the Berkeley Marina. There are various venues to kayak at the Berkeley Marina and the Oakland estuary. I think there can be competition with these sports as well, but they are organized and could probably meet the BHS qualifications. I think the decision needs to be based on what your child likes to do because exercise is really important to our children and choosing something she enjoys will help her stay active as an adult. My children really love water sports and what better place to do them than in the Bay Area?

So I wonder has your daughter fully explored the team options at BHS? BHS has a fantastic sports program with a huge number of team, some of which require no prior experience in the sport. Parent of former BHS Athletes

Sports for 17-year-old exchange student?

Sports for shy daughter coming to BHS?

My daughter is at a small independent school and is thinking she might like the bigger pond at Berkeley High. At the same time, she's a shy introvert, and her way into social groups tends to be through sports. She is interested in running (cross-country and/or track) and to some extent in basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, or crew.

In middle school she's been a good athlete but not a star. I wonder whether (a) she'll qualify for Berkeley teams (do kids have to try out for all the teams?) and (b) as a white girl, will she be equally welcome in all sports - I've heard that some sports tend to be more racially segregated, and (c) do all the teams practice every day after school - is it possible to keep up school work and team work?
Thanks! ...Frog Hopping from Small to Big Pond?

It has been a wonderful experience for my daughter. She has formed close friendships and grown tremendously as an athlete. Freshman year was pretty easy for her to balance school work with sports. This year was a little more challenging but still quite manageable. I understand maintaining school work and sports can get more difficult in junior year as curriculum becomes more challenging. Many of the girls I know who play volleyball are excellent students. I would argue that sports is a great way for girls to have some balance in their lives. It helps relieve stress, they get a good workout, and it's a lot of fun.

During the season the girls practice every day for about two hours beginning at 4:30 and play about two schools per week.

Students do need to try out for sports teams but I can only speak specifically about volleyball. The tryouts begin the week before fall semester, M-F and last about three hours at a time. If you sign up to receive the BHS newsletter online announcments will be made about tryouts a few weeks before they begin.

Your daughter might want to consider taking a skills camp during the summer. Cal runs a great summer program at the UC campus. The CAL womens volleyball coaching staff and women's volleyball team members coach the camp participants. Check online at the UC Berkeley Sports Department website for more information. They offer camps for most of the other sports your daughter is also interested in playing. Sign ups begin early so check the website as soon as you get a chance. Volleyball teams at BHS are racially mixed.

Best of luck. Volleyball Mom

Most teams do have tryouts, and your child does not have to be in the top 10 to get on all teams. However some teams have a lot of kids trying out who have been playing the sport for years on club teams (soccer for instance) and those will be more competitive.

My daughter has been on the cross-country team for the past 3 years and has loved it. It's a fun sport and everyone is welcome regardless of their ability. The coaches are supportive of everyone who trys. I highly recommend her going to the first practices that start the week before school does in August. I know a lot of the cross-country kids go onto track in the spring. My daughter is also on the softball team. There is a tryout for that but as you didn't mention her being interested in that I won't go into it.

I hope someone else can respond to you about the other teams that your daughter is thinking of trying out for.

Most teams have practices everyday after school, sometimes starting at 4 until about 6-7. The student athletes do need to juggle homework and practices, but it has seemed to work out okay for us. One thing that comes up is some teams will have their games at the end of the day before school is out so the students miss their 5th and/or 6th period class. It's up to them to talk to the teacher and make up the missed work.

And, finally, if you and your daughter are open to being on a team with other ethnicities (and in a school for that matter), I don't know why she wouldn't be welcome. Sports are a life-saver for all kids. Happy Holidays. sports mom

With regard to racial mix, my daughter (who is Latina) has found the lacrosse girls to be mostly white but she has never commented on any feeling of being treated differently because of race or ethnic background.

Practice times vary with the sport. For lacrosse, there are either practices or games every day. For away games I have had the luxury of being able to attend most games and so I could drive my daughter home after her JV game without having her wait through the Varsity game to come home on the bus. If your daughter is good about doing homework at the game (if it is cold or wet, the girls stay in the bus to do their work), then even away game days are workable.

Good luck with your decision-making. Anon

Which team sports qualify for P.E. credit?

My son will be attending Berkeley High next year as a freshman. We are trying to figure out how to get P.E. credit for team sports (he doesn't want a sport in which he could get hurt or that requires many hours each week--apparently that eliminates crew and lacrosse). Can anyone help? We'd like to know which team sports offer P.E. credit and if they meet fall, spring, or year-round, how many hours of commitment are required per week, and whether anyone can join the team or if tryouts are required. I tried calling the Athletics Department and emailing them as well, but I was told only that there is no centralized information repository for the 27 team sports available at Berkeley High. Does one really have to figure out who the coaches are for the teams and call each one? I don't see how any student who is taking two languages and the assigned classes can fit in P.E. within a 6-period day. Any advice is most appreciated. Maureen

BHS has one of the, if not the, largest number of athletic teams in the country, so I imagine you'll find something that appeals. I think all of them have tryouts and if there isn't a freshman team there may even be some strong competition for spots. Then there are the games or meets: sometimes on weekends and sometimes more than once each week on a weekday. So it's not a quick, low output, easy substitution for PE. I do think it's a good way for a kid to make friends and get involved, however. I'd start with figuring out where your child has skill or interest. My son ran X-Country in Fall just to get in shape for soccer which was in Winter. He got credit for 2 team sports in the same year. I believe kids need 4 semesters of PE to graduate.

By the way-- school is an 8 period day, at least for now. -Winifred

HOWEVER, in retrospect, now that he is a senior, I have to admit that I am a total convert to the idea of team sports, and I am so grateful for the advice I got from others encouraging me to let him play no matter what. I'd say that his participation in sports has been the single most valuable aspect of his entire 4 years at Berkeley High. Here's why:
1. He's learned that hard work really does pay off. He is not a natural athlete, so he's had to work really hard to be good enough to get game time. His skills have improved so markedly through sheer determination and effort that he has gone from being a bench warmer most games to playing most games and really contributing.
2. Self esteem obviously derives from the above.
3. He learned how to lose.
4. Cameraderie among the team members (including JV, and the girls' team) has meant that he's always felt very comfortable at BHS, and part of a social circle. Not only that, but former players who've already graduated and are in college now are GREAT motivators for not-very-academic high schoolers.
5. Drugs and alcohol have not been a big problem because he can't abuse them and also play such a demanding sport.
6. He isn't a pudgy clumsy adolescent anymore. he's in great shape and interested in taking care of his body - in fact he is the first family member on my side in 3 generations to have visible muscles!

I think every kid can benefit from playing a sport and I highly recommend it.

Basketball

Last year, my son tried out for the 9th grade basketball team at BHS. It was very competitive, and he didn't make it, but we commended him for putting out his best effort. The students are required to get a doctor's clearance before trying out, and the tryouts last 4-5 days. Students who don't make the team can take basketball as a P.E. course, both during the school year and during summer school at BHS. If offered this summer, incoming 9th graders can enroll in summer school. My son has enjoyed these classes. Also, I understand that one of the basketball teachers at BHS offers a summer camp, and the YMCA downtown offers basketball during after school hours. -- Anonymous