JTawa wrote:

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It is an unfortunate byproduct of the current system. BUT, most volleyball players are very accomplished academically and have learned discipline and time management through the sport.

On balance, it's a positive thing, but it means your kid won't win any perfect attendance awards.

Hmm. I'm not sure I agree. There is certainly time management skills in balancing practices and weekend tournaments and academic schedules. That can be a positive thing. But tournaments that require kids to miss 2-3 days of school I don't think is a positive thing. Seems to me we are sending the wrong message to our kids: that a volleyball competition is more important than those two days in the classroom.

I agree with you that it is a byproduct of the current system. Too many of us parents have come to accept that system and accept that missing school days is part of being a youth volleyball player. And let's be clear that the current system we are talking about is the USAV qualifier system. Are there other national youth sports organizations that arrange a series of competitions that require young students to miss so much school?

I'm not up to speed enough on the JVDA schedule to now whether those kids are missing less school. I live in a region that doesn't participate in the JVDA. I know that my family has said enough is enough and will be looking for clubs and teams in the future that don't schedule tournaments that conflict with time in the classroom or at least limit it significantly.

That will certainly limit our options, but it seems time to say enough is enough.

Well perhaps I'm old school, but I was raised that school has priority over all other activities and that the only excuse for missing school is an illness. I try to teach my kids the same thing.

The academic calendar in our district gives week or more breaks in November, December, February, and April, plus the summer break. That seems to be appropriate and adequate time for vacations, trips, and multi-day volleyball tournaments.

Pointing to volleyball players who do well in the classroom as evidence that there's nothing wrong with the current system seems besides the point to me. It's the message of what we value that I think is important.