If a child doesn't make the school team....

[KTeepee]

is it realistic to tell them they can try again next year?

Dd and one other girl were not chosen for either the netball team or the reserves. She is not particularly upset now (I think she was when it was announced) but one of the coaches had a long chat with her and one of the things she said was she can try again next year.

I've been thinking about this - given that the team and reserves will have after school training and matches, surely they will be far better than the others in a years time (who will only get to play the odd time during games). I don't want dd to build up her hopes if it's totally unlikely she will be good enough next year either.

Anyone got any views on this? Btw I know absolutely nothing about netball myself, not having grown up in a country where it is played...

How old is she?
Ds was yr7 last year and tried and failed to get into either rugby or football at his grammar school
this year he has sailed into the school and the local area team.
So do not write it off yet

She's in Yr 5 and they have just started learning how to play, so personally I think it's too soon to have a team from their year but that's how it is....

I know it will be different at secondary school because they all train for a couple of years before they pick the team. Just seems a shame only a couple of them have been left out (not saying she would actually be any good at netball though!)

perhaps a child may leave the school

She may grow taller than the others and so be useful

Message withdrawn

Thanks for that snorkle - I'll keep encouraging her then - was just a little wary of getting her hopes up in case it would mean even more disappointment next year.

All her classmates were in the school playground doing their training as we went through on our way home . Really wish they had let everyone do the training now, even if they won't be on the team playing any matches. She has been very subdued since I collected her....

Message withdrawn

Could you ask whether the non-team but enthusiastic people could join the practice as well?

Dd1 has just started secondary and is really not team material, but has cheerfully announced that anyone is allowed to go to netball practice even if they're not very good, so she's going to carry on joining in even though her chances of being picked for matches are not that high tbh.

Bearing in mind the responsibility schools have for encouraging healthy lifestyles, it seems a bit irresponsible to discourage people who're keen but not necessarily talented.

Crossed posts, snorkle!

Yes it seems a shame they are not all allowed in the practice sessions. Apparently they will not be doing netball in normal games sessions for now too - so how the ones who don't get picked for the team are ever supposed to get good enough to try again next year is beyond me... And as I've never played I can't help her to practise after school myself. I wouldn't mind if half the class were in the same boat but it's only 2 who have been left out.

Ah, the joys of parenthood. Needless to say the teachers who chose the team have no children themselves, kept them all on tenderhooks for a week and then this...