I played basketball in 7th and 8th grade. I was about average at it. Out of 15 girls I was ranked 7th on the team. I did enjoy it, but it took up a lot of time.

How about you? Were you very good? What did you like or dis-like?

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 04, 2002

Answers

I played softball a lot in Jr. Sr. high school. I was average. I wasn't a pitcher or a power hitter-I usually played catcher because I could remember the signals and didn't flinch at the ball coming at me! I played on the girls team and we played a lot of pick-up games in the summertime. It wrecked my knees though-I tore a ligament and dislocated my knee and that was pretty much the end of my "sports" carreer. I liked playing raquetball in college-I just played pick-up games or with friends at the gym, I never made it into any of the tournaments.

I really don't play sports now, but My husband and I love boats and the water and love canoeing and sailing-much easier on the knees!

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 04, 2002.

I was on both swimming and tennis teams. I enjoyed it then, but am not happy with what I see in youth sports now: parents paying $60 an hour for softball pitching lessons (plus the expense of playing on teams these days--Band for example at one of the schools in the area we used to live cost $250 per year, those costs used to be picked up as part of the school budget) in the hopes their kid gets a college scholarship (I don't see the reasoning in that, and I bet if you costed it out, your time as well as their time, wear and tear on the car etc. you would find that you are actually better off just saving the money for college).

I don't think kids can really enjoy sports any more, there is too much competition, and too much "sports is more important than anything--more important than your family, than your religion, than your studies". That is flat out wrong.

I was visiting in northern CA last year, and someone even sued a school there because their kid got cut from the varsity football team (family had changed it's schedule, now the kid wouldn't get into a "prestigious" school, yackety yak ad nauseum). I am not kidding. Silliest thing I ever heard of.

I also think that school physical education classes should really be focused more on lifestyle exercises like walking that people can do all their lives. I love to walk and hike, and even if all the kids did was walk around the track and talk with their friends for the 40 minutes, it would be much better than being forced to participate in some sport you don't like, or always be the last person chosen (and that happens to everyone at some point in time). Walking is an inexpensive and easy exercise that most can participate in to some extent, and that is something to be encouraged, not some sport that you play for maybe 5-10 years and then can't anymore.

Sorry to be on a soapbox, I'm off it now *grin*.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 04, 2002.

Sports??? If it didn't involve riding a horse, I was not interested!!!

I did dressage, cross country ( the on horseback kind), combined training events, and endurance riding as a teenager.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 04, 2002.

I played sports in grade school, high school and college. In fact, it was basketball that provided me the opportunity to obtain a college education. I was a decent player. While far from a natural athlete, I was big, strong and willing to work hard beyond just regular practices, etc. Those attributes pretty much got me through.

As far as what I liked, I can sum it up in two words...the game. I loved it then and still do. What I didn't like is a lot more complicated and has nothing to do with the game itself.

I was in college on a basketball scholarship. [One comment on athletic scholarships here; taking that 'free ride' is a lot like marrying for money. In each case, you more than earn it. ;o) ]

In my case, I can pin the start of my disillusionment down to one specific exchange with my coach early in my first season there. Coming up on finals week we had a break in our game schedule. Coach announced that if any of us wanted to take some time off from the daily practices, film sessions and meetings to prepare for any finals in classes where we were having trouble, we should see him individually to make those arrangements.

Grateful for the opportunity, I went to his office to make arrangements for additional study time. He asked about my grades. I told him that while I was pulling A's and B's in everthing else, one class was giving me trouble and I was struggling with a C. His response was that I'd still be eligible so there was nothing to worry about and no need to miss practice.

I guess it was the priorities I didn't like.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 04, 2002.

Being tall is no bonus if you're uncoordinated! Everyone always thought I played basketball, but I'm just not that good. I did play softball with our church in high school, and I wasn't too bad at that, but I'm not too athletically inclined.

I like to dance, and have taken several aerobics classes, preferring dance aerobics to step, and I took Tae Kwon Do in college, I enjoyed that too, it's very involved in stretching and breathing properly, along with emphsis on proper posture, which I need!

I'm hoping to start a new exercise program soon, I haven't been on a regular one in about 6 years, since I got pregnant with Mitchell!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), January 05, 2002.

Sports? I HATED SPORTS!! P.E. is the only class in high school that I almost failed!! I am more into music. Then I have always loved sewing and crafts even as a youngster.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 05, 2002.

I was in the first team for hockey, in the winter and the rounders team in the summer. I love swimming, hate athletics. I met my husband at the rowing club. I wasn't very good but he is an elite oarsman. He once rowed with Steve Redgrave, when he came to name a boat at our club.

Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.

I was in high school when Title IX was passed so I played a couple of years of soccer and softball. Previous to that the only thing available to females was cheerleading:(. I also played soccer in college and have coached youth soccer for about 15 years give or take. I have children involved in basketball and a son that runs track and cross country. I had a wonderful experience being a team player, especially in soccer, and that is what I tried to pass on to my teams as a coach. I admire my son for his ability to challenge himself with the track and cross-country. I wish I had the perserverance that he does, to be able to go out and run for miles on end. Polly

-- (jserg45@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.

Pre-Olympic swim team member here, 1959-1962..we lived in Southern California and I spent two hours in the morning before school practicing and three hours after school as well as all day Saturday..I loved it..many,many nice medals for the Butterfly..unfortunately, we moved to Boston in the inner city..ain't no pools for poor kiddos, so I never competed again..Being very tall, I tried out for the girls' basketball team in high school..that was when I found out I have zero coordination out of the water..I was worse than bad..LOL....So I sublimated by becoming addicted to watching college and pro football as well as hockey..Boston in the 60's was THE town to live in for Hockey (GO BRUINS).....

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 05, 2002.