Middle School years are very important years in kid’s lives. During the Middle School the kids change from kids to young adults.
Middle School grades are grade 6, 7 and 8. As the kids are going through rapid development not only physically, but also mentally. They enter puberty. It is very important to keep them engaged and busy. I really recommend kids to participate in the Middle School Sports not only for physical exercise but also for the Social and Team aspects. It is better for kids to be busy and be associated to a team. In that way they can stay busy and stay out of trouble.
Middle School is the place where kids can play for fun and be kids before it becomes all competitive. If kids do Middle School sports together with other activities like choir, band, and some outside activities, they stay super busy. That will teach them the critical skill of time management. If they are not busy, they will figure out a way to spend time on social media, video games etc.
In grade 6th there is only PE (Physical Education). Middle School sports starts at grade 7th. It is required to do at least two years of Athletics/PE. Most of the Middle Schools offer limited choice of Sports e.g. Football (Boys), Basketball (Boys & Girls), Volleyball (Girls), Track (Boys & Girls), Tennis (Boys & Girls), Cross Country (Boys & Girls) and Soccer (Boys and Girls).
Sports like Track and Cross Country, there are not cuts. No special preparation required. All the kids can participate. If the kids are playing various other sports, they automatically are also preparing for Track and Cross Country. However, all other team sports, there is some kind of cut. If the kid has never played the sports before then, it becomes difficult to make to the team.
However, all other team sports, there is some kind of cut. Specially in boy’s teams. It is not very difficult to make the team as there are usually two or three teams (A, B, C). However, If the kid has never played the sports before then, it becomes difficult to make to the team. Therefore it is good to put kids at least few seasons at least in recreational teams before they start the Middle School.
That becomes interesting if your kid is doing Sports competitively which is not a Middle School Sport (e.g. Swimming, Softball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Gymnastics etc.) My recommendation in that case is to put the kid in some Middle School Sport recreationally for few seasons prior to 7th Grade so that they would make the team. It doesn’t matter which team (A, B, C) they make to they will get all the benefits of being in the team.
Middle School is the place where the kids can be kids and have fun before all the competitiveness and craziness of the High School starts. Let them have fun and the Middle School sports are a big part of that fun and friendship.
