Were you picked first or last for the sports team?

[Aloysius]

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i think the defeatist/everyone gets a trophy attitude bothers me b/c so much of what separates kids athletically until college is pure effort and fitness.

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This is not true in my experience - I played basketball and baseball in high school and there were some kids that went onto play D-1 who I couldn't touch. In fact the talent gap was more noticeable / difficult to overcome because it's not like most high schools have great training regimens that could really help someone offset a talent deficit.

That being said I agree with your main point: picking is fine, there's no perfect way to do it. Also I think playing sports is a great way to socialize a kid, and you learn some tough lessons along the way.

FWIW - it's a much worse feeling, imo, to [censored] up on the field and let your team down, then getting picked last.

-Al