XC has hit a new low among high schoolers

At my high school the football team is mocked and doing track is cool.

When I was in high school, the cool rich kids were in the computer club and did no sports.

curiousminds wrote:

How is lax expensive? Surely that little stick thing doesn't cost too much. And all you need is a soccer field too play, right?

Well you gotta buy the new carbon fiber shaft, and the "head," and the net, and the gloves, and the pads, and the helmet, and the shoes, and ...

asdfsadfs wrote:

curiousminds wrote:

How is lax expensive? Surely that little stick thing doesn't cost too much. And all you need is a soccer field too play, right?

Well you gotta buy the new carbon fiber shaft, and the "head," and the net, and the gloves, and the pads, and the helmet, and the shoes, and ...

And he didn't even mention the cost of strippers and defense attorneys.

This thread is freaking terrible. Why is it linked on the homepage???

My god that must be heaven, the 4:20 milers must be treated like gods instead of, "Those kids who run too much and are super skinny."

I played lacrosse as a freshman and sophomore in high school, before I "saw the light." Regarding how expensive it is, you are looking at about: $50-100 for a helmet, $40-100 dollars for gloves, about $30 for elbow pads, about $30 for shoulder pads, $50-100 dollars for cleats, $30-70 for a shaft x 2 because the first could break and roughly twice as much for a long stick if you play defense, about $50 for a head, also x 2 because it could break, as well as another $10 for the mesh for each stick. Thats the minimum. If you want to be good, you need to practice, which means buying a goal, which is another $100 for a crappy one.

So that is a minimum of almost $400 dollars to play boys lacrosse. Much of that equipment will also wear out or get grown out of. Looking back on it, I'm pretty sure my parents wouldn't have let me sign up if I didn't have older cousins who played and could give me hand-me-down equipment.

Then again, my high school also had a club crew team that required a $1000 fee to join, so lax was not the most expensive sport.

False. Yachting is more expensive than Polo. More expensive still is Skyscraper Demolition Races, to say nothing of Deep Space Saffron Snorting.

what about space ship racing. i doubt you know anyone who has broken 12 for the kessel run.

Just saw a news report in the paper today, noting that across the 50 states, high school sports participation is at the highest level in the 22 years that data have been collected. The 3 fastest growing sports were track, soccer and CROSS FREAKING COUNTRY, THE GREATEST SPORT IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE.

that's because your football team probably sucks

The headline for this thread is unacceptedly misleading. Because this one person's color guard interest supercedes her interest in xc, that means the sport is in the hurtlocker? Come on, can't we deal with our sport in an honest, above board manner? I know you want to spark interest in the board topics, but let's be real. It's insulting to follow some of these headlines only to see the truth is essentially insulting.

try high school downhill ski racing. that is so expensive. usually the good ski racers have parents who can spend 800bucks to get new shaped skis every year. Plus you need ski boots, poles, etc. Plus the good ski racers have parents who own a 2nd home close to a ski resort so they can go up and ski every weekend.

What makes hockey particularly expensive isn't the equipment, which can be bought at a Play It Again Sports if you're cutting costs, it's paying for ice time, which goes for a stupid amount even if you're scheduling the 4:30-6:30am or 10-midnight 'off peak' times in the arena.

What about high school bass fishing? (Yes it is a varsity "sport/activity" in IL) Don't you need your own boat? LOL

Don't schools with LAX provide helmets and pads like they do for football?

Han wrote:

False. Yachting is more expensive than Polo. More expensive still is Skyscraper Demolition Races, to say nothing of Deep Space Saffron Snorting.

what about space ship racing. i doubt you know anyone who has broken 12 for the kessel run.

Noob, everyone knows Chuck Norris did the Kessel Run in 10 parsecs.

I find that the sport of XC is booming. More than ever before participation is high, competition is strong, kids and programs are aspiring to do good things. The kids in XC are great kids, that work hard, are sportman-like, and are motivated do their best. Bash it if you'd like - I don't see it. The kids I've been lucky enough to work with are some of the best kids in the world.

Coach Adam Kedge, Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM

At least three of the "fat turds" I was in color guard with went on to be cheerleaders for pro basketball teams. Oh, and at least two of us have taken up long distance running as adults. AND- it was very difficult to make the color guard team in high school.

Clearly cross country and color guard are legitimate activities (but still looked down upon), and I really don't see why one should pick on the other. I've seen lousy color guards, but I've also seen lousy runners. I've seen plenty of fat people doing both activities, as well.

former fat turd wrote:

At least three of the "fat turds" I was in color guard with went on to be cheerleaders for pro basketball teams. Oh, and at least two of us have taken up long distance running as adults. AND- it was very difficult to make the color guard team in high school.

Clearly cross country and color guard are legitimate activities (but still looked down upon), and I really don't see why one should pick on the other. I've seen lousy color guards, but I've also seen lousy runners. I've seen plenty of fat people doing both activities, as well.

I'm not here to make any friends, so I'll just go ahead and say it. COLOR GUARD IS NOT A REAL SPORT! All you do is dance around with some flags, and it doesn't take any athletic ability. Even if you did take up running afterwards, I bet you can't even break 19 minutes for the 5k!