Anyone have a kid, or know a kid, that plays in both? Adam really wants to play football next fall, but he will also be in marching band. I'm waiting on the FB coach to send me the practice schedule to see if it will work. Band director says boys play in both all the time, but I'm concerned that it would be too much and don't personally know anyone whose kid does both to ask how they manage it and their schoolwork, if their grades suffered, etc. The band practice schedules are intense over the summer, and then 3 hours/2 nights a week through the fall. The Freshman FB team does not play on Friday nights when the band would be playing for the JV and Varsity games, so I know that would work out, for his first year anyway. The school's got a notorious football reputation across the state, and he really, really, really wants to be a part of that.

Anyone have any first- or second-hand experience with this?

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Sheri~ Wife to Steve, Mom to Adam (14), Brandon (12), and Tommy (7)

We had this discussion too. My ds will be a freshman next year, and has played football in middle school and is also in MS band. He made the decision that he's still going to play in concert band, but not marching band. He'll then play football. Actually, I think he'll warm the bench in football. He wasn't that great in MS and we have 3 MS so when all those kids get combined in HS (4000 kids) the competition will be way to much for him. It's a no cut sport, so he can still "say" he's a football player, but realistically he won't play. So I've told him if he doesn't like football after freshman yr, he can do marching band the next yr.

I know we do have a few kids that do both, but I would think it would be really hard. I know both our football team and marching band practice really long hours starting in summer, so I would think it would be difficult to coordinate without missing a lot of both.

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I would think that would be hard. I was in Marching Band, although didn't play football too, and that was hard enough....memorizing music and where you are supposed to march. And my ds plays football and I see how hard that is on him....I couldn't imagine doing both.

And then if he did do both for his freshman year...and loves them both....he will eventually have to make a hard decision and only do one...

That is tough. I hope you and your ds make the best decision for you (both of you).

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I've grown certain that the root of all fear is that we've been forced to deny who we are. ~ Frances Moore Lappe

My son is in the marching band...although he does not play football...band schedules are grueling, not to mention (as in our HS) mandatory. We not only play at football games...there are also competitions and trips that we go on, where it is required that everyone attend.

My advice is to talk to other parents that attend your school that are in both and find out how they have managed...Freshman year is tough enough!!

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"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake!" - ANONYMOUS