I expected... enthusiasm... support... how can we help at the Bay Junior Organizational meeting.... I got the worst reception that I could imagine... Later on... one of the women who has been making this happen for years and years explained the "facts of life" privately. She is very clear that in her opinion... Parents are driving this bus... and the bus's goal is a "unique college application" for a high profile institution.
Also to be fair... the schedule is really tight... The junior only events happen during the week... perhaps a third of the kids stay for a weekend regatta in opti's or lasers.... the burn out factor is quite high... I don't have any kids... but from what I read... this is par for the course in sport with travel teams using up all of a kids life. Why would sailing be different?
