Comments on: Picking Sides

By: skellie

skellie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:39:45 +0000

It is unlikely you’ll be able to abolish this practice in neighborhood play. I saw some merit in the practice when the neighborhood kids of diverse ages to attempt to create parity by adding each team’s members’ ages and get them as close to equal as possible (an eight-year-old and four-year-old on one team were equal to one twelve-year-old on the other).

By: JennG

JennG — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:08:25 +0000

I think “cruel,humiliating, and sadisitic” may be a little harsh. I am the mother of 3 boys ages 6, 9, and 12. My boys are not the most athletic or the most popular by far,so chances are, they would probably go close to last, if not last in a “picking sides” situation (and have.) Although it hurts my heart as their mother, I think it is a part of growing up. Whether they are 5 or 45, there will always be situations in life where they may or may not get “picked” for something. I try to look at it as life lessons learned.

By: Insensitive Guy

Insensitive Guy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:33:26 +0000

In defense of barbarism: When there are no grown-ups around, it is the best way to get even teams. We did a lot of choosing up for neighborhood games of capture-the-flag and kick-the-can when I was a kid. The way we made it “fair” is to make the kids most likely to be chosen last the captains who start the picking.

By: Skye

Skye — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:03:51 +0000

You are completely correct. Barbaric.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:20:17 +0000

Absolutely agree! I had NO IDEA they still did this (my twins enter kindergarten in the fall) and it gives me a pit in my stomach to read this! Crusade away!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:58:16 +0000

Agree agree agree. It is well past time for this tradition to be mothballed. I’ll sign the petition — go for it!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:45:24 +0000

I agree completely with you. Is there no recognition of how the last man standing FEELS?
The practice is elitist at best and sadistic at worst. Our boys have been spared this sort of selection process in their sporting life, thankfully. And while I didn’t grow up playing sports, I saw this same syndrome in college during sorority rush. The girls who didn’t get pledged by any sorority felt their college years were tarnished, if not ruined, by not being selected. I ended up quitting my sorority partly in disgust over the whole thing. Like you, I’d love to see “picking sides” stamped out completely.

By: Mom

Mom — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:25:00 +0000

You are 1000%right – except there are no good reasons for kids picking teams. Good players get rewarded in playing better than anyone else and knowing it. Mount the crusade…I’m right beside you!!!!