RE: Had to make a decision today
 

That explains it all right there!

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

Good stuff, Fran....BUT....you know the drill.......

THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PICTURES!!:D

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

You guys are starting to make me think I made the wrong choice. I already made my decision and its gonna be huntin for this year. I agree with what you guys are sayin. I will go out for football my last 2 years of high school. :DI have finals today [:'(]

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

diehardhunter,

I wouldn't listen much to what people here say about what is a personal decision. They all likely faced different circumstances than you.

If you are a gifted athlete and could play college ball like some of these guys, then that should affect your decision. But not many guys can play sports at the college level and I think the responses came from a lot of guys who did. Similarly, if you have a prime piece of hunting land you can hunt with your family that should make a difference. If all your good friends hunt or do sports that should make a difference. There are tons of reasons behind any decision.

What some of these guys are basically saying is that if you are a gifted athlete you might not want to pass up some of the opportunities only offered in high school or college.

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

Don't give up sports man. Some of the best memories in my life. I can't remember very many play, blaskets, or hits I made in football, basketball, or baseball. I forgot wrestling. I only did that until 7th grade as I wasn't allowed to do both wrestling and basketball. They were at the same time of year. Ask anybody that has played any team sport what they like most rememberabout their playing years and they will say "the time spentwith the team on and off the field." Your teammates will eventually become like your second family.

I didn't play much at all until my sophmore year in the any sport, but I learned alot which helped me get on the field/court. Once you start to grow and learn you will get your chance to prove yourself. I got knocked silly all the time. I never did get that big until after highschool. 6' and 170 pounds my senior year, but I started. I wasn't the best by far, but I won the Most Inspirational Male Athlete of the Year my senior year. I made up for my size with hard work and a motor that never quit. I out worked andout studied my teammates for my spot. I knew I wasn't going to be able to beat out the guys for running back so I concentrated on pass catching and blocking. If you don't have the greatest of skills like me, you have to use technique to over come this. I practiced catching with a frizbee to improve my hand-eye cordination and really worked onmy footwork to improve my blocking. My brother was the same way. But he had me to help teach him. He ended up being all-state all-star in football and the best defensive end our highschool has ever seen. I toughened him up like I had to do to myself. It has paid off in hunting and other less important aspects of life (job). I never give up on anything I do because of my experience in sports. Work hard and it will pay off.

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

Diehard,

This is a topic that I can relate closely too as well. I was once in your position. I absolutely lovedbeing inthe mountains and hunting more than any other activity. Followed so closely by my passion to play football and baseball. I played basketball as well in H.S.

My father sat me down and like many of the guys here above andreminded me in my JR High years..that I only had my H.S. and the college years to play sports. He let me make my own decision about playing ball..but told me if I was going to start a sport, I would finish it. Finally he talked tome alot about making sacrifices in life if I wanted to excell in others.

I made some sacrifices in regards to hunting as a teen. I am glad that I did. I always knew in the back of my head that I would hunt like a madman later in life after my teens and early twenties...I went on to be an all state football andbaseball player, then went to college SOLEY because of football.Unexpectedly mydad died while I was in H.S. I would have never pursued the degree that I have now or realized my passion for being a teacher if it wouldnt have been for the motivation football provided. Football kept me in school period!.... baseball and basketball also taught me valuable life long lessons. Football helped mesignificantly to pay my way through college when I had no $$ from home. I still hunted my butt off every chance I got and purposely went to a smallcollege in MT> that had great fishing and hunting. :D. So I got the best of both worlds I guess.

Like everyone has said, keep a balance, do what is right for your situation as all of us have different variables in our equations of life!

Your young, I hope you make the decision that leaves you with no regrets. Best of luck.


Troy

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

Well I passed all my finals and am done with school for the summer! Now I can concentrate on bowhunting

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

If you don't participate in athletics that's fine if you do so for the right reasons.In most instances I would encourage young people to get every ounce of joy out of their high school years as it relates to athletic endeavors.You can't get it back and the lessons learned from the discipline of pushing yourself through things physically will apply to all other challenges you face in your life.I was not a natural athlete but I absolutely loved being on the field or the court.My outlook on conditioning and nutrition that I deemed as necessary to enable me to compete with those more naturally gifted has shaped so much of my discipline that has applied to business and hunting success.
There is no right answer you have to do what is right for you,what ever you do give it your all so those efforts will translate to success in other important area's of your life!Good luck!

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

I made the same decision you did, though I skipped sports all together throughout high school, never going out for any team.

My friends never could understand my decision, but during the four years of high school when they were playing sports, I made more memories in the woods with my father than I ever could have imagined.

I know that in my mind, I made the right decision, though it differs from what a lot of the folks here are saying.

You can learn discipline, patience, and perseverence in the woods just as well as you can on the field. It all depends on how you handle the challenges you're faced with.

Good luck.

RE: Had to make a decision today
 

I played baseball. A sport that would not conflict with bowhunting!