DIY Life

This week my oldest son, Loren, started soccer practice at his new high school. He must be at the practice field every morning at 6 a.m. and then again at 6 p.m. until school begins on September 4. As I sit in the car and watch the seemingly endless drills and scrimmages I marvel at the fact that these boys are willing to go through this efforts all in the name of teamwork. Sure they get gym credit for their efforts, but it seems like a lot of sweat and sore muscles. One morning when it seemed as thought the drills would never end, I wondered what kids do who might not play an organized high school sport. A child might be highly involved in a sport not offered by the high school, but it seems only fair that credit should be received for that activity.

I am not the only person to wonder about this idea because many schools across the country are offering P.E. credit to students who are dedicated to activities that are outside the realm of traditional school sports. Following are a few guidelines to consider when trying to get credit for an activity that falls outside the box of traditional sports:

• Begin by discussing the subject with your child's high school. Find out is the school is willing to work with your family and exactly what your child needs to do to fulfill the needed gym requirements.
• Choose a sport that will provide the needed hours of activity. One class of dance or horseback riding per week will not cut the requirements, but three or four hours per week is likely more realistic.
• Talk to your child's trainer or coach to be sure that he/she is comfortable with the situation. Provide the necessary paperwork to the trainer so that the hours can be tracked.
• Be sure to turn in your child's paperwork in a timely manner so that the school can record the activity and fulfill the P.E. credits.

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for many kids who lead active lives outside of the school hours and who might need those activities to fulfill gym requirements.