re: Son might not make a team.

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Michael Jordan as a sophomore in high school didn't make the varsity team and was sent to play on the jv team.

His friend, a sophomore, made the varsity team because he was taller than Michael.

Jordan went home and cried but he recovered and became the jv instant star.

The birth of a legend who fueled disappointment with legendary success.

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moral of the story, if your son works hard, he can be michael jordan!

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My son got cut from track and field his freshman year. He still showed up to practice and worked out with the team and the seniors even questioned why he keeps showing up. Season got cut short due to Covid and he ran everyday while the country was shutdown. He quickly learned to outwork everyone else on the team. Made the team every year since then, helped contribute to a state championship team, but most important learned work ethic.

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This is it right here. Unless your son is at some super power, work ethic and determination will get you on a team.
Our basketball team had a guy who made HS/JV his sophomore year but didn't make the team before junior year. He came back his senior year after playing summer ball etc, made the team, ended up starting mid way through the year and made all tournament team in state playoffs. Was amazing to watch the change.

Had another guy who didn't make it after sophomore year, transferred to a smaller school nearby to be able to play. We played them in a scrimmage this summer and he hung 20 on us. They said not making the team lit a fire and he worked his butt off and got a lot better.

If he doesn't make the team its a prime parenting opportunity to talk about work ethic and going after something you want. From the sounds of your initial post I think you already have a good handle on it.

Maybe be straight with him. Not every kids is a good enough athlete to make a team. But every kid excels at something. Maybe it’s academics or band or another sport like cross country. Maybe he has a strong interest you can help develop like cooking or gardening or building models or chess. The point is there is something for everyone and we can help guide our kids to their match.

Take him to hitting and fielding classes if baseball. Also if his mom is hot make sure she shows up to the next tryouts. No kidding, if he is borderline of making a team that will get him on.

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Life will be full of disappointments

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know that I care and will continue to support him

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This is what too many young people don't understand or have. It sounds like you're already doing far more than most parents. Kids need to know that you don't get everything you want. You won't get every job opportunity or be able to date every guy or girl that catches your attention. But life goes on and there's a ton of great experiences waiting for them.

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This is more true than it should be.

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make sure she has the tig ole bitties poppin

I’ve had this happen with my boys
I used it to encourage them. They are learning what it actually takes to succeed and will be better for it later.

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Best thing ever happened to my daughter was when she didn't make the high school dance team as a freshman. She thought she was a shoo in and didn't practice the routine very much. She learned a hard lesson when a couple of her friends made it on account of their hard work even though they didn't have the natural ability. She busted her tail her sophomore year and accomplished her goal

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Michelle Jordan

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Making a sports team is huge. Sports teach discipline, comradery, team skills...... it is huge in a young ones development in my opinion. The lesson he learns about not making the team (if that happens) also will be huge.

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There’s a point of diminishing returns on all of those though.

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What? Wait - never made a team, huh.
Share the "diminishing returns" on learning discipline, comradery, and team skills early in life, please.

All you can do is tell him to go and work harder and spend the year getting better so that when next year rolls around they have no excuse.

You can use the old “Michael Jordan didn’t make his… Yada Yada “