What high school sport would you recommend to students interested in getting physically and mentally prepared for military service?

Nicholas Efstathiou — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:23:59 -0400

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 8:26 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:26:46 -0400

My senior year of HS, I would run every morning before school...at least five miles. Weight training is also important...but cardio towards increasing endurance is essential. I knew my training would be at low altitude, so I also benefited from training at higher altitude.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made May 27 at 2016 8:29 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:29:37 -0400

Track and field (running in particular) would be great for endurance. I would also recommend a contact sport like rugby (though most high schools don't have rugby).

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made May 27 at 2016 8:31 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:31:49 -0400

Any individual sport (ex. Track, CC or wrestling)

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made May 27 at 2016 8:42 AM

SFC Roberto Garza Jr. — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:42:43 -0400

Track or cross country but not for speed but to build there endurance to better prepare them physically. Mentally, running as with many other physically demanding sports or activities are great for the mind. Preparing mentally for me was not so much about any sport but instead having the confidence that I could do it because I was prepared.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 8:43 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:43:54 -0400

Ice hockey without a doubt. It has mental toughness, agility, endurance and sprint training. And it is fun as hell.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 27 at 2016 9:00 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:00:32 -0400

I'd say Track and Field as well as Cross Country. I know many people who can't even run a mile. So this will help get them used to long distances and the sprinting events will help develop speed. Then there's the throwing events which will help upper body strength.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 27 at 2016 9:13 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:13:53 -0400

I'd agree with several posters here in saying Track and Cross Country. As my Drill Sergeant once said, "...this Army's a runnin' army!".

Response by 1stLt Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 9:20 AM

1stLt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:20:11 -0400

Rugby, Ju-jitsu, Rowing, Track, Cross-country, Lacrosse, wrestling for combat arms.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 9:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 09:49:35 -0400

Track and Field

Response by AN Letiece White made May 27 at 2016 10:17 AM

AN Letiece White — Fri, 27 May 2016 10:17:41 -0400

Football teaches you running, how to work as a team, how to focus during chaos and how to psi orders from someone above you.

Response by SFC Robert Bower made May 27 at 2016 10:34 AM

SFC Robert Bower — Fri, 27 May 2016 10:34:02 -0400

Football! The only real sport! Everything else is weeeeek!

Response by SFC Robert Bower made May 27 at 2016 10:35 AM

SFC Robert Bower — Fri, 27 May 2016 10:35:36 -0400

Track and field isn't a sport lol

Response by SFC Robert Bower made May 27 at 2016 10:38 AM

SFC Robert Bower — Fri, 27 May 2016 10:38:14 -0400

Football covers all areas, cardiovascular and muscular endurance! If you don't agree, you haven't REALLY played football!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 27 at 2016 10:47 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 27 May 2016 10:47:12 -0400

Tennis, Great for Endurance, Tae Kwon Do for the Mobility and Chess/Sudoku for the Mind if you want to be a Cryptologic Technician like me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 11:01 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:01:48 -0400

Honestly, soccer would be my recommendation. A lot of running, which is VERY important.

Either that, or hockey, which takes a lot of conditioning, strength, coordination, vigor, vitality, balance, endurance, and cooperation. But, I'm biased, since I love hockey.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 11:28 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:28:18 -0400

Track or crossed country for individual cardiovascular fitness. Football or basketball for team building. Don't limit to just one type of sport or extra curricular activity. Even skills learned in the chess club can help in military life.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 27 at 2016 11:41 AM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:41:22 -0400

Wrestling. It takes heart, endurance, technique, and strength to master it.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 27 at 2016 11:59 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 27 May 2016 11:59:20 -0400

I'd say football. Endurance, team work, mental toughness, keeping focus on an objective, taking orders and dealing with pain.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 12:46 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 12:46:53 -0400

wrestling

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 1:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:33:37 -0400

college

Response by SN Greg Wright made May 27 at 2016 2:20 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:20:32 -0400

Wrestling is the most physically demanding, football teaches the best team dynamics.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2016 2:54 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 May 2016 14:54:43 -0400

The sport does not matter as much as being physically fit. Having the right mental attitude about finishing anything that you start is the most important element.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 27 at 2016 3:22 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 27 May 2016 15:22:25 -0400

Football, Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse, Rugby. All sports will help to get them mentally ready and help to instill the most important aspect of being a service member-TEAMWORK!

Response by Maj John Bell made May 27 at 2016 5:21 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 27 May 2016 17:21:43 -0400

I have to be careful here. This is the equivalent of the "Closed Course, Professional Driver, Do not Attempt" warning.

The one physical "skill" I felt many young Marines was to take a "bell-ringing" hit and keep going or deliver a "bell-ringing" hit and keep going. Not on the next play, but right now while you have the advantage. It is contrary to the way most of us are brought up. But how to safely teach and train that in a school sports program is beyond me. If I had to say which sports best prepare for entry level combat arms positions I'd say wrestling or basketball.

I didn't play High School Sports. But my Dad and a neighbors Dad both boxed while they were in service. All of the boys and one of the neighbors daughters boxed when we got together for BBQ's or goat roasts. Unfortunately the only one near my size and age was the daughter. She had an amazing left hook that was coming automatically 2 seconds later if you rang her bell. About the fourth time she put me down when I didn't pursue an advantage, I learned to stop being a nice guy.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2016 5:03 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 May 2016 05:03:14 -0400

wrestling and cross country running

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2016 3:16 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 May 2016 15:16:50 -0400

Baseball. The pre-season conditioning and the regular practice builds cardio, flexibility, hand-eye and foot-eye coordination and muscle-strength endurance. The sport itself is very cardio-intensive and build muscle and flexibility by swinging a bat, throwing a ball, sprinting, and the sudden stop-and-go of base-running. I played it in High School and it certainly helped prepare me for Infantry OSUT.

Response by SGT Robert Riley made May 31 at 2016 4:12 PM

SGT Robert Riley — Tue, 31 May 2016 16:12:11 -0400

Soccer, swimming and cross country running.

Response by SPC John Louiso made Jun 6 at 2016 12:48 AM

SPC John Louiso — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:48:47 -0400

HS Football is the closest to the military a HS athlete can get. 29 years of HS and College Football Coaching AND Airborne Forever!

Response by SSgt Charles Freeman made Jun 7 at 2016 9:35 PM

SSgt Charles Freeman — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 21:35:42 -0400

Track and Field because you do a lot of hurry up and wait stuff.

Response by LTC Tom Jones made Apr 18 at 2019 9:01 AM

LTC Tom Jones — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 09:01:52 -0400

Swimming and/or wrestling for full body workouts; however, basketball is more fun.

Response by SPC Ronald Hightower made Apr 19 at 2019 1:09 AM

SPC Ronald Hightower — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 01:09:32 -0400

Football