Committed to a school in 10th grade? Please explain

[Anonymous]

I have a sophomore in HS who really excels in her sport and I am starting to hear stories of kids in other sports already getting "offers" from colleges.
I know this happens but it makes no sense to me. What about GPAs, SATs, you know, academic information. They are 10th graders!
I'm not talking about kids bound for the NBA-that's another universe entirely. I'm talking about regular hs kids who will need their college degree to make a living later on but who happen to be really good soccer, lacrosse, baseball etc players.
I am not interested in having my kid worry about college now. We will not pursue getting recruited yet, if at all, but I am so curious.

How does the process start? Do coaches start calling? What does the offer say? Is there scholarship money? Can the school rescind the offer if the kid has a bad season? What about school work?! Does the kid even have to do an application?

Please also share your child's recruitment story. Or a friend's.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

DC had 2 friends recruited for soccer in 10th grade. They had to meet the GPA and SAT minimums in 11th grade,which both of them far exceeded. Neither got injured and in fact ended up as top All Met players. Both love their schools. But it seems risky to me. What if the coach leaves? What if you change your mind about where you want to go (although of course you can decommitt ), as you point out what if you are injured?

[Anonymous]

I know easily 10 kids that had offers by sophomore year. Generally, its a verbal agreement with stipulations. You have to still get a certain # on your SATs, and maintain a certain GPA or whatever. And if the coach leaves, you don't have to go there - this actually did happen to a friend of mine. Child committed for a sport soph year, coach left, child ended up going to a different school for the same sport.

A lot of colleges don't really care at all about your grades if you are the athlete they are looking for. they will give it lip service, but in the end, they will find ways to get you there.

Every sport's recruiting is different - and the gender matters, too. For example, girls soccer often recruits earlier than boys soccer. girls baskeball may recruit later., etc.

If your child is heading in that direction, talk to her coaches. They will be able to advise you. Sounds like you aren't interested in that route, though, and that's fine. The recruiting process is not all that fun.

[Anonymous]

Yep, it all came through the coaches, especially at the out of state camps and travel leagues these high level kids participate in

[Anonymous]

Yes, mine was recruited by many DI schools in sophomore year for 2 sports. Ended up an Ivy rower.

[Anonymous]

My daughter's friend started getting recruited for volleyball in 8th grade. By 10th she began to closely investigate the 3 or 4 she was most interested in. They were all promising full rides or pretty close. She had narrowed it down to a couple by the end of that year, and they told her what test score range she'd need to achieve the following year (she already had great grades). She took the ACT and SAT in fall of junior year, did well, and made the commitment to her top choice. Nice set-up if you can get it!

[Anonymous]

This whole process is SUCH BULLSHIT. College is about academics. At my HS, we had lazy, cheating, C students get into amazing schools to play sports. Seems ridiculous. That's one of the reasons I chose a DIII school with no athletic scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole process is SUCH BULLSHIT. College is about academics. At my HS, we had lazy, cheating, C students get into amazing schools to play sports. Seems ridiculous. That's one of the reasons I chose a DIII school with no athletic scholarships.

Doesn't mean they don't recruit and in some cases admit somewhat less qualified students. Plenty of recruiting going on in D3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole process is SUCH BULLSHIT. College is about academics. At my HS, we had lazy, cheating, C students get into amazing schools to play sports. Seems ridiculous. That's one of the reasons I chose a DIII school with no athletic scholarships.

Doesn't mean they don't recruit and in some cases admit somewhat less qualified students. Plenty of recruiting going on in D3.

Yes, D3 recruits as well. DD recruited to play at top NESCAC school. If a school wants you athletically, have to have qualifying grades and scores, but not top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole process is SUCH BULLSHIT. College is about academics. At my HS, we had lazy, cheating, C students get into amazing schools to play sports. Seems ridiculous. That's one of the reasons I chose a DIII school with no athletic scholarships.

Not always true. My H got into an Ivy through sport recruiting however there was no scholarship (free $) and he had to maintain a certain GPA and have a minimum SAT score.