Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As a former field hockey player, coach, and now a parent to a youth field hockey player...I think the landscape is filled with parents who will only find validation in their kids skills if they play college D1 field hockey. However, even the top players who go D1 will only play about 40 minutes total their first season in college. Is your kid prepared for the level of committment they need to make (7 days a week 5am workouts, ect) to only play this much? Can I suggest instead, going with a lighter load club fh program (one that does not cost your thousands in fees) and put the rest in a 529. My parents did this. I was a standout in high school (all state, all county, ect). But I did not feel pressured that my ticket to college had to be punched with my atheltic career. Instead, I got a fantastic collegiate education while playing on a club team in college (while also doing so many other activities that padded my resume), and I have a pretty amazing career (because let's get real---there is not a professional career playing field hockey).
As a former player, I beg you to just let your girl play without the pressure of what's next.
Chiming in here that my daughter received D1, 2 and 3 offers to play. She ultimately decided on D3 (a highly ranked one for FH) with a huge merit scholarship. She'll likely play more at any of the other D1 and 2 programs, have a balanced college life, and not be as stressed as she would be at a D1 or 2 school.
After seeing so many of her friends and teammates struggle at D1 or transfer after the first year (not everyone but quite a lot) and the ones that stayed and are upper classmen have barely played.