Athletic recruiting Track & Field

[Anonymous]

My junior DS is a sprinter. I'm looking for any online resources, other message forums where I could get more information on NC/VA/MD track programs, other than just checking the T&F section on the college's website. For instance, which programs have well respected coaches and which seem to have high staff turnover? What schools have more and less desirable facilities? What are the programs that college kids are trying to transfer to or away from? Maybe this deeper dive into athletic programs doesn't exist.

DS is handling communications with coaches. But I know he won't be asking the above questions, and this is information I care about before I start writing checks.

He currently has D3 times and walk-on times for lower tier D1 schools

thanks!

[Anonymous]

You’re probably better off talking to her HS and club coaches and previous parents than a forum like this.

[Anonymous]

Start with a list of schools that fit as a non-athlete, and then do a deeper dive on your questions. You can look at yearly track & field rosters on the website to see coach turnover, for example.

[Anonymous]

I coached high school for a number of years and helped several students get recruited. The first question to ask is how much money the school is offering as a scholarship. If they tell you they're giving you $25K and the school costs $50K, that’s not very helpful—even though it’s technically 50%. But if the school costs $35K and they’re giving you $30K, then you know exactly how much you need to cover. Unless your son wants to go to the Olympics, his focus should be on whether he can score in the conference. Also, some schools may not have amazing facilities, but their teams are strong and the schools provide an excellent education.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1165995.page#26142172

I posted on here before

[Anonymous]

Questions— what level of academics is your son targeting? Are you full pay? Is your son interested in going to a smaller school, which is what a lot of D3s are?

If your kid has strong academics/is bright, you are full pay everywhere, and they like a SLAC or smaller school environment, those all make it easier to run.

Look at the instagrams of the schools where your kid wants to run too, and the rosters for the sprinters, and see what they ran in high school.

Make sure there’s a fit with the school no matter what happens with track, they could get injured any time and then you want them to be happy at the school regardless.

Use runcruit, Tfrrs, and milesplit pro too.

[Anonymous]

stay close to the conversations btw DC and coach. Let them handle, but this is an effectively a business transaction at the end of the day - the coach’s motivation and ultimately their job is to recruit the best possible group given their resources and constraints. Some are better with kids than others, but parent should always be aware of everything discussed and hovering nearby. This isn’t about junior’s “learning experience” or trying to it to be a helicopter parent - your kid needs your involvement and advocacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior DS is a sprinter. I'm looking for any online resources, other message forums where I could get more information on NC/VA/MD track programs, other than just checking the T&F section on the college's website. For instance, which programs have well respected coaches and which seem to have high staff turnover? What schools have more and less desirable facilities? What are the programs that college kids are trying to transfer to or away from? Maybe this deeper dive into athletic programs doesn't exist.

DS is handling communications with coaches. But I know he won't be asking the above questions, and this is information I care about before I start writing checks.

He currently has D3 times and walk-on times for lower tier D1 schools

thanks!

Don't get overly married to any coach -- turnover is high in general. Especially among assistant coaches, they're always looking to move up.

Have your child cast a wide net in reaching out to coaches. He'll probably get a bunch of email responses, and maybe eventually a handful of offers to come visit. Then he can suss out things like facilities, team chemistry, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I coached high school for a number of years and helped several students get recruited. The first question to ask is how much money the school is offering as a scholarship. If they tell you they're giving you $25K and the school costs $50K, that’s not very helpful—even though it’s technically 50%. But if the school costs $35K and they’re giving you $30K, then you know exactly how much you need to cover. Unless your son wants to go to the Olympics, his focus should be on whether he can score in the conference. Also, some schools may not have amazing facilities, but their teams are strong and the schools provide an excellent education.

Didn’t she say that her DC would be low-tier D1 or D3? Doesn’t sound like a scholarship candidate and certainly not a big one, right?

[Anonymous]

we went thru this with track, sounds like your DC is low D1 / high D3 material, which would be along the lines of Patriot League / Nescac. There is money at the Patriot League level - and my DC wound up with about 50% off sticker based on athletic $, and chose that over top Nescac options. You can’t argue with anyone choosing Williams or Amherst over a Patriot League school, but you will only get $ off sticker price of their is demonstrated need. That’s where the obvious choice becomes less clear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we went thru this with track, sounds like your DC is low D1 / high D3 material, which would be along the lines of Patriot League / Nescac. There is money at the Patriot League level - and my DC wound up with about 50% off sticker based on athletic $, and chose that over top Nescac options. You can’t argue with anyone choosing Williams or Amherst over a Patriot League school, but you will only get $ off sticker price of their is demonstrated need. That’s where the obvious choice becomes less clear

I thought patriot league did not give athletic scholarships, except for football.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior DS is a sprinter. I'm looking for any online resources, other message forums where I could get more information on NC/VA/MD track programs, other than just checking the T&F section on the college's website. For instance, which programs have well respected coaches and which seem to have high staff turnover? What schools have more and less desirable facilities? What are the programs that college kids are trying to transfer to or away from? Maybe this deeper dive into athletic programs doesn't exist.

DS is handling communications with coaches. But I know he won't be asking the above questions, and this is information I care about before I start writing checks.

He currently has D3 times and walk-on times for lower tier D1 schools

thanks!

Try for the NESCAC schools. They will make sure you can afford the school. Assuming the grades and scores are competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior DS is a sprinter. I'm looking for any online resources, other message forums where I could get more information on NC/VA/MD track programs, other than just checking the T&F section on the college's website. For instance, which programs have well respected coaches and which seem to have high staff turnover? What schools have more and less desirable facilities? What are the programs that college kids are trying to transfer to or away from? Maybe this deeper dive into athletic programs doesn't exist.

DS is handling communications with coaches. But I know he won't be asking the above questions, and this is information I care about before I start writing checks.

He currently has D3 times and walk-on times for lower tier D1 schools

thanks!

You need to include yourself with communications. Let you kid do the talking, but always read and listen to conversations. It is a non-equal situation where 1) the coaches are adults 2) kids sometimes hear what they want to hear 3) kids write dumb stuff.

As far as coaching, you need to kind of read the bios. Coaching is an inherently transitory profession though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I coached high school for a number of years and helped several students get recruited. The first question to ask is how much money the school is offering as a scholarship. If they tell you they're giving you $25K and the school costs $50K, that’s not very helpful—even though it’s technically 50%. But if the school costs $35K and they’re giving you $30K, then you know exactly how much you need to cover. Unless your son wants to go to the Olympics, his focus should be on whether he can score in the conference. Also, some schools may not have amazing facilities, but their teams are strong, and the schools provide an excellent education.

Didn’t she say that her DC would be low-tier D1 or D3? Doesn’t sound like a scholarship candidate and certainly not a big one, right?

I agree, but you do know what a lot of people overlook, D2 and NAIA. If they are a low-tier D1, they can go to a mid-tier D2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I coached high school for a number of years and helped several students get recruited. The first question to ask is how much money the school is offering as a scholarship. If they tell you they're giving you $25K and the school costs $50K, that’s not very helpful—even though it’s technically 50%. But if the school costs $35K and they’re giving you $30K, then you know exactly how much you need to cover. Unless your son wants to go to the Olympics, his focus should be on whether he can score in the conference. Also, some schools may not have amazing facilities, but their teams are strong and the schools provide an excellent education.

Didn’t she say that her DC would be low-tier D1 or D3? Doesn’t sound like a scholarship candidate and certainly not a big one, right?

It's more that certain D3 private schools will make it easier to get accepted and will offer "merit aid" that will make it more attractive to attend if they want you on the team. Think schools like Dickinson, Lafayette, etc. that are already high sticker price ($70K+) but they offer $20-30K of "merit aid" and will let you in with a 1300 instead of a 1350. (Just examples, not sure what the stats are for those 2 schools.)