One Month into College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a first-year on a D3 team at a high academic SLAC. Preseason began two weeks before school started, so they had lots of advance time to connect with teammates. We were unprepared for how heavily scheduled the preseason would be; nearly every hour of the day was planned in advance (team meeting/turf training/weight room intro/individual players-coach meetings/grass training/team meals etc. etc. etc. (That has lightened up now that cases have started.) The coach is very into team culture, so they had lots of fun activities together too, including a few outings in town.

DC is rooming with an athlete from a different fall sport and they get along well but I can tell that anyone DC would call a "friend" right now is a teammate; they don't seem to have connected socially with anyone who's not a teammate, including classmates (though to be fair, that's what high school was like, too). I am hoping they will branch out to make more actual friends in the coming months, but my kid is an introvert so having this built-in community has been huge in helping them adjust, socially to being far from home and at college.

They've now had five non-conference games and the first in-conference game will be this week. My kid only got playing time in two of the five games and I know is a little bummed out about it, but we were aware that this was a strong possibility (it's a big roster and there are also other first-years who are stronger players). Overall, DC seems very happy, but tired. I am looking forward to seeing a game (even if my kid isn't playing) during parents weekend later in the fall. And yes, DC is playing the position they've always played.

I would have enjoyed seeing answers to this question last fall when my DC had committed but didn't yet know much about college soccer. I'll be interested to hear what other parents say. And you should ask for updates again in a month or two!

Similar situation for my child. Mine is a bit more fortunate in playing time, but I think they underestimated how high the expectations are for some D3 schools. If I had to offer some advice to next year’s incoming kids, it’s really bust your butt during the summer before Freshman year. At almost every college level the expectations are high from day one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daughter at D1 ACC school. Enjoys all the perks (uniforms, food, scheduling, friends, shoes, tutoring, athletic wear) She likes her teammates, but it is super competitive, and the coaches are very tough. She is busy - practice, film, lifting, studying, class but very happy. She is used to having her days scheduled out - ever since HS she has been on ECNL/GA teams with travel, practices, lifting etc etc etc. - so it's not a huge difference.

She loves it.

Please elaborate more on these perks! The uninformed (me) want to know.

[Anonymous]

D1 male.

None of the freshmen get game time.

[Anonymous]

If any of you have a kid doing college soccer, or any other sport, who is having a tough time right now — tell them to stick with it. I remember wanting to quit a few weeks into my freshman year because I felt so physically beat up and I was not used to every single moment of training being so intense. I felt like an imposter who didn’t belong. It didn’t help that the head coach looked at me with downright disgust as I struggled to keep up, despite the fact that he had personally recruited me.

Within a few months, my body and mind adjusted. It taught me that I can handle a lot more than I thought I could. I graduated a 4 year letter winner and record holder. I would tell any student athlete to give it at least a full year before making any big decisions. Remind them they were picked for the team for a reason.

[Anonymous]

The post about perks reminded me —

When I was a college undergrad at a Big10 school I would see athletes wearing team gear around campus and think they were showing off a bit.

But, years later my daughter explained - yeah it’s not cute stuff, but you don’t have to wash it. That is done for you. You realize that’s why those guys always wore the gear. Who wouldn’t? You wear team issued clothes. You put it on your ID ring and toss it in the locker room laundry cart. Next day it is hung up in your locker.

[Anonymous]

Any fun stories on how uniform numbers were assigned? That differs from team to team.

My daughter’s team did a timed 1.5 mile run early in preseason practices. Players picked their number in order of their finish times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP my kid gave up the opportunity to play in college—/D1/D2/D3. He is having the best time of his life. There’s life that is not around soccer. Fraternities, clubs of all sort, social groups, research opportunities, you name it. Teammates who committed are not even playing.

Genuine ask: why the heck are you responding and even in a soccer thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It didn’t help that the head coach looked at me with downright disgust as I struggled to keep up, despite the fact that he had personally recruited me.
I graduated a 4 year letter winner and record holder.

Lets go lady person. SMH. Tell us your pronouns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP my kid gave up the opportunity to play in college—/D1/D2/D3. He is having the best time of his life. There’s life that is not around soccer. Fraternities, clubs of all sort, social groups, research opportunities, you name it. Teammates who committed are not even playing.

Genuine ask: why the heck are you responding and even in a soccer thread?

To repeat as many times as possible that it "was a choice" if you say something enough times it becomes true.

[Anonymous]

D3 soccer - is tough, the team spends a significant time training - on and off the field. The relationships that have been built have provided so much support to our DS. He's had some playing time - we didn't expect to have any - its good for him to get a sense of the game at a higher level than travel. He said its hard - but he wouldn't want it any other way. His roommate is not an athlete - which has been a challenge because their schedules rarely overlap - from eating meals to sleep to travel. They get along but I don't think they will be close and our DS has already said he's going to live with athletes next year. D3 soccer is no longer a "trophy for everyone" play. You have to earn your spot every game. Academically it can be a challenge when you miss classes - but the team has some support in place - not like D1 but they encourage good study behaviors, tutors etc if you feel you are falling behind. My son would say that he didn't expect the level of play at D3 - its intense - players that have the talent for D1 but either weren't recruited or didn't want to be a D1 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The post about perks reminded me —

When I was a college undergrad at a Big10 school I would see athletes wearing team gear around campus and think they were showing off a bit.

But, years later my daughter explained - yeah it’s not cute stuff, but you don’t have to wash it. That is done for you. You realize that’s why those guys always wore the gear. Who wouldn’t? You wear team issued clothes. You put it on your ID ring and toss it in the locker room laundry cart. Next day it is hung up in your locker.

Right, in D1. In D3 - the team takes turns washing those clothes - and hanging it up. And its not showing off the gear if you are trying to get between classes and practice and you are expected to show up in your practice attire with no time to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP my kid gave up the opportunity to play in college—/D1/D2/D3. He is having the best time of his life. There’s life that is not around soccer. Fraternities, clubs of all sort, social groups, research opportunities, you name it. Teammates who committed are not even playing.

Genuine ask: why the heck are you responding and even in a soccer thread?

To repeat as many times as possible that it "was a choice" if you say something enough times it becomes true.

Holy heck, wtf are you even saying

[Anonymous]

85% of these players, don't play shit. Mostly in there due to politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:85% of these players, don't play shit. Mostly in there due to politics.

What? 9 players out of 11 on the field are just there due to politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:85% of these players, don't play shit. Mostly in there due to politics.

What? 9 players out of 11 on the field are just there due to politics?

Yes, didn't you know? Those coaches who spent months years recruiting them; training; possibly giving scholarships; and need them in order to continue employment at the school with a winning record... all love to sit their players because of, politics. How didn't you know this... omg.