Question for the parents who played college soccer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at other countries’ pathways to the pros for young players, wouldn’t it be better for a player with pro aspirations to play PDL or USL rather than playing in college?

It would be best for them to go abroad.

[Anonymous]

Obviously, but I’m referring to a pathway here in the states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obviously, but I’m referring to a pathway here in the states.

To be an MLS player, where FIFA stars go out to pasture?

Aim higher

[Anonymous]

Well thank you for not answering and offering your eternal wisdom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of parents here played college ball. If there were a do-over, would you do things differently? Why or why not?

Was becoming a pro ever in the consideration going into college or academics was always your end goal from the beginning?

Soccer helped me get admitted to an Ivy. Played freshman year, tore an ACL, never played in college again.

That was a great plan you hatched there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, sorry - I misread, I thought you were talking about college grades. I would assume high school grades are important, too.

Yes, I was thinking in order to get into a decent college you must need certain GPA. Athletes get some leeway but wonder how much you can get for an Ivy or UVA level of schools?

[Anonymous]

I played on the US olympic under 14 team and had a partial tear in my ACL which was very uncommon then unlike today. I rehabbed it for almost a year as surgery was primitive compared to today. I missed a year playing but was able to come back. I had a few D1 offers but I knew my knee couldn't hold out much longer. So I used soccer to get in the best academic school I could. Today I would have had surgery and headed to the pro's.

I coached kids for a number of years and stressed body flexibility and minimal parental involvement, neither of which is common today. I had to give it up after parents got too crazy. Parents don't realize that they put unrealistic expectations on their children. A small fraction of kids will make it to D1 colleges so today I help advise those D3 kids, boys and girls, how to use soccer to get to the next level in Sports business!

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at other countries’ pathways to the pros for young players, wouldn’t it be better for a player with pro aspirations to play PDL or USL rather than playing in college?

It would be best for them to go abroad.

Not necessarily: http://www.wsc.co.uk/features/14115-cut-throat-academies-abandon-children-to-broken-dreams-and-mental-heath-issues

that's not much of a concern as you won't be able to do it unless you have a EU passport...or wait till 18, which is probably a little too late for elite players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I played on the US olympic under 14 team and had a partial tear in my ACL which was very uncommon then unlike today. I rehabbed it for almost a year as surgery was primitive compared to today. I missed a year playing but was able to come back. I had a few D1 offers but I knew my knee couldn't hold out much longer. So I used soccer to get in the best academic school I could. Today I would have had surgery and headed to the pro's.

I coached kids for a number of years and stressed body flexibility and minimal parental involvement, neither of which is common today. I had to give it up after parents got too crazy. Parents don't realize that they put unrealistic expectations on their children. A small fraction of kids will make it to D1 colleges so today I help advise those D3 kids, boys and girls, how to use soccer to get to the next level in Sports business! [/quote

Can you elaborate on the "body flexibility" part?

[Anonymous]

firing up the time machine I would have played club soccer which was actually pretty well-organized instead of D3 varsity for the simple reason that i regret the missed opportunities to goof off and drink. Seriously - club sports have a lot to offer even serious athletes nowadays and the commitment fits better with academic demands

[Anonymous]

How hard to get a STEM degree while doing D1/D3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How hard to get a STEM degree while doing D1/D3?

D1 too hard.

I am a female that was a Biochem major/microbiology specialization---think long organic chem labs and micro labs. etc. Dropped soccer in year 2. There was no path for female soccer players then, but even today it's not something I would want to do past college. I have a great career and by the time I was a junior in HS, I was feeling fairly burnt-out on soccer that I started playing in Kindergarten. I had a helluva good time in college in years 2-4!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:firing up the time machine I would have played club soccer which was actually pretty well-organized instead of D3 varsity for the simple reason that i regret the missed opportunities to goof off and drink. Seriously - club sports have a lot to offer even serious athletes nowadays and the commitment fits better with academic demands

YES! My brother has a full-ride D1 scholarship (the unicorn) and he always says he would not do it if he got a do over. But, then again, it's probably the only way my brother made it through HS and College. Without having to keep minimal grades for the sport, he probably never would have gotten into college much less graduated. He's the one always saying put the $ in 529s, not travel soccer.