Pay-to-Play Sport at Private HS employing club coach - what's normal?

[Anonymous]

Both private and public schools rent out their facilities for athletic and other camps. That is normal. They also rent the facilities to private groups, including sports after hours, especially swimming where there is a lack of large indoor pools.

It is NOT normal for that to be the team for the school and that the boys who go to the school cannot play as they are dominated by other kids. That coach should have two separate teams. One for the school and then rent the facility to run a team for the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate that adults ruin childhood with these corrupt shenanigans. The school is teaching horrible ethical lessons to the children.

However, there is definitely quid pro quo at play between the coach and the school, as he's recruiting athletes to become new tuition-paying students.

How much is he charging outside of school?

At Bullis this is common. The coaches get paid by the school and bonuses for the recruited athletes that end up accepting. They also set up "shop" on campus to run their training programs. It is shenanigans for real. I would report it to the Board of Directors. The head of school knows what is going on so you have to go over his/her head. This is dangerous and could set the school up to lawsuits.

What you are describing sounds different and just looking to slam one particular school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say the school.

I would bet SJC.

Could be any school because it’s very common. Visitation and Bullis are two that come to mind.

Visitation is all girls and Bullis is MD.

[Anonymous]

Yes both I know a friend who has a daughter at Visi and they do the same thing. Have coaches who run their club team out of the school. Girls on the club team get more playing time etc. Bullis does it because my child has been coached by one their coaches. They push for you to apply with promises of being a start there. Shady!!

[Anonymous]

Between this and the college admissions scandal with fake athletic admits, who knew HS and college athletics were so damn shady? Adults always ruin things for good natured kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say the school.

I would bet SJC.

I am betting SJC boys soccer. I have heard several families complain that unless you do his clubs your kid not only rides the bench but is cut.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to take this to the administration of the school and not to an anonymous internet board. We cannot do anything about this. Administration can.

[Anonymous]

That sucks. Making me thankful my kids' private uses teachers as coaches (some better than others but at least they don't have this $ incentive). One other thing to consider about the Freshman PT. My older child is at a large public school and one of the soccer coaches cut a ton of Juniors in favor of similarly skilled freshman on Varsity. After hearing all the parents talk about this, I think the coach wants the opportunity to develop the younger players for several years and doesn't trust the JV program to do it. Motivation may not be purely financial but for building the program for the future. (sucks for the seniors on the bench though)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to take this to the administration of the school and not to an anonymous internet board. We cannot do anything about this. Administration can.

I don't think the OP expected any of us to do anything to help. She/he was asking if this is common in private/catholic schools and the answer is yes. I would go to the board of directors to make it clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say the school.

I would bet SJC.

I am betting SJC boys soccer. I have heard several families complain that unless you do his clubs your kid not only rides the bench but is cut.

+1

[Anonymous]

In my experience, this seems to be the current business model in many sports. So you could name lots of sports and schools. It is the same educational/business conflict that affects college sports, but now it is prevalent in high schools. And it sucks for kids and families.

[Anonymous]

This is the first I've heard about this going on in St. Johns' soccer program but it doesn't surprise me. We were consideing St. Johns for our son who is a baseball player. St. Johns has a reputation as the best baseball program around- they have won the wcac for the last 5 or 6 years. Their head coach and his brother who is an assistant run a private travel program called Diamond Skills. Diamond Skills also runs baseball camps at St. Johns. If you look on their site the camps are $400 or $500 a week. But here's where it’s worse than with soccer- we heard you HAVE TO play for Diamond Skills or you are not allowed to play baseball at St. Johns. We heard a few players were kicked out of the program this summer because they played for other travel programs and not Diamond Skills. Two of them are in 10th grade and are verbally committed to ACC schools. The other is in 11th grade and is committed to an SEC school. Why does the school let them do it? I think it's just wrong and don't really understand it. I also think it's ironic that this is a Catholic school- nice values you're teaching the kids. Our son plays for a very good travel program and isn't considering St. Johns anymore.

[Anonymous]

Any chance the club kids play more because they are better, practice more, etc? Just wondering if there us more yo it then nepotism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first I've heard about this going on in St. Johns' soccer program but it doesn't surprise me. We were consideing St. Johns for our son who is a baseball player. St. Johns has a reputation as the best baseball program around- they have won the wcac for the last 5 or 6 years. Their head coach and his brother who is an assistant run a private travel program called Diamond Skills. Diamond Skills also runs baseball camps at St. Johns. If you look on their site the camps are $400 or $500 a week. But here's where it’s worse than with soccer- we heard you HAVE TO play for Diamond Skills or you are not allowed to play baseball at St. Johns. We heard a few players were kicked out of the program this summer because they played for other travel programs and not Diamond Skills. Two of them are in 10th grade and are verbally committed to ACC schools. The other is in 11th grade and is committed to an SEC school. Why does the school let them do it? I think it's just wrong and don't really understand it. I also think it's ironic that this is a Catholic school- nice values you're teaching the kids. Our son plays for a very good travel program and isn't considering St. Johns anymore.

I suspect the school let's them do it because they keep winning the WCAC and because the baseball coach is also head of development at SJC and is probably doing well at his job/s. But it is leading to a loss of top players to other schools. Prep seems to be the main beneficiary.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. Kids who play in this soccer league are transferring to private school just to play soccer there? Why?