If your athlete child didn't get recruited...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know any walk on sports maybe football?

soccer

Basketball too, and sometimes baseball.

[Anonymous]

college athletics is not what it appears to be. Be thankful that this happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know any walk on sports maybe football?

soccer

Basketball, baseball

I personally know several "walk-on" baseball players and one "walk-on" football player (classmates of my DS.) In all cases, they were all identified by the coach during the high school recruiting process but the coach didn't have any more scholarship money to give the players. They had roster spots so told them they would be on the team but wouldn't get any money. All of these guys that I know are still on the teams but have not seen any playing time.

The D1 basketball team at my alma-mater had a recent experience with two true walk-ons. They didn't get recruited to play basketball and showed up on campus like regular freshmen. They both worked relentlessly in the gym and due to injuries and some other issues, the team ended up short several players. At the walk-on tryouts, both of these players, who were sophomores in college at the time, earned spots on the team. No, they didn't get much playing time but they were on the team for 3 years and they both are now working as college coaches.

Matt Turner was a walk-on soccer goalie at Fairfield Univ and played in the World Cup. It's not common, but it's possible.

I am not surprised at some of the posters saying their child on a top Club team couldn't walk on, or even make the Club team at the university. The travel system in soccer is very much political in this area with status quo year-to-year...players just passed on/remain on same team year after year. For males, soccer players don't even peak to age 28 (read about it)! Many of the good middle school/early high school players peter out and stop developing. There are many boys that don't even come into their physicality and prominence until 18+. There are many that went other routes, favored individual development vs status of team and flying all over the US for naught. I know quite a few players that are playing for their college V team that were not the stars of the youth circuit, but phenomenal college players now.

The Matt Turner story is incredible. Another crazy one I’m familiar with is that of Andrew Thomas, who walked to Stanford’s soccer team as a goalkeeper. He wasn’t on the coaches’ radar at all having mostly focused on cricket growing up in England, and was accepted based on his formidable academic accomplishments. He became one of the top D1 keepers and plays in MLS now. Here’s a nice piece on him from 2019: https://stanforddaily.com/2019/10/25/andrew-thomas-next-pset-stanford-goalie-discusses-life-on-and-off-the-field/

I feel for the kids who thought they had a shot at a recruitment that never worked out. I think college club sports are fantastic, and my kid who played at that level had a much better college experience than the one who played every game for his D1 team. But selection to club sports is not a given even for very talented players, as there are often politics/cliques involved. Hopefully every kid will have good intramural options at a minimum. Agree with others that most kids see the benefits of having more free time to pursue academics or other interests pretty quickly.

That sort of walk-on story only happens for goalkeepers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know any walk on sports maybe football?

soccer

Basketball, baseball

I personally know several "walk-on" baseball players and one "walk-on" football player (classmates of my DS.) In all cases, they were all identified by the coach during the high school recruiting process but the coach didn't have any more scholarship money to give the players. They had roster spots so told them they would be on the team but wouldn't get any money. All of these guys that I know are still on the teams but have not seen any playing time.

The D1 basketball team at my alma-mater had a recent experience with two true walk-ons. They didn't get recruited to play basketball and showed up on campus like regular freshmen. They both worked relentlessly in the gym and due to injuries and some other issues, the team ended up short several players. At the walk-on tryouts, both of these players, who were sophomores in college at the time, earned spots on the team. No, they didn't get much playing time but they were on the team for 3 years and they both are now working as college coaches.

Matt Turner was a walk-on soccer goalie at Fairfield Univ and played in the World Cup. It's not common, but it's possible.

I am not surprised at some of the posters saying their child on a top Club team couldn't walk on, or even make the Club team at the university. The travel system in soccer is very much political in this area with status quo year-to-year...players just passed on/remain on same team year after year. For males, soccer players don't even peak to age 28 (read about it)! Many of the good middle school/early high school players peter out and stop developing. There are many boys that don't even come into their physicality and prominence until 18+. There are many that went other routes, favored individual development vs status of team and flying all over the US for naught. I know quite a few players that are playing for their college V team that were not the stars of the youth circuit, but phenomenal college players now.

The Matt Turner story is incredible. Another crazy one I’m familiar with is that of Andrew Thomas, who walked to Stanford’s soccer team as a goalkeeper. He wasn’t on the coaches’ radar at all having mostly focused on cricket growing up in England, and was accepted based on his formidable academic accomplishments. He became one of the top D1 keepers and plays in MLS now. Here’s a nice piece on him from 2019: https://stanforddaily.com/2019/10/25/andrew-thomas-next-pset-stanford-goalie-discusses-life-on-and-off-the-field/

I feel for the kids who thought they had a shot at a recruitment that never worked out. I think college club sports are fantastic, and my kid who played at that level had a much better college experience than the one who played every game for his D1 team. But selection to club sports is not a given even for very talented players, as there are often politics/cliques involved. Hopefully every kid will have good intramural options at a minimum. Agree with others that most kids see the benefits of having more free time to pursue academics or other interests pretty quickly.

That sort of walk-on story only happens for goalkeepers.

No, but there are never going to be more than a tiny number of cases where it works out for any team or position. Fun when it does, though.

[Anonymous]

Yes going through this with DS in fencing. He may play club

Epee fencer? I have heard it's been a brutal recruiting year.

[Anonymous]

My stepson played D2 soccer in college. He got a little playing time, and then before the start of his junior year, there was a coaching change and he got zero playing time after that. He stuck with it though, which I admire.

But also keep in mind the major your child wants. My stepson was a science major, and it was HARD keeping up with those studies, and missing labs for away games (doubly frustrating to ride the bench then). His GPA did take a hit when those classes started getting tougher. He was the only science major on the team, the rest were in business, communications, political science....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a child who was hoping to be a recruited athlete. We've come to terms with the fact that this will not be happening. If you had a child in a similar situation, did you do anything differently than originally planned with the college applications? Did you change your target schools?

Going through this now. Still holding out hope, but yes, expanding search at this point which means DD is writing lots and lots of essays. Sihe does not want to go to a small LAC if not playing her sport, so looking at bigger schools now. It's tough - being on a team means the world to her. I keep reminding her that the vast majority of kids do not go on to play sports in college! And that there are club sports.

There are some very strong club teams at D1 schools in particular, but also D3
She can keep playing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My stepson played D2 soccer in college. He got a little playing time, and then before the start of his junior year, there was a coaching change and he got zero playing time after that. He stuck with it though, which I admire.

But also keep in mind the major your child wants. My stepson was a science major, and it was HARD keeping up with those studies, and missing labs for away games (doubly frustrating to ride the bench then). His GPA did take a hit when those classes started getting tougher. He was the only science major on the team, the rest were in business, communications, political science....

This is good advice. I think major comes before sports but my kid has an interest in science too.

[Anonymous]

Is your son a junior or a senior?

[Anonymous]

DC is a junior. Similar situation. Strong academics but not as strong to be recruited by those teams. DC feels like he has invested so much time into the sport that he needs to play in college. DW and I can't get DC to change his thinking. DC is looking at lower caliber schools b/c thats where the coaches are recruiting from. DC has a few coaches that match academic and sport but DW and I don't see it working out in the end. These coaches are talking to atleast 20+ athletes for approximately 5 spots. DC has had calls and a few unofficials but the coaches don't say anything definitieve which tells me they see DC as a backup. DW and I don't know how to get through to DC that the coaches aren't really interseted maybe as a possible backup and should start to look at other schools not based on the sport. Its very frustrating. DC's travel sport coach keeps pushing playing in college. DC has the grades, class rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and ECs in STEM. How can we get through to DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior. Similar situation. Strong academics but not as strong to be recruited by those teams. DC feels like he has invested so much time into the sport that he needs to play in college. DW and I can't get DC to change his thinking. DC is looking at lower caliber schools b/c thats where the coaches are recruiting from. DC has a few coaches that match academic and sport but DW and I don't see it working out in the end. These coaches are talking to atleast 20+ athletes for approximately 5 spots. DC has had calls and a few unofficials but the coaches don't say anything definitieve which tells me they see DC as a backup. DW and I don't know how to get through to DC that the coaches aren't really interseted maybe as a possible backup and should start to look at other schools not based on the sport. Its very frustrating. DC's travel sport coach keeps pushing playing in college. DC has the grades, class rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and ECs in STEM. How can we get through to DC?

DC United

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My stepson played D2 soccer in college. He got a little playing time, and then before the start of his junior year, there was a coaching change and he got zero playing time after that. He stuck with it though, which I admire.

But also keep in mind the major your child wants. My stepson was a science major, and it was HARD keeping up with those studies, and missing labs for away games (doubly frustrating to ride the bench then). His GPA did take a hit when those classes started getting tougher. He was the only science major on the team, the rest were in business, communications, political science....

This is good advice. I think major comes before sports but my kid has an interest in science too.

Science major + sport is almost impossible except at D3 schools, which will pause sports practices during finals and arrange practices to accommodate labs.

Most other teams are very restrictive about what majors will work with their schedules. Some coaches will be coy about this so you have to talk to students and investigate what’s actually possible. Look at rosters- it’s not a coincidence that most athletes gravitate toward the same majors at each school. It’s not because they’re “dumb” and can’t do science, but because it’s basically impossible to accommodate 8:30 lectures or 1-4 pm labs and be on a varsity team. Don’t be fooled by the occasional starter who is also an engineering or chem major. There’s always someone who the coach makes an exception for, but if your student is already that talented and gifted, you’re not on this thread.

An option for pre-med or science athletes is to seek out summer courses for required courses and look at loading courses into the off-season if you’re in a quarter system. Of course that’s impossible with small schools that don’t have robust summer terms or for sports without off-seasons. Post-bacs are an option that a lot of athletes pursue if they know they want to apply to med school. Major in American studies or history or anthropology and keep a high GPA, pick up a few science classes when possible, and complete the rest of the requirements in a 1-year post-bac. Apply to med school the year after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior. Similar situation. Strong academics but not as strong to be recruited by those teams. DC feels like he has invested so much time into the sport that he needs to play in college. DW and I can't get DC to change his thinking. DC is looking at lower caliber schools b/c thats where the coaches are recruiting from. DC has a few coaches that match academic and sport but DW and I don't see it working out in the end. These coaches are talking to atleast 20+ athletes for approximately 5 spots. DC has had calls and a few unofficials but the coaches don't say anything definitieve which tells me they see DC as a backup. DW and I don't know how to get through to DC that the coaches aren't really interseted maybe as a possible backup and should start to look at other schools not based on the sport. Its very frustrating. DC's travel sport coach keeps pushing playing in college. DC has the grades, class rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and ECs in STEM. How can we get through to DC?

What sport?

I would show your DC the stats. NCAA publishes them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior. Similar situation. Strong academics but not as strong to be recruited by those teams. DC feels like he has invested so much time into the sport that he needs to play in college. DW and I can't get DC to change his thinking. DC is looking at lower caliber schools b/c thats where the coaches are recruiting from. DC has a few coaches that match academic and sport but DW and I don't see it working out in the end. These coaches are talking to atleast 20+ athletes for approximately 5 spots. DC has had calls and a few unofficials but the coaches don't say anything definitieve which tells me they see DC as a backup. DW and I don't know how to get through to DC that the coaches aren't really interseted maybe as a possible backup and should start to look at other schools not based on the sport. Its very frustrating. DC's travel sport coach keeps pushing playing in college. DC has the grades, class rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and ECs in STEM. How can we get through to DC?

What sport?

I would show your DC the stats. NCAA publishes them.

Fencing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior. Similar situation. Strong academics but not as strong to be recruited by those teams. DC feels like he has invested so much time into the sport that he needs to play in college. DW and I can't get DC to change his thinking. DC is looking at lower caliber schools b/c thats where the coaches are recruiting from. DC has a few coaches that match academic and sport but DW and I don't see it working out in the end. These coaches are talking to atleast 20+ athletes for approximately 5 spots. DC has had calls and a few unofficials but the coaches don't say anything definitieve which tells me they see DC as a backup. DW and I don't know how to get through to DC that the coaches aren't really interseted maybe as a possible backup and should start to look at other schools not based on the sport. Its very frustrating. DC's travel sport coach keeps pushing playing in college. DC has the grades, class rigor, SAT/ACT scores, and ECs in STEM. How can we get through to DC?

What sport?

I would show your DC the stats. NCAA publishes them.

Fencing

In 2019, 17% of D1 spots for fencing went to international kids. It’s probably higher now. Meanwhile there are not that many fencing teams. In other words, you should be able to do the math for DC on likelihood of a spot even existing.