Do walk-ons still exist in college sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My suspicion is that at a NESCAC, probably not. Those guys are all DI caliber athletes who chose to attend those schools. Probably more likely at other DIII schools.

The NESCAC conference is among the best D3 in the nation and most of those schools are amongst the most academically rigorous. The fact is, most of those schools have their pick of the best D3/low end D1 athletes (assuming they have the grades as well…which is a big if).

And I meant to add, none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.

That’s a serious exaggeration.

No it absolutely is not. NESCAC take their recruiting very seriously, big wins equals big donations.

[Anonymous]

My kiddo just went through NESCAC recruiting. This is my take. The coaches would love a walk-on if they are good enough. The competition for the spots on these teams is, I think, harder than some parents may realize, especially those of us who played 30+ years ago. So even though D3 the kids at the NESCAC schools are playing at a pretty high level. But in my kids sport, the teams are not huge and I got the sense that the coaches would love a walk-on if they are able to get in the school and play at the level of the team. The big question is whether your kid will be able to play at that level. I think some kids may be D1 level and some are not.

[Anonymous]

FYI, just posted above re: NESCAC recruiting. I am reading about over recruiting in some posts and it does seem like that is a thing in some schools. That is not the case from what I saw with NESCAC. The schools are hard to get in and expensive. There are a lot of interested players who want to play but by the time you narrow the pool to those who can get in (even with coach support you need good grades/scores/etc.), afford the school (most NESCAC do not have merit and though most are need blind, they are very expensive schools if full pay), and play at the competitive level, the numbers shrink dramatically. Therefore, I don’t the coaches are over recruiting which is why I think they welcome walk-ons (if you have the talent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI, just posted above re: NESCAC recruiting. I am reading about over recruiting in some posts and it does seem like that is a thing in some schools. That is not the case from what I saw with NESCAC. The schools are hard to get in and expensive. There are a lot of interested players who want to play but by the time you narrow the pool to those who can get in (even with coach support you need good grades/scores/etc.), afford the school (most NESCAC do not have merit and though most are need blind, they are very expensive schools if full pay), and play at the competitive level, the numbers shrink dramatically. Therefore, I don’t the coaches are over recruiting which is why I think they welcome walk-ons (if you have the talent).

I had two kids who were recruited athletes at NESCACs and I never heard of a walk on playing at all. These colleges take their sports seriously, and the standard is high in that conference - quality recruits with good academics are rare, and they go all out to find them.

[Anonymous]

My DH did this at a DI soccer program about 20 years ago. This was at a huge school with a somewhat middle of the road soccer program. He loved the team but only played in a few games over three years. Didn’t play senior year after he realized he’d never get playing time and wanted to do an abroad program instead. I would be surprised if this was still possible. The sports culture has changed so much now, everyone seems to be a recruitable semi professional player at age 16.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, just posted above re: NESCAC recruiting. I am reading about over recruiting in some posts and it does seem like that is a thing in some schools. That is not the case from what I saw with NESCAC. The schools are hard to get in and expensive. There are a lot of interested players who want to play but by the time you narrow the pool to those who can get in (even with coach support you need good grades/scores/etc.), afford the school (most NESCAC do not have merit and though most are need blind, they are very expensive schools if full pay), and play at the competitive level, the numbers shrink dramatically. Therefore, I don’t the coaches are over recruiting which is why I think they welcome walk-ons (if you have the talent).

I had two kids who were recruited athletes at NESCACs and I never heard of a walk on playing at all. These colleges take their sports seriously, and the standard is high in that conference - quality recruits with good academics are rare, and they go all out to find them.

It is all sport specific. Women's soccer for example. Most NESCAC and UAA women had D1 interest and could have played there. Likely would have gone to HYP and other Ivy's but that never came. It would be hard to walk on if you were not at that level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely still exists for gymnastics. Especially for in state students eligible for state scholarships or lower fees anyway, gymnasts often want to compete for a better team with no extra money than a worse team that will give them cash. UCLA, Utah, Georgia, Florida -all definitely have walk ons that compete. Occasionally those kids earn a scholarship, usually when something happens with a scholarship a coach thought was taken at the last minute.

No one walks onto UCLA gymnastics. Most of the National team is there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My suspicion is that at a NESCAC, probably not. Those guys are all DI caliber athletes who chose to attend those schools. Probably more likely at other DIII schools.

The NESCAC conference is among the best D3 in the nation and most of those schools are amongst the most academically rigorous. The fact is, most of those schools have their pick of the best D3/low end D1 athletes (assuming they have the grades as well…which is a big if).

And I meant to add, none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.

That’s a serious exaggeration.

No it absolutely is not. NESCAC take their recruiting very seriously, big wins equals big donations.

You said “none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.” All one need do is look. Every school has walk-ons that play, even the NESCAC schools. Walk-ons of course have a less direct path to playing, but it happens, probably in ever sport at every school or close to it, the opposite of what you claim.

https://amherststudent.com/article/walk-ons-unique-paths-turn-strangers-to-teammates/amp/

And yes you can click on the player names to see they actually played.

Searching by other school names will lead to similae results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crew doesn't count. It's not an NCAA sport.

Check your facts. It’s an NCAA D1/D3 sport for women and recruitable D1/D3 sport for men (different governing body).

Rowing has been a DI NCAA sport for women since the 1990s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crew doesn't count. It's not an NCAA sport.

Check your facts. It’s an NCAA D1/D3 sport for women and recruitable D1/D3 sport for men (different governing body).

Rowing has been a DI NCAA sport for women since the 1990s

At least, I mean - some D3 and clubs obv also exist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My suspicion is that at a NESCAC, probably not. Those guys are all DI caliber athletes who chose to attend those schools. Probably more likely at other DIII schools.

The NESCAC conference is among the best D3 in the nation and most of those schools are amongst the most academically rigorous. The fact is, most of those schools have their pick of the best D3/low end D1 athletes (assuming they have the grades as well…which is a big if).

And I meant to add, none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.

That’s a serious exaggeration.

No it absolutely is not. NESCAC take their recruiting very seriously, big wins equals big donations.

You said “none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.” All one need do is look. Every school has walk-ons that play, even the NESCAC schools. Walk-ons of course have a less direct path to playing, but it happens, probably in ever sport at every school or close to it, the opposite of what you claim.

https://amherststudent.com/article/walk-ons-unique-paths-turn-strangers-to-teammates/amp/

And yes you can click on the player names to see they actually played.

Searching by other school names will lead to similae results.

I think individual sports is probably easier - your time is your time etc. I doubt many schools do much recruiting for decathletes. Team sports are completely different - soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball, field hockey, tennis. I doubt you’ll find many walk ons at any NESCAC school. The level of recruits is very, very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My suspicion is that at a NESCAC, probably not. Those guys are all DI caliber athletes who chose to attend those schools. Probably more likely at other DIII schools.

The NESCAC conference is among the best D3 in the nation and most of those schools are amongst the most academically rigorous. The fact is, most of those schools have their pick of the best D3/low end D1 athletes (assuming they have the grades as well…which is a big if).

And I meant to add, none of these schools have walk ons that play, in any sport.

That’s a serious exaggeration.

My DD was a top NESCAC recruit--seriously--she was told by multiple coaches she was their #1, and was also recruited by mid to low ranked (in the sport, high academic) D1 (where she wound up). She has a very big handful of friends and former teammates who walked on at top NESCACs. So to say none is beyond misinformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI, just posted above re: NESCAC recruiting. I am reading about over recruiting in some posts and it does seem like that is a thing in some schools. That is not the case from what I saw with NESCAC. The schools are hard to get in and expensive. There are a lot of interested players who want to play but by the time you narrow the pool to those who can get in (even with coach support you need good grades/scores/etc.), afford the school (most NESCAC do not have merit and though most are need blind, they are very expensive schools if full pay), and play at the competitive level, the numbers shrink dramatically. Therefore, I don’t the coaches are over recruiting which is why I think they welcome walk-ons (if you have the talent).

This is exactly right. For many sports, they can only offer 2 or 3 spots each year. They count on walk-ons. And I'm talking high level NESCACS. I know you NESCACS dads want to believe your kid is above playing with walk-ons. As a parent of a NESCAC recruited lacrosse player, I promise you, there are walk-ons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crew doesn't count. It's not an NCAA sport.

Check your facts. It’s an NCAA D1/D3 sport for women and recruitable D1/D3 sport for men (different governing body).

Rowing has been a DI NCAA sport for women since the 1990s

It is not an NCAA sport for men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, just posted above re: NESCAC recruiting. I am reading about over recruiting in some posts and it does seem like that is a thing in some schools. That is not the case from what I saw with NESCAC. The schools are hard to get in and expensive. There are a lot of interested players who want to play but by the time you narrow the pool to those who can get in (even with coach support you need good grades/scores/etc.), afford the school (most NESCAC do not have merit and though most are need blind, they are very expensive schools if full pay), and play at the competitive level, the numbers shrink dramatically. Therefore, I don’t the coaches are over recruiting which is why I think they welcome walk-ons (if you have the talent).

I had two kids who were recruited athletes at NESCACs and I never heard of a walk on playing at all. These colleges take their sports seriously, and the standard is high in that conference - quality recruits with good academics are rare, and they go all out to find them.[/quote

This folks right here is why you cannot believe anything you read on DCUM. This person is just making up stories, for no reason.