What is the point of being a college athlete?

[Anonymous]

I walked on to a sport I had never done before. I stayed with it all four years and was captain. It was time consuming, but it was exercise and very social. I made lifelong friends, and it was truly a highlight of my college days.

[Anonymous]

The groupies. I did it for them

[Anonymous]

Exercise

[Anonymous]

The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

You run with a different crowd than me if that’s your understanding of why parents support their kids’ sports goals.

[Anonymous]

NIL $$$$$$

even Div 3 people are making money.

One I know has a deal with camp in the area of the school where they play and do ads for the camp and get $5,000 a year for doing a 30 second voice over of their highlights that runs on local TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

You run with a different crowd than me if that’s your understanding of why parents support their kids’ sports goals.

i'm realistic and I dont get caught up in the frenzy. I see what I see, these parents are pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NIL $$$$$$

even Div 3 people are making money.

One I know has a deal with camp in the area of the school where they play and do ads for the camp and get $5,000 a year for doing a 30 second voice over of their highlights that runs on local TV.

That’s not really the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

I doubt that you know any families with high performing athletes in real life. First, you've lumped every Athlete Parent Trope into a single post. I don't know if you're jealous or bitter or whatever . . . but it's a lame attempt to deflect from those things.

Second, my child IS the kid who is trying to be recruited. It was actually NOT my choice for DC but DC loves the sport and wants to continue. So, yes, we do what we can to provide the opportunities for that to happen. I don't know any person who is as you describe. Some have some of those traits. Most have none.

So, there is a very sad person on this thread. But that person is you.

Get a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

You run with a different crowd than me if that’s your understanding of why parents support their kids’ sports goals.

i'm realistic and I dont get caught up in the frenzy. I see what I see, these parents are pathetic.

Takes one to know one, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Allowed me to play professional hoops over in Europe for 4 years. Now in wealth mgmt. Wouldn’t be where I am today without basketball…plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Allowed me to play professional hoops over in Europe for 4 years. Now in wealth mgmt. Wouldn’t be where I am today without basketball…plain and simple.

Kewl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The advantage is for the parents to spend loads of money on club, privates etc. so they can also have a social life with like minded people that live vicariously thru their child at any cost, including the child's mental health (not all. Many parents I see are over zealous and want it more than the kid does. Nevermind that all the money they spend over 12 years could have been invested and paid for college in the first place. Few kids get to go to the school of their choice or go to schools they heard little of with a scholarship and have limited time in college because they have their sport consume their time. Also bragging rights, just to say their kid was recruited/scholarship. It is sad to see. My kid loves their sport, I take their lead and I do and will continue to take it as far as they want and their talent and grit will take them.

OK... you have no idea what you are talking about.
You have GOT to be one of the parents upset about the switch to "test optional" at most schools. NOW you have to focus on a more well rounded kid and you are pissed.

[Anonymous]

DS hopes to be a college athlete because he loves his sport and can’t imagine not playing.

An added bonus of playing in college is that it looks great on your resume. Employers know these kids have discipline and teamwork skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NIL $$$$$$

even Div 3 people are making money.

One I know has a deal with camp in the area of the school where they play and do ads for the camp and get $5,000 a year for doing a 30 second voice over of their highlights that runs on local TV.

That’s not really the norm.

Not the norm, but certainly happening, and on topic for OP’s question. I like to see the women cashing in with NIL deals in particular. We know a soccer coach at a top program who said one of her stars (who also happens to be really attractive) had made 65k from marketing deals the prior year.