What is the point of being a college athlete?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Why are you mocking this poster? It is impressive that he had the talent to pull that off and really cool that he got the opportunity to do that instead of heading straight into the traditional working world. And smart kids who play professionally are definitely interesting to many employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Why are you mocking this poster? It is impressive that he had the talent to pull that off and really cool that he got the opportunity to do that instead of heading straight into the traditional working world. And smart kids who play professionally are definitely interesting to many employers.

I would bet a lot of money that PP and others with that attitude were/are nerdy lawyer or political types who can only be successful in DC. They’re stuck here because no one else in the country appreciates the DC brand of smart + smug. Meanwhile the former professional ball player can be seen as an impressive person no matter where they want to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Why are you mocking this poster? It is impressive that he had the talent to pull that off and really cool that he got the opportunity to do that instead of heading straight into the traditional working world. And smart kids who play professionally are definitely interesting to many employers.

I would bet a lot of money that PP and others with that attitude were/are nerdy lawyer or political types who can only be successful in DC. They’re stuck here because no one else in the country appreciates the DC brand of smart + smug. Meanwhile the former professional ball player can be seen as an impressive person no matter where they want to go.

I am the OP re played in Europe. Above is exactly right. Lots of lawyers out there (and wealth managers, frankly), but not a ton of guys who played college hoop and were good enough to get paid to play, even in Europe.

Of course they paid all my expenses while over there, so it was actually pretty lucrative if you’re smart about it. It’s nice to have a perspective that is shaped beyond the smugness/arrogance of the DC professional/gov class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Why are you mocking this poster? It is impressive that he had the talent to pull that off and really cool that he got the opportunity to do that instead of heading straight into the traditional working world. And smart kids who play professionally are definitely interesting to many employers.

I would bet a lot of money that PP and others with that attitude were/are nerdy lawyer or political types who can only be successful in DC. They’re stuck here because no one else in the country appreciates the DC brand of smart + smug. Meanwhile the former professional ball player can be seen as an impressive person no matter where they want to go.

I am the OP re played in Europe. Above is exactly right. Lots of lawyers out there (and wealth managers, frankly), but not a ton of guys who played college hoop and were good enough to get paid to play, even in Europe.

Of course they paid all my expenses while over there, so it was actually pretty lucrative if you’re smart about it. It’s nice to have a perspective that is shaped beyond the smugness/arrogance of the DC professional/gov class.

I don't want to paint everyone in the DMV as smug and/or arrogant, but I completely agree that having the opportunity to play professional sports for a few years in Europe would be an amazing experience. If either of my kids had that opportunity, I would definitely encourage it. My cousin is a D1 women's soccer player and is planning to play professionally in Europe when she graduates in a year. I think that is a fantastic opportunity.

Obviously, for most people, college is the end of the road for competitive sports, but it can be fun and provides a great social and professional network, not to mention keeping you in amazing shape for at least a few more years!

[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.

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.

No, my kid is talented. i just refuse to let it be all consuming like parents in this area do. I let them lead. Feels like I hit a never with some. But just speaking from experience and obeservation.

[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.

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.

No, my kid is talented. i just refuse to let it be all consuming like parents in this area do. I let them lead. Feels like I hit a never with some. But just speaking from experience and obeservation.

So do you let them lead? Or you set the boundaries against it being all consuming? That's a bit of a contradictory position.

And whatever you choose, good for you. But recognize it is not the best choice for all. Some kids have goals of their own and it is consuming. If it's theirs, and not their parents (and in our case it's not), then there is nothing wrong with that. It's not what I would choose in DC's position and I sometimes second-guess whether it's the best but, in the end, it is DC's decisions.

[Anonymous]

Back in the day, I attended a small/med regional business college with a great men's basketball team (D3 transitioned to D2) as well as other solid sports teams. During senior year, the athletes, men and women, were heavily recruited by employers visiting campus and most landed jobs with top employers before graduation. Our Career office kept separate statistics for its placement of athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The NIL world and transfer portal is evolving a lot and presenting a lot of opportunity for college athletes. It is a good way to start a side gig or career as an influencer.

[Anonymous]

To get into Yale (football).

[Anonymous]

Because they have a passion for their sport. You don't go that far, spend that many years if you don't love it. Most of the kids that are 'parent-driven' tend to give up before college, while the kids that truly love the sport will keep trying no matter the obstacles or cuts and still keep training on their own.

My oldest is a 4.0us/4.5gpa, 35 ACT in one sitting, at a tough private high school with lots of other interests so he doesn't NEED the sport, but he really, really wants to play in college (and/or beyond). My spouse and I are burnt out from it and, if we had faced some of the absolute a-holes and abuses that he has over the years, we would have walked away. No--it just made him more determined. And I've been really amazed at his backbone and the way he has dealt with adversity. Much better than me, I must say.

So--jury is out if he will play in college. He started getting good feedback/evals from college coaches, but has been sidelined with an injury the past few months. We are supporting him healing and helping him navigate over the next 7 months to see if he can make his dream a reality.

But, we stay out of any talk with coaches. Period. This is all him. Frankly, I can't even bear to be at some of my kids' games from the intensity and lunacy of some of the parents on the sidelines and try to stand as far away and not engage.

Early high school (9th grade) is kind of the peak for parent intensity and crazies. Don't get me started on the high school environment too for this sport. As the boys mature and the parents have less coach/TD influence, the landscape starts to scatter and it weeds out a lot of those kind of people.

The best thing you can do as a parent is stay out of it once they reach high school. Out of sight, out of mind. He trains, he plays, and if I can stay away from hearing the toxicity from other parents and remain in my bubble--I'm in my happy place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love of the sport.

My son is a straight A honor student, perfect test score kid. He is very academic and loves school/learning, etc.

He truly has a passion for the sport. I thought he would have dropped it or the love would be diminished by now (Junior). I really didn't see him playing in college. But, at the end of Sophomore year he was very certain he wanted to try to play the sport in college. He really had a renewed passion and drive. He had many setbacks with injuries, disappointments, late growth, politics (oh the parent politics!!). I even didn't let him play Club Sophomore year, only high school and he practiced on his own and was literally begging to play. Made a high level team over the summer, great feed back from some college coaches. Growth-related injury, out all Fall season. Did PT, doing so much work on his own.

And now he is really much gearing up for recruiting this Spring into next Fall.

We have list of schools where he is focused on those spots. We are realistic, checking team rosters, competition levels, etc. But, he is sticking to the schools with good opportunity in his field of study and that are academically sound. We are in agreement that he won't go to a much lesser school just to play. He can play Club or intramural if that is how it pans out.

He's heard from his uncle and others that played D1 and knows the commitment. He's a kid that very easily seems to be able to handle intense outside time commitments while maintaining studies/grades.

Who knows? The point for us: he truly loves to play. As smart as he is, he could talk your ear off about every player who has ever played the game down to really obscure lower teams, etc.

This is how I was. My parents had no qualms about letting me go for it because I had proved that I was motivated academically and was able to handle multiple AP courses at a demanding private HS with a demanding training schedule. I only considered schools that were both a good academic and athletic fit. I ended up at the "least good" of these schools (still a good school people are proud to send their kids) because it was the right fit for me in terms of athletics. No regrets. I wasn't interested in D3 schools because of their smaller size. I wanted the big state university experience with football games etc. Had I wanted to quit/not done well at the D1 school I'm sure I would have stayed and done club, or just tried other activities.

My kid is an athlete at a D1 at the “least good” of the options available. It was about fit and how it fits into the student’s life.
I was a D1 athlete (walk on) at a big state school. Didn’t figure into my attending, but I loved it and am still close with my teammates.
My dad played D3.
For each of us- love of the sport, structure, and community were key drivers.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Why are you mocking this poster? It is impressive that he had the talent to pull that off and really cool that he got the opportunity to do that instead of heading straight into the traditional working world. And smart kids who play professionally are definitely interesting to many employers.

I would bet a lot of money that PP and others with that attitude were/are nerdy lawyer or political types who can only be successful in DC. They’re stuck here because no one else in the country appreciates the DC brand of smart + smug. Meanwhile the former professional ball player can be seen as an impressive person no matter where they want to go.

Not the pp. You live in a freaking fantasy world. This is not how the rest of the world works. Lemme guess, you peaked in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they have a passion for their sport. You don't go that far, spend that many years if you don't love it. Most of the kids that are 'parent-driven' tend to give up before college, while the kids that truly love the sport will keep trying no matter the obstacles or cuts and still keep training on their own.

My oldest is a 4.0us/4.5gpa, 35 ACT in one sitting, at a tough private high school with lots of other interests so he doesn't NEED the sport, but he really, really wants to play in college (and/or beyond). My spouse and I are burnt out from it and, if we had faced some of the absolute a-holes and abuses that he has over the years, we would have walked away. No--it just made him more determined. And I've been really amazed at his backbone and the way he has dealt with adversity. Much better than me, I must say.

So--jury is out if he will play in college. He started getting good feedback/evals from college coaches, but has been sidelined with an injury the past few months. We are supporting him healing and helping him navigate over the next 7 months to see if he can make his dream a reality.

But, we stay out of any talk with coaches. Period. This is all him. Frankly, I can't even bear to be at some of my kids' games from the intensity and lunacy of some of the parents on the sidelines and try to stand as far away and not engage.

Early high school (9th grade) is kind of the peak for parent intensity and crazies. Don't get me started on the high school environment too for this sport. As the boys mature and the parents have less coach/TD influence, the landscape starts to scatter and it weeds out a lot of those kind of people.

The best thing you can do as a parent is stay out of it once they reach high school. Out of sight, out of mind. He trains, he plays, and if I can stay away from hearing the toxicity from other parents and remain in my bubble--I'm in my happy place.

This, mostly. My kid LOVES TO PLAY. I hate every minute of dealing with the costs, traveling, politics and nepotism, most of the other parents . . . . I put in my volunteer hours and I try to stay away from them. I can't avoid the coaches, unfortunately, as they are both HS and club coaches. We are stuck and it frankly seems completely horrid to know I have to deal with this for the next few years. I really don't know how I'm going to do it. But, it is what it is. Hopefully it pays off (not literally pays, we aren't expecting college $$) for DC to get to continue b/c it is really love of the game.

So the point is my kid. Not use pushing or wanting, that's for sure.

[Anonymous]

Post has evolved - which is fine.

Parents must be involved in college sports decisions. The, “it’s up to my kid” stuff is stupid. Why? Because college sports are very very very different than high school sports and club sports. From D3 to D1 - playing a college sport means that first you are doing what the sport/coaches require. Then, in the time left, you are a student. If you can’t do that - then forget playing in college.

Per the NCAA - a college sport can only take up 25 hours a week in season. And, it can only take up 8 hours a week in the off season. But, those are “required” non-travel commitments. In short - that is official practice/game times.
What activities are not official practice/game times? To start with - getting to and from practices and games. Getting changed before and after practices. Getting taped and warmed up. Fitness work - weightroom. Film/strategy. Individual skill work. None of that is “official time”, but don’t do it and you are gone.

Figure - realistically and not counting travel - 45-50 hours a week pre-season and in season. 25 hours a week out of season. 10-15 hours a week out of season if D3. Figure 5 hours a week just getting to and from practice.

Practice is mostly late afternoons so your class schedule has to fit. You take a reduced schedule in season and make it up out of season and in the summer.

And - if you are not getting playing time - you quit. It does not take long to figure out that it all is way to much work to not play.

[Anonymous]

Whether you play or not:

first choice in housing picks
first choice in classes - ability to get into full classes
free medical care including MRI if necessary
1000 debit card stipend every month
free food
free European trip during spring break
free tutors in special study halls

You don't need to dip a toe on the playing field to enjoy these if you are a recruited athlete.