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[quote=Anonymous]There are many benefits to being on a college team, even for non-revenue sports.

But —

There are many downsides as well.  It is not for everyone, and by that I mean “everyone” who was recruited and accepted a spot.

With women’s soccer the big things are;

1.  Dealing with the new standards and relationships.  The head coach is very much not your friend or mentor.  You need to (a) stay out of trouble (b) comply with team and school rules and requirements (c) do well enough academically so that the coach never hears anything about you (typically not an issue with women’s soccer) (d) come into the first practice in shape (freshmen never do) (e) stay healthy (f) know the team’s formations and how to play as many positions as possible (unless you are strictly a keeper).

The big difference that gets many kids is that the coach is paid to produce reasonably successful teams using players who never cause any trouble.  Help the team win, get at least decent grades, and don’t get caught doing something stupid, and you can stay.  Mess up on any of those 3, and it is way easier to dump you than to keep you.

The team structure and relationships are also very different.  Players are all looking to start and all looking for playing time.  Not everyone plays.  Not everyone travels for away games.  It is a ton of hours to put in if you are not playing.  Kids who don’t get playing time quit.  The set up is designed that way.  So there is a ton of pressure to perform when you do get on the field.  Screw up and you could be pulled and sit for 3 games before you see the field again.

Look at the team roster for any school your kid is considering.  Then, check the roster from 4 years ago.  How many of the freshman 4 years ago are still on the team as seniors?  If it is more than 50 percent that’s good.

If you get playing time.  If you stay relatively healthy.  And, if you do well academically, you can have a very good experience being on a team.  There are reasons why so many women C-suite level executives are former college athletes.

Finally - there are many majors that do not work well with playing college sports.   Really.  It is very difficult to play a college sport and take any classes that require you to physically be present somewhere.  You can’t sing in a choir, be painting in a studio, attend an organic chem lab, or many other things while you are traveling to and from away games.

Can you do it?  Sure but not in 4 years.  Freshman year the general ed courses are not going to be problems.  But when you chart out the courses you have to take and look at prerequisites - many issues develop.  They develop for non-athletes as well.  It’s just more direct with athletes.  So don’t be surprised.  Grab pen and paper.  Dig into the specific degree requirements for specific majors and chart out the courses.

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