Boy D1 soccer. Was clear that was his likely path by age 12, 7th grade.

Anonymous wrote:DS was always a standout athlete and got serious about specializing his Soph year. He had the athleticism, height, body type, etc. Grades were good but not outstanding which limited his prospects. The recruiting process is such a confusing time. Coaches display interest, then disappear. My takeaway was that grades are more important than ability at competitive academic schools. We're happy with the SLAC where he landed with a nice scholarship which covers 1/3 of tuition/R&B annually, even if he quits the sport.

I think in general that's not exactly correct. I've had a number of college coaches from highly selective schools tell me that they want the best possible players that can get admission. So if you are super, super smart, but only a so-so player (relative to that level), you are going to get passed over by a smart kid who is a better player (again, assuming that the smart kid has paper credentials to get in).

Anonymous wrote:I got offered a full scholarship at college in a sport I never played. It is not hard.

My case I turned it down. I had full financial aid so scholarship was worthless.

I transferred sophomore year and I was six foot two inch 200 pounds in shape and did run cross country in HS.

Lacrosse wanted me as a tackling dummy on B team in practice to play defense. Screw that. My buddy got serious injured with that type of scholarship and it got canceled when he got hurt

Yes lacrosse is a joke we know

I got offered a full scholarship at college in a sport I never played. It is not hard.

My case I turned it down. I had full financial aid so scholarship was worthless.

I transferred sophomore year and I was six foot two inch 200 pounds in shape and did run cross country in HS.

Lacrosse wanted me as a tackling dummy on B team in practice to play defense. Screw that. My buddy got serious injured with that type of scholarship and it got canceled when he got hurt

USMNT goalie didn’t start playing until he was 16.

Getting to college and playing is different than continuing to play through college. Division I is an absolute grind.

The wrestling coach at a high profile wrestling program said "Academics, sport, social life" pick 2, you can't have all 3" and that is the most accurate statement I have ever heard about college sports at most levels.

DS was always a standout athlete and got serious about specializing his Soph year. He had the athleticism, height, body type, etc. Grades were good but not outstanding which limited his prospects. The recruiting process is such a confusing time. Coaches display interest, then disappear. My takeaway was that grades are more important than ability at competitive academic schools. We're happy with the SLAC where he landed with a nice scholarship which covers 1/3 of tuition/R&B annually, even if he quits the sport.

17

Boy. Late grower

In 8th grade- DD wanted to play college soccer. I didn't think she really knew what the meant.

Then in 9th grade she decided to go out for Cross Country. She was always one of the fastest at soccer but had no running training ever. She blew away the competition.

Track and field is what she does in college.

Age 12

With boys it is almost always later as growth is later. Is John going to be 5’10 or keep growing? Good friends’ oldest wanted very badly to play basketball at a decent basketball school. Captain of his big Catholic School team and played AAU for a good team. But, really only 6’1” and not quite quick enough for a good D1 guard. So - went D3 and grew 4 inches. As a 6’5” very good ball handling small forward/wing player he was suddenly in demand for a transfer to top 20 schools.

So - depends on when they grow.

For girls it can be a bit in reverse. Lots of girls are done growing by 16, but will they stay as fast/quick as they are at 16?

Swimming - girl
7th grade times were D3 level.
9th grade she stated that college swimming at some level was a goal/plan.
10th grade it became more clear that D1 was a realistic possibility. Really didn't know what to expect or how it would go until recruitment window opened.

Daughter
D1 soccer
about 8th grade. You can start to see the difference in play and game awareness. By this time -as a parent - you have watched millions of other girls and games. You know.

My child is a swimmer- male, D3 NESAC conference. He knew he wanted to pursue college swimming by the end of his freshman year in high school He had just started to earn sectional cuts and was serious about training hard.

Did you know before adolescence or did it become more clear when they were in high school? What sport?