The truth of the matter is playing sports can open doors to schools not otherwise considered or otherwise on the bubble for getting in. It isn’t about scholarships as much as it is about opening doors to schools not otherwise attainable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get this. Getting 25% at a state school is 6000 to 9000. That’s it. I spend that a year now on soccer so how am I saving any money by getting them to the point where he p,as soccer in college. If I had saved this money over the past 12 years I probably could pay for college out of pocket.

It has been well documented that a scholarship does not financially make up for the money it takes to earn the scholarship. It's just an ego thing for many.

If you actually think of the money you spend on youth soccer or any other kid activities as an investment that ought to produce financial returns, you are severely deluded and hopefully not in charge of your family’s finances. And it’s not an ego thing for most, but instead something parents do because their kids enjoy it.

News flash! Kids cost money. They don’t make you money. Shocker.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get this. Getting 25% at a state school is 6000 to 9000. That’s it. I spend that a year now on soccer so how am I saving any money by getting them to the point where he p,as soccer in college. If I had saved this money over the past 12 years I probably could pay for college out of pocket.

It has been well documented that a scholarship does not financially make up for the money it takes to earn the scholarship. It's just an ego thing for many.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get this. Getting 25% at a state school is 6000 to 9000. That’s it. I spend that a year now on soccer so how am I saving any money by getting them to the point where he p,as soccer in college. If I had saved this money over the past 12 years I probably could pay for college out of pocket.

You figured it out. Better yet, think how much you would have saved now if you never had kids. Why did you have kids? Lol.

I don’t get this. Getting 25% at a state school is 6000 to 9000. That’s it. I spend that a year now on soccer so how am I saving any money by getting them to the point where he p,as soccer in college. If I had saved this money over the past 12 years I probably could pay for college out of pocket.

It’s actually a good time to be a men’s D1 soccer players as far as athletic scholarships go. Large numbers of the best players are now skipping college to go pro (or leaving college early), so more roster spots and scholarship dollars are opening up each year. I know several kids who are receiving 25% or more as freshmen, with significant increases for the later years.

A majority of kids coming in as freshman get little scholarship money from athletics. Sometimes an elite kid can get a more, but it is rare. You supplement with academic money. Most of the scholarships go to upperclassmen who are starters and major contributors.

Don't expect to get money unless your child is playing a lot as a junior or senior. But if they do well in school, you'll get the education paid for. In the end, that's what matters.

Anonymous wrote:I played D1 at an ACC school and scholarships are never guaranteed. When you sign your commitment letter, that is the "intent" and can be changed at any point. They back end it unless you are absolutely amazing to find out how you fit in the roster. The best club players don't always translate to amazing college players, and many can't hang at that level. Two of my out of state roommates came in at 50%, then lost their scholarships the following year as they ended up being bench players. Both of them transferred after sophomore year due to affordability.

I’m assuming you played before 2015 when the Power Five rule went into effect?

I played D1 at an ACC school and scholarships are never guaranteed. When you sign your commitment letter, that is the "intent" and can be changed at any point. They back end it unless you are absolutely amazing to find out how you fit in the roster. The best club players don't always translate to amazing college players, and many can't hang at that level. Two of my out of state roommates came in at 50%, then lost their scholarships the following year as they ended up being bench players. Both of them transferred after sophomore year due to affordability.

This is an excellent question, OP. While athletic scholarships are not absolutely "guaranteed" for four years at any university, at some schools a coach is not permitted to reduce or terminate a scholarship for reasons related to athletic performance. All schools in the Power Five conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12, and SEC, and Notre Dame) abide by this rule, and some other universities have voluntarily adopted it. Here's an article explaining how the Power Five rule works: https://informedathlete.com/the-facts-about-guaranteed-multi-year-ncaa-di-scholarships/

At schools without this or a similar agreement in place, coaches can reduce or non-renew scholarships at the end of a given year, so it is very important to know which colleges are in which category when evaluating them during the recruiting process. I know several kids who played or play in the ACC and Big 10 who have benefited from this rule. Kids who were injury prone or did not end up fitting the coach's system had no reduction to their scholarships even when they spent most of their career on the bench. Coaches certainly have tried to persuade some of these kids to quit the team to free up dollars, but so long as the athletes try to rehab from any injuries and attend training and team meetings if they are physically able, then their athletic money is secure.

And yes, it's very common to "back end" scholarships, and the percentages are put in writing as part of the NLI along with an estimate of the total value of the scholarship (at least that's how it is done with the ones I've seen). I know several kids who have 100% for their final year or two, but less for year 1 and 2. It makes sense for coaches to do it that way given the odds that a kid will quit or (in some sports) turn pro prior to their senior years.

The loading of scholarships on the back end isn't the norm. Most schools offer some money to most players 20% athletic a higher % academic. to get 100% athletic in a non revenue sport is pretty rare but happens. Take the guaranteed academic money every time. Many don't complete their 4 years in the sport for various reasons.

Look at the roster for the school your kid is interested in. Go back to the class of 2020 freshman year and then compare to how many freshman their were in 2016 when they arrived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are college scholarships guaranteed for 4 years in soccer or is each year a 1 year agreement?

It seems that coaches are loading the back end of scholarships. For example

Year 1 - 20%
Year 2 - 50%
Years 3-4 - 100%

Is this ever put in writing and what is stopping a school from changing their minds

Length of offer depends on the school and yes, when you sign, it will be in writing. On an NLI, there are spaces for both the term and the amount offered. On my child's NLI, the term was set forth as four years, and the amount per year (which for him/her, does change), is also specified. In the accompanying text, it explicitly states the the offer is for four years, contingent upon continued participation on the team.

NLI are only good for one year. You may have a document with an agreement on terms but you are only signing (and they are only offering) one year. " When you sign an NLI, you agree to attend the institution listed on the NLI for one academic year in exchange for that institution awarding athletics financial aid for one academic year." It's best to go to NCAA etc for the correct information.

Anonymous wrote:Are college scholarships guaranteed for 4 years in soccer or is each year a 1 year agreement?

It seems that coaches are loading the back end of scholarships. For example

Year 1 - 20%
Year 2 - 50%
Years 3-4 - 100%

Is this ever put in writing and what is stopping a school from changing their minds

Length of offer depends on the school and yes, when you sign, it will be in writing. On an NLI, there are spaces for both the term and the amount offered. On my child's NLI, the term was set forth as four years, and the amount per year (which for him/her, does change), is also specified. In the accompanying text, it explicitly states the the offer is for four years, contingent upon continued participation on the team.

Are college scholarships guaranteed for 4 years in soccer or is each year a 1 year agreement?

It seems that coaches are loading the back end of scholarships. For example

Year 1 - 20%
Year 2 - 50%
Years 3-4 - 100%

Is this ever put in writing and what is stopping a school from changing their minds