Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally don’t see a point. My kids is planning to go pro and will likely finish high school online. He can go to college when he’s done pursuing his dream. And yes, he has a college fund we contribute to. But I also wasn’t raised here and didn’t grow up with college sports being a big deal (it’s a very American thing I think!). College is for academics and fortunately he is very intelligent smart kid too and has completely separate academic goals/plans for college that does not involve his sport.

That’s not unusual in sports other than football and basketball. Still - colleges are a good place for kids to mature while still working on their sport. So, for example, you see the shift in baseball players from going pro out of high school to going pro after doing some college. Good College programs give kids a chance to physically mature and get in shape correctly. Frankly, the physio/medical staffing at a major college is better than all but the top level professional organizations. That aspect flows through beyond football and basketball.

Soccer would be an iffy thing. Going to a solid club with a good history of handling young players correctly - go for it. Money is a factor though. I would be curious what kind of NIL deal a top young men’s soccer player could get versus what they could get for playing. For me - I think I would be looking at the physical issues mostly. But obviously money is a big factor. Got a seven figure deal? Go for it. Got a deal that basically pays living expenses- then college is looking much better - particularly if you can find some good NIL money.

I think NILs are great but I just don't see it being a thing for soccer though. It's more common to just attempt to go pro in high school or post high school than play in college. Of course it can be done, there is still the MLS draft. But a kid that really wants to go pro and is among the best by high school will not consider college at all. So I'm not sure an NIL would work for a college soccer when college soccer is not the hotbed of US soccer stars.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally don’t see a point. My kids is planning to go pro and will likely finish high school online. He can go to college when he’s done pursuing his dream. And yes, he has a college fund we contribute to. But I also wasn’t raised here and didn’t grow up with college sports being a big deal (it’s a very American thing I think!). College is for academics and fortunately he is very intelligent smart kid too and has completely separate academic goals/plans for college that does not involve his sport.

That’s not unusual in sports other than football and basketball. Still - colleges are a good place for kids to mature while still working on their sport. So, for example, you see the shift in baseball players from going pro out of high school to going pro after doing some college. Good College programs give kids a chance to physically mature and get in shape correctly. Frankly, the physio/medical staffing at a major college is better than all but the top level professional organizations. That aspect flows through beyond football and basketball.

Soccer would be an iffy thing. Going to a solid club with a good history of handling young players correctly - go for it. Money is a factor though. I would be curious what kind of NIL deal a top young men’s soccer player could get versus what they could get for playing. For me - I think I would be looking at the physical issues mostly. But obviously money is a big factor. Got a seven figure deal? Go for it. Got a deal that basically pays living expenses- then college is looking much better - particularly if you can find some good NIL money.

I think NILs are great but I just don't see it being a thing for soccer though. It's more common to just attempt to go pro in high school or post high school than play in college. Of course it can be done, there is still the MLS draft. But a kid that really wants to go pro and is among the best by high school will not consider college at all. So I'm not sure an NIL would work for a college soccer when college soccer is not the hotbed of US soccer stars.

Anonymous wrote:No one mentioned the greatest advantage: look at many heads of Fortune 500 sales teams and you will find many D1 athlete. They make bank.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally don’t see a point. My kids is planning to go pro and will likely finish high school online. He can go to college when he’s done pursuing his dream. And yes, he has a college fund we contribute to. But I also wasn’t raised here and didn’t grow up with college sports being a big deal (it’s a very American thing I think!). College is for academics and fortunately he is very intelligent smart kid too and has completely separate academic goals/plans for college that does not involve his sport.

That’s not unusual in sports other than football and basketball. Still - colleges are a good place for kids to mature while still working on their sport. So, for example, you see the shift in baseball players from going pro out of high school to going pro after doing some college. Good College programs give kids a chance to physically mature and get in shape correctly. Frankly, the physio/medical staffing at a major college is better than all but the top level professional organizations. That aspect flows through beyond football and basketball.

Soccer would be an iffy thing. Going to a solid club with a good history of handling young players correctly - go for it. Money is a factor though. I would be curious what kind of NIL deal a top young men’s soccer player could get versus what they could get for playing. For me - I think I would be looking at the physical issues mostly. But obviously money is a big factor. Got a seven figure deal? Go for it. Got a deal that basically pays living expenses- then college is looking much better - particularly if you can find some good NIL money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

VERY very few families look at this way. I’d say probably <1% of families are savvy gunners using it to get into a super selective college. Majority just want to brag their kid “plays at the next level” and will go to crappy colleges they’d never otherwise consider to make it happen. Dumb as hell.

Anonymous wrote:To get into a college you wouldn’t have gotten into otherwise, although in that case, you can quit the day you arrive on campus for freshmen year with no repercussions.

Anonymous wrote:I personally don’t see a point. My kids is planning to go pro and will likely finish high school online. He can go to college when he’s done pursuing his dream. And yes, he has a college fund we contribute to. But I also wasn’t raised here and didn’t grow up with college sports being a big deal (it’s a very American thing I think!). College is for academics and fortunately he is very intelligent smart kid too and has completely separate academic goals/plans for college that does not involve his sport.

Anonymous wrote:I personally don’t see a point. My kids is planning to go pro and will likely finish high school online. He can go to college when he’s done pursuing his dream. And yes, he has a college fund we contribute to. But I also wasn’t raised here and didn’t grow up with college sports being a big deal (it’s a very American thing I think!). College is for academics and fortunately he is very intelligent smart kid too and has completely separate academic goals/plans for college that does not involve his sport.

Anonymous wrote:You can get into classes and you do typically schedule first. But, that does not mean you can te seasonake classes you want. The class actually has to be offered during the times when you have available, and the class has to allow for missing it when the team is on the road. Lots of classes dont monitor attendance. Lab classes and classes with required group activities are not workable during th. You have to be able to do the work on the road. Not a problem for most, but you won't be practicing an instrument or doing an art project on the road. And, of course, the big deal is when you hit Junior and Senoir level courses. They are typically sequenced so you do not take Mgmt 430 until you have completed Mgmt 225 and Stats 330. But, you can't take Stats 330 until next Spring, and you you need Mgmt 430 this term or you will be staying over until next Fall. Oops. The sequenced class thing absolutely kills athletes working toward degrees.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

That is simply wrong

Dorm life for athletes is really based on where the athletic facilities are for that particular team. Getting in a dorm that would mean an extra 20 minute walk each way adds 40 minutes of time. You live in the dorm (and as a freshman) so you can be close to the training facilities. Also - you live in the dorm that services athletes so that you have longer cafeteria hours. If the school has cafeterias based on dorms. Practice often ends after regular cafeteria hours are done.

You can get into classes and you do typically schedule first. But, that does not mean you can take classes you want. The class actually has to be offered during the times when you have available, and the class has to allow for missing it when the team is on the road. Lots of classes dont monitor attendance. Lab classes and classes with required group activities are not workable during the season. You have to be able to do the work on the road. Not a problem for most, but you won't be practicing an instrument or doing an art project on the road. And, of course, the big deal is when you hit Junior and Senoir level courses. They are typically sequenced so you do not take Mgmt 430 until you have completed Mgmt 225 and Stats 330. But, you can't take Stats 330 until next Spring, and you you need Mgmt 430 this term or you will be staying over until next Fall. Oops. The sequenced class thing absolutely kills athletes working toward degrees.

Payments - some schools do have some payment plan to help students. In the 2 Big 10 schools that I am familiar with this is 100 a month when in school.

Free food is the same as every student who is living in a dorm. But, most students and most athletes do not live in the dorm beyond Sophomore year. Food can be obtained on campus in dorms.\\

Non-sports season team travel -- can be a thing but mostly is not. Title IX kicks in. Schools do not like the extra issues associated with it.

Tutors and study halls - you can make use of tutors who are typically the same ones every larger college offers students though the required study hall time does mean that they will have someone there rather than in say the student library. For freshman, study table as it is called is typically required and time is tracked. Once you establish a minimum GPA (say 3.0) then it is not required.]]


The primary benefit my kid liked was laundry service. You ever wondered why athletes at your school wore team gear around? Showing off maybe? Mostly it was because team gear could be washed by the laundry service. Put it in your laundry bag and toss in the cart. A day or two later it would be back in your locker. Not pretty. Not flattering. But, you did not have to wash it.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.