Anonymous wrote:Only matters if (1) you enjoy it, and (2) you make something of it beyond, ..., it.

Anonymous wrote:College soccer - does it matter in the long run? Does anything you work hard at matter?
Of course it matters, it is part of who you are. You have to do it because you love it, not because it is popular, gets you employment, or whatever.

When I'm looking for staff, I look for people with passion in their lives, among other things. If I come across a successful college athlete, it tells me something.

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Anonymous wrote:If it means you get 200K in free tuition, I can see how it's worth it.

Not a lot of those scholarships out there for Soccer

For boys- basically NONE. Schools get 9 total and that is at any given time so they will split them into meager amounts. If there are 9 upperclassmen with scholarships and only 2 graduating that means 2 available. For boys, do not plan on it being a lucrative model. Plan on paying yourself.

It is really not true that there are no full rides for boys. In the interview, this coach mentions he has three kids on full athletic scholarships, with the majority of the rest on 25% to 60%. I know several boys (all from the US) who are or will be on full athletic scholarships for soccer, and many on 50%-75% averaged over 4 years (usually a lower percentage for the first year or two then high for the remainder). It’s not nearly so dire a situation for D1 boys as it’s made out to be, especially for boys from a soccer-rich area like this.

Academics are more important to getting college paid for through soccer than the athletic scholarships. The focus for kids should be on both disciplines to get to the school they want and avoid having to pay most of the cost. Lots of schools will take kids with strong academic profiles and are potential contributors to fill out the roster. This helps with team GPA and then allows the scholarship to be used elsewhere.

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Anonymous wrote:I played DIII and am a female lawyer. I am convinced the soccer has opened the door to interviews for me. I think DI would be much too intense for someone who wants to go on to grad school or has a tough major.

I played D1, had a tough major at a good school, and went to grad school. My time playing soccer in college was one of the best experiences of my life.

Anonymous wrote:I played DIII and am a female lawyer. I am convinced the soccer has opened the door to interviews for me. I think DI would be much too intense for someone who wants to go on to grad school or has a tough major.

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Anonymous wrote:players playing a high level too early burn out by college. there is no reason to be in a club environment before 14-15 years old.

The kids on my kids team, many who expect to play division 1 have either reached the top of their game, hurt on a regular basis, or are having serious issues with dealing with the pressure because that is all they do.

I am willing to bet those who say it is worth it were multiple sport athletes through high school.

I don’t understand this. How does one hold off playing until 14 or 15?

a friends kid played over 70 games last year, 70. kids are doing this at u10, 11, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 no wonder they are spent and burnt. Talented kids can play soccer and not have 70 games a year and can start playing more games at u15

for some reason you all think your kid is the exception for every kid that makes it to div 1 there are so many who got hurt, left the sport because of the stress etc.

so yea my 2 kids who are div 1 athletes didn't play high level until they were 15. coaches don't just take kids for skill because mine are not the most skilled but they had what the programs needed. btw, they don't play soccer but the same can be applied to any sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:players playing a high level too early burn out by college. there is no reason to be in a club environment before 14-15 years old.

The kids on my kids team, many who expect to play division 1 have either reached the top of their game, hurt on a regular basis, or are having serious issues with dealing with the pressure because that is all they do.

I am willing to bet those who say it is worth it were multiple sport athletes through high school.

I don’t understand this. How does one hold off playing until 14 or 15?

a friends kid played over 70 games last year, 70. kids are doing this at u10, 11, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 no wonder they are spent and burnt. Talented kids can play soccer and not have 70 games a year and can start playing more games at u15

for some reason you all think your kid is the exception for every kid that makes it to div 1 there are so many who got hurt, left the sport because of the stress etc.

so yea my 2 kids who are div 1 athletes didn't play high level until they were 15. coaches don't just take kids for skill because mine are not the most skilled but they had what the programs needed. btw, they don't play soccer but the same can be applied to any sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:players playing a high level too early burn out by college. there is no reason to be in a club environment before 14-15 years old.

The kids on my kids team, many who expect to play division 1 have either reached the top of their game, hurt on a regular basis, or are having serious issues with dealing with the pressure because that is all they do.

I am willing to bet those who say it is worth it were multiple sport athletes through high school.

I don’t understand this. How does one hold off playing until 14 or 15?

Anonymous wrote:players playing a high level too early burn out by college. there is no reason to be in a club environment before 14-15 years old.

The kids on my kids team, many who expect to play division 1 have either reached the top of their game, hurt on a regular basis, or are having serious issues with dealing with the pressure because that is all they do.

I am willing to bet those who say it is worth it were multiple sport athletes through high school.

Anonymous wrote:players playing a high level too early burn out by college. there is no reason to be in a club environment before 14-15 years old.

The kids on my kids team, many who expect to play division 1 have either reached the top of their game, hurt on a regular basis, or are having serious issues with dealing with the pressure because that is all they do.

I am willing to bet those who say it is worth it were multiple sport athletes through high school.