^PP here....I will add though....I think it's totally ok to to go a lesser known school (i.e., Chowan, Stevenson) as an athletic recruit...IF....(a) the school is a good "fit", (b) the school has a decent program which kid is interested in, (c) financial aid package makes it affordable.

It's great for the kids who otherwise wouldn't have gone to college. My problem is the kids who were academically strong enough to go to a much better school but ended up at a ridiculous school. What if a kid got in to JMU or VT with no hope of being on their sports team but instead went to Chowan College so they could be on that team?

+1

I am actually going through this right now with S20 who plays travel soccer and wants to "play soccer in college no matter what" and is trying very heard to be recruited. We have had to bring him down from the clouds a bit. He was approached by coach from Stevenson University -- I'd never heard of this college until then. S20 all excited until I clearly pointed out (a) it's OOS tuition, (b) D3 schools can only offer merit aid and (c) weak degree progam in S20's degree area of interest. He was also approached by Hampton-Sydney coach but that was an easy no because S20 doesn't want to go to all boys school

I have also cautioned him about coaches (even D1s) offering "financial aid" as that includes loans. To me, financial aid is merit, grants and scholarships. Loans are a last resort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the “them” you are referring to?

Back in the day I was a recruited swimmer at a Div III SLAC. I quit after sophomore year because my shoulder blew out. 16 years of the sport took its toll.

I have a feeling, though, that the percentage of students who decide not to continue with their sport is roughly the same as the number who quit orchestra, band or theatre.

I just notice most of these supposedly recruited athletes end up at colleges they'd never have any interest in were it not for a spot on some team that plays in front of a dozen fans. It seems so pointless and predictable. Of course your kid is going to be unhappy. Why even allow this? Seems far wiser to your child go where they genuinely want, then play club or intramurals.

Sounds like you run in a different crowd than many of us and are assuming it’s the same everywhere. The vast majority of serious athletes I know are working to get committed to top academic schools. Almost all of the ones who end up at D3 play the full 4 years barring injury. Same for the kids who end up in the Ivy League. Those who play D1 and don’t get much in athletic money do often quit after a year or two so they can focus more on school if playing time is not looking promising. I know a lot of D1 soccer players on athletic scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% averaged over 4 years. Most of them play for 4 years barring injury or unhappiness with the coach. There are also a fair amount of men’s soccer players from our area making a decent living from the sport, and a lot who will make way more than the average 16-22 year old then quit to do something not directly related to playing. They make very good connections during those years for business jobs.

In short; no, I definitely haven’t noticed the phenomenon you mention.

Np here. You are delusional. Are you a coach?

Nope. Just a parent who knows a lot of academically focused kids who play DA and ECNL soccer (including a few who ultimately went pro) and high level baseball. While I’m sure outcomes can differ by sport, it’s also the case that kids who care about academics are always going to have a different college career than those who don’t. And I’m not judging anyone. I know a few boys who never would have gone to college at all except for soccer, and it’s worked out very well for them to get a degree from the no name schools many of you look down on.

It's great for the kids who otherwise wouldn't have gone to college. My problem is the kids who were academically strong enoough to go to a much better school but ended up at a ridiculous school. What if a kid got in to JMU or VT with no hope of being on their sports team but instead went to Chowan College so they could be on that team?

I’m the poster you are responding to, and I have met exactly 2 kids of the sort you describe. One has parents who are not American and could care less about prestige. Their daughter turned down a top 10 SLAC that was a plane ride away to play for a top 50 one 2 hours away, though in both cases she was a recruited athlete so maybe that’s not on point. The other kid turned down a top D3 to go to a middling D1 that has sent some kids to the pros. It kind of made sense given that he’s not a very serious student and thought he’d be bored stiff at the D3 school.

I really think you just can’t generalize. If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of highly educated parents and your kids go to highly academic public or private schools, you will know a lot of kids like the ones I describe who have grown up well aware that athletics are one ticket to top colleges. If you are in a neighborhood where parents are less obsessed about academic and career success, you may know more like the OP describes. But I hope most people would not be so judgmental and hateful about kid athletes no matter where they end up.

Anonymous wrote:33% of D1 athletes quit their sport, 50% of those are due to injury.

It very hard to make it through all 4 years ... injury, time commitment, playing time, etc.

That is why athletes are highly recruited to jobs ... it's hard and they are in a very small percentage of the population who can actually do it.

I do find it odd, though. When the chance of being an athlete is so low, and then the chance of making it 4 years is only 66%.. that I know a ton of athletes that did it and did it at highly academic schools.

I'm calling bs on this. My husband and I both worked in recruiting for technical jobs for years. At no point was anyone ever considered because of the sport they played in high school or college. I also think the poster who mentioned special recruiting for college athletes is not being entirely honest. If there is special recruiting it is because the college is worried the athletes don't have enough to get jobs.

Just as easily goes the other way. Recruiting is often a ticket into extremely competitive schools like the NESCAC. You still need the academic chops, but you get past the lottery.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the “them” you are referring to?

Back in the day I was a recruited swimmer at a Div III SLAC. I quit after sophomore year because my shoulder blew out. 16 years of the sport took its toll.

I have a feeling, though, that the percentage of students who decide not to continue with their sport is roughly the same as the number who quit orchestra, band or theatre.

I just notice most of these supposedly recruited athletes end up at colleges they'd never have any interest in were it not for a spot on some team that plays in front of a dozen fans. It seems so pointless and predictable. Of course your kid is going to be unhappy. Why even allow this? Seems far wiser to your child go where they genuinely want, then play club or intramurals.

Sounds like you run in a different crowd than many of us and are assuming it’s the same everywhere. The vast majority of serious athletes I know are working to get committed to top academic schools. Almost all of the ones who end up at D3 play the full 4 years barring injury. Same for the kids who end up in the Ivy League. Those who play D1 and don’t get much in athletic money do often quit after a year or two so they can focus more on school if playing time is not looking promising. I know a lot of D1 soccer players on athletic scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% averaged over 4 years. Most of them play for 4 years barring injury or unhappiness with the coach. There are also a fair amount of men’s soccer players from our area making a decent living from the sport, and a lot who will make way more than the average 16-22 year old then quit to do something not directly related to playing. They make very good connections during those years for business jobs.

In short; no, I definitely haven’t noticed the phenomenon you mention.

Np here. You are delusional. Are you a coach?

Nope. Just a parent who knows a lot of academically focused kids who play DA and ECNL soccer (including a few who ultimately went pro) and high level baseball. While I’m sure outcomes can differ by sport, it’s also the case that kids who care about academics are always going to have a different college career than those who don’t. And I’m not judging anyone. I know a few boys who never would have gone to college at all except for soccer, and it’s worked out very well for them to get a degree from the no name schools many of you look down on.

It's great for the kids who otherwise wouldn't have gone to college. My problem is the kids who were academically strong enoough to go to a much better school but ended up at a ridiculous school. What if a kid got in to JMU or VT with no hope of being on their sports team but instead went to Chowan College so they could be on that team?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:33% of D1 athletes quit their sport, 50% of those are due to injury.

It very hard to make it through all 4 years ... injury, time commitment, playing time, etc.

That is why athletes are highly recruited to jobs ... it's hard and they are in a very small percentage of the population who can actually do it.

I do find it odd, though. When the chance of being an athlete is so low, and then the chance of making it 4 years is only 66%.. that I know a ton of athletes that did it and did it at highly academic schools.

Thanks for the data, though a citation would be nice. A third, while significant and likely higher than at other division levels given the extreme commitment, nowhere near the OP’s absurd original claim of almost all.

Do you also find it odd that kids start college at all given the average graduation rate, which is even lower? Nobody goes in thinking they will fail.

The NCAA is required to collect all kinds of statistics, they are almost manic about it.

NCAA athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general population ... but they have study halls and free tutors.

Though I do think OP is talking about how many kids who start travel in 6th grade actually end up going to college to play the sport... which is very low % wise. But I do think those kids get so much out of it even if college is not a goal.

OUr soccer team... for example, had the 1 kid that you knew would go pro (and he did), the 5 you thought could do college and they did, the others that did not care to play past HS.

My athlete will probably play in college for this reason. The structure and special attention will be helpful for his academics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice this? Almost all of them end up at regional public or podunk private colleges, then proceed to quit their sport after a year. And then most of them seem to transfer out to the university more (or most) of their high school friends attend. Even the D1 swimmer girl we knew quit and left her SEC university. Seems like these realities are totally ignored by the fanatic parents?

+100
Yeah the sports scene is extremely crazy! Starting travel sport at a young age doesn’t seem to pay off.

my kids all have played travel sports although not at young ages. Never ever has that been for a pay off. They get good and want a more challenging environment. If a child did that for academics or music it would be applauded not critiqued like sports. I would much prefer to go to a game 10 minutes away than an entire weekend in Norfolk. And I especially am not excited for my kid to pick a school based on where they can play but for one of them, that is important TO THEM. Many kids, maybe even most kids, enjoy playing sports and are good at it plus competitive. So even if kid gets partial sports scholarship it doesn’t come close to funds spent on sport. If you want to criticize me for indulging my kid by spending too much time or money okay but you are 1000% wrong if you think the motivation was a payoff. I suspect most travel parents are in the same mindset.

+1 My kid played at the highest levels of travel soccer because he enjoyed the challenge and competition. He knew that no college he would want to attend would ever be a shot for soccer and his ultimate goal is to be an MD so academics are priority. I think competitive and motivated kids are like that no matter what, he was ultra competitive with grades also, he now attends a top 10 University because he earned it academically but still plays soccer in his local leagues and intramurals while reffing the younger travel players for extra spending money.

I have seen a lot of kids like this too, and have one of my own. They end up at great schools and have a blast playing club and/or intramural sports. It’s a wonderful way to make close friends and connections outside of class and dorms.

Anonymous wrote:^^^ No such thing as a sports scholarship at Division 2 and 3 regional public and podunk private colleges. And most of the student-athletes at D1s are on partial scholarships, if anything.

D2 provides athletic scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice this? Almost all of them end up at regional public or podunk private colleges, then proceed to quit their sport after a year. And then most of them seem to transfer out to the university more (or most) of their high school friends attend. Even the D1 swimmer girl we knew quit and left her SEC university. Seems like these realities are totally ignored by the fanatic parents?

+100
Yeah the sports scene is extremely crazy! Starting travel sport at a young age doesn’t seem to pay off.

my kids all have played travel sports although not at young ages. Never ever has that been for a pay off. They get good and want a more challenging environment. If a child did that for academics or music it would be applauded not critiqued like sports. I would much prefer to go to a game 10 minutes away than an entire weekend in Norfolk. And I especially am not excited for my kid to pick a school based on where they can play but for one of them, that is important TO THEM. Many kids, maybe even most kids, enjoy playing sports and are good at it plus competitive. So even if kid gets partial sports scholarship it doesn’t come close to funds spent on sport. If you want to criticize me for indulging my kid by spending too much time or money okay but you are 1000% wrong if you think the motivation was a payoff. I suspect most travel parents are in the same mindset.

+1 My kid played at the highest levels of travel soccer because he enjoyed the challenge and competition. He knew that no college he would want to attend would ever be a shot for soccer and his ultimate goal is to be an MD so academics are priority. I think competitive and motivated kids are like that no matter what, he was ultra competitive with grades also, he now attends a top 10 University because he earned it academically but still plays soccer in his local leagues and intramurals while reffing the younger travel players for extra spending money.

Anonymous wrote:You’re being generous. OP says ‘go to college and quit team after a year.’ Pretty clear and completely false.

Oh yea... I had my pollyanna hat on. Sorry... she even said podunk and public... like a public college is a horrible thing.

You’re being generous. OP says ‘go to college and quit team after a year.’ Pretty clear and completely false.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:33% of D1 athletes quit their sport, 50% of those are due to injury.

It very hard to make it through all 4 years ... injury, time commitment, playing time, etc.

That is why athletes are highly recruited to jobs ... it's hard and they are in a very small percentage of the population who can actually do it.

I do find it odd, though. When the chance of being an athlete is so low, and then the chance of making it 4 years is only 66%.. that I know a ton of athletes that did it and did it at highly academic schools.

Thanks for the data, though a citation would be nice. A third, while significant and likely higher than at other division levels given the extreme commitment, nowhere near the OP’s absurd original claim of almost all.

Do you also find it odd that kids start college at all given the average graduation rate, which is even lower? Nobody goes in thinking they will fail.

The NCAA is required to collect all kinds of statistics, they are almost manic about it.

NCAA athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general population ... but they have study halls and free tutors.

Though I do think OP is talking about how many kids who start travel in 6th grade actually end up going to college to play the sport... which is very low % wise. But I do think those kids get so much out of it even if college is not a goal.

OUr soccer team... for example, had the 1 kid that you knew would go pro (and he did), the 5 you thought could do college and they did, the others that did not care to play past HS.

Anonymous wrote:33% of D1 athletes quit their sport, 50% of those are due to injury.

It very hard to make it through all 4 years ... injury, time commitment, playing time, etc.

That is why athletes are highly recruited to jobs ... it's hard and they are in a very small percentage of the population who can actually do it.

I do find it odd, though. When the chance of being an athlete is so low, and then the chance of making it 4 years is only 66%.. that I know a ton of athletes that did it and did it at highly academic schools.

Thanks for the data, though a citation would be nice. A third, while significant and likely higher than at other division levels given the extreme commitment, nowhere near the OP’s absurd original claim of almost all.

Do you also find it odd that kids start college at all given the average graduation rate, which is even lower? Nobody goes in thinking they will fail.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice this? Almost all of them end up at regional public or podunk private colleges, then proceed to quit their sport after a year. And then most of them seem to transfer out to the university more (or most) of their high school friends attend. Even the D1 swimmer girl we knew quit and left her SEC university. Seems like these realities are totally ignored by the fanatic parents?

I counter your anecdotal experience with my own.

Some athletes burn out, some get hurt, some thrive.

Same with non-athletes- many non athletes change schools or drop out.

I havent noticed a significant difference between the two populations.