Tweet
I wasn't sure which category this goes in, but thought Personal Finance might be the best.
We are now in the dizzying world of college recruitment for our daughter (volleyball). Wow this is an industry all its own. Here is what we are learning: If your kid is clearly good enough to play some level of college ball, you will likely know that by their freshman year in high school generally. They tend to stand out in their respective position. That doesn't mean they will be an Olympian, but they have a certain knack to do the sport that seems to come very easy, and they can probably play at the next level somewhere.
If your kid has not been contacted indirectly (through your club or high school coach) by their sophomore year, they likely are not playing major college sports. The major universities have identified their talent for signing classes three and four years out from today. If they haven't ID'd your kid by their sophomore year, your kid isn't going there to play sports in all likelihood.
If your kid DOES think they want to play college, and they feasibly have the talent, they have to start the process by their sophomore year, no later. That involves position camps, college combines, recruitment videos, emailing coaches, etc. Too many athletes decide they want to continue playing in college during their senior year in high school, and that is too late. Way, way too late.
It is possible for a child who THINKS they want to play college sports to later decide that they DO NOT want to play college, but it is very difficult for a child who currently DOES NOT want to play college sports later decide that they DO: Their window is mostly shut, although junior college is a possibility.
Most of the prestigious private universities in the U.S. are actually Division 3, for which there are no "athletic" scholarships. There are a few exceptions (Notre Dame, Wake, USC, etc.) but they are VERY FEW. But do not be discouraged: If one of these teams wants you on their team, they will find all sorts of OTHER scholarships to throw at you to get the price way down.
As for my own child, who knows if she will go on to play in college. We will know a lot more 2 years from now. She might have the "want to" but not the "can do", or she might have the "can do" but no longer has the "want to." But we figured out pretty early in this process that "if you snooze, you lose."
Feel free to post questions or thoughts on this subject. I am happy to answer or chime in as requested.
We are now in the dizzying world of college recruitment for our daughter (volleyball). Wow this is an industry all its own. Here is what we are learning: If your kid is clearly good enough to play some level of college ball, you will likely know that by their freshman year in high school generally. They tend to stand out in their respective position. That doesn't mean they will be an Olympian, but they have a certain knack to do the sport that seems to come very easy, and they can probably play at the next level somewhere.
If your kid has not been contacted indirectly (through your club or high school coach) by their sophomore year, they likely are not playing major college sports. The major universities have identified their talent for signing classes three and four years out from today. If they haven't ID'd your kid by their sophomore year, your kid isn't going there to play sports in all likelihood.
If your kid DOES think they want to play college, and they feasibly have the talent, they have to start the process by their sophomore year, no later. That involves position camps, college combines, recruitment videos, emailing coaches, etc. Too many athletes decide they want to continue playing in college during their senior year in high school, and that is too late. Way, way too late.
It is possible for a child who THINKS they want to play college sports to later decide that they DO NOT want to play college, but it is very difficult for a child who currently DOES NOT want to play college sports later decide that they DO: Their window is mostly shut, although junior college is a possibility.
Most of the prestigious private universities in the U.S. are actually Division 3, for which there are no "athletic" scholarships. There are a few exceptions (Notre Dame, Wake, USC, etc.) but they are VERY FEW. But do not be discouraged: If one of these teams wants you on their team, they will find all sorts of OTHER scholarships to throw at you to get the price way down.
As for my own child, who knows if she will go on to play in college. We will know a lot more 2 years from now. She might have the "want to" but not the "can do", or she might have the "can do" but no longer has the "want to." But we figured out pretty early in this process that "if you snooze, you lose."
Feel free to post questions or thoughts on this subject. I am happy to answer or chime in as requested.
Comment