It looks like so many CT players have committed to playing D1 College Soccer which is a good thing. Does everyone sign a NLI or just those who are receiving an athletic scholarship? Has anyone ever looked to see how many who commit go on and actually play in college and/or how many transfer? I have heard so much on this board about this player going to this school and that player going to that school but rarely do you see if that player is actually playing at their respective school.
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A true NLI is only signed if there is athletic money involved, which is only at D1 and D2 schools. You will see pretend signings where either the player is going D1 or D2 but isn't receiving athletic $, or D3 where there is no athletic money at all. In all those cases players may be getting academic (merit) money or financial aid. But there is no letter to sign, despite pictures in your local paper with pretend letters being signed.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
As for longevity, it isn't easy to play meaningful soccer for four years, especially in good D1 programs. The competition is fierce for spots and you can easily be ousted by a new shiny freshman. Burn out is also high because it allows little time for anything else but school and sports. If you go on the MA board a dude there tracks boys' commitments over the years and what they do in college. Generally about 1/3 won't play at all or hardly, 1/3 play some, 1/3 play a good deal. There are other stats out there showing similar numbers. At some point almost all college athletes move on to the next chapter in their lives. By junior year many are out. -
Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
So the are the signings fake? Like fake news? I am guessing they are a bit misleading and probably are intended to mislead.Comment
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So why are do so many kids spend a boat load of money & all their time growing up on soccer with the goal of playing college soccer? The reality is they won't even play in college and if they do, chances are they'll mostly sit & then quit and/or have scholarship pulled.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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It isn't the kids who are paying. There's the first reason. Much of the club business is driven by parents willing to write checks. Everyone buys the hype and there is some real money to be granted in female college sports. Some just want theie kid to get into a better school. certainly soccer isn't the only sport where this happens. And for many athletes it all works out. But it doesn't for many others as well. I'm not the op but I've read those MA threads about player track records. It is sobering. I had my kids read them as well. I don't want to squash their aspirations but I do want them to be realistic about the odds. It's good to keep them in mind in terms of finding a good soccer fit and how realistic is it to play at one school vs another. It's also even more important that the school to be the right fit for the career goals - that's what it's all about in the end. If you play a sport with that then that's a bonus.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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What is sobering is the selectivity of colleges. Played right, soccer, or any extra cirricular activity could help your kid when it comes time for admissions.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
1. It can be used to show dedication and commitment
2 can be used for leadership (i.e. Capt)
3 cans be used for excellence (i.e. All county, all state, etc)
4 can give a kid an experience that might help her write her essay
5 could result in a scholarship
6 could result in preferred admission status
7 could result in less college apps (less time and money spent)
8 could result in volunteerism
9 could lead to an internship or job (camp counselor, ref, etc)
That is just the potential admissions impact. Doesn't even bring into conversation other life skills, habits, etc
1 fitness
2 focus and discipline
3 ability to communicate with an adult (coaches on visits, etc)
4 teamwork
5 entertainment
6 sportsmanship
7 dealing with pressure (i.e. showcasing)
8 friendship
You get my drift. If the goal is strictly the maximum athletic scholarship to whatever college can offer it first, then you are bound to be disappointedComment
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OP here - totally agree. We've never been involved in soccer or any sport for some kind of financial reward, or even for the supposed boost in admissions for a recruited athlete. It's been about all the other things you list. I see too many parents - not just in soccer - so wrapped up in chasing the college sports dream and it just isn't realistic for many of them. Some even make academic compromises for the sake of sports. It can cause friction between the parent and child as well. If it happens that's great. If it doesn't but a child gained many of the lessons you list, then parents shouldn't regret the time and money spent.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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nobody gets involved in youth sports for college at the outset, nobody knows what the kid likes or is good at.It happens over time with enthusiasm and success from the child. that being said once your child has shown potential whats wrong with trying to maximize the potential?Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Nothing wrong with it as long as you're objective about it. Most parents are not objective nor are they very good judges of talent. Clubs feed into that. Good to step back now and then and re-examine from time to time. Big shifts like the age change, or upcoming league change ups with DA/ECNL, or even the recruiting process can sometimes force that critical evaluation.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
different posterComment
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It's called having a "dream". Nothing wrong with that or making the effort to fulfill that dream.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
The problem comes when "reality" offers challenges that cannot be overcome and make the dream much more a "fantasy" than an attainable goal. Actually, it's not even the reality that is the challenge, but the player's and parent's inability to see or accept that reality.Comment
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Good points. I know that many here would not like to hear from a parent that has been through it with several children, from Rec through College over several decades , but I think we kept a decent attitude and perspective into the endeavor. And after all that, I can certainly say there aren't many regrets. That's' not to say everything went our way, but the overall experience was good for the children, and I believe it contributed to their status as decent well adjusted young adults. We also met many great people throughout the journey.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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you are overthinking this- the reality/dream conflict gets taken care of at some point by a person who's job it is ,is to identify talent (he is called a coach). that may happen in youth,high school or college but it happensOriginally posted by Unregistered View Post
the thread you are responding on is labeled NLI which means these kids have been selected and sorted into their respective soccer worlds. some may feel unhappy that they aren't going to North Carolina as they once dreamed but I bet they are happy where they are going
all of that Fantasy BS gets taken care of between U12 and U16Comment
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I have had three play college soccer.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
There is plenty of dreams I saw that were overcome by reality, even when they get to college.
For my girls, we did a good job managing expectations and preparing for success. But there were some other girls.......not sure what their dream was or what their parents' dreams were, but they clearly existed in the fantasy end of dreaming.Comment
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At every level step up the commitment level increases- at the college level the jump is the greatest as you are no longer competing locally but regionally and sometimes nationally for spotsOriginally posted by Unregistered View Post
The dream ends for most because they think they have arrived and stop doing the things that got them there in the first placeComment
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