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**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I have wondered why TS is so popular with parents of female players, and attribute its success to the fact that a female athlete from Connecticut pretty much has zero chance of making money as a professional athlete in any sport. For this reason, CT parents focus their efforts zealously on the holy grail: a college scholarship.

I suppose that Kristine Lilly made some money playing soccer, but I doubt very much. The only sports where women make $$$ are tennis, golf and skiing. CT tennis players can't compete with kids from 24/7 sunny states. Same for golfers. CT skiers can't compete with kids from Colorado who ski every day after school on legit ski racing courses.

A boy from CT can become a professional football, baseball or basketball player - or even become a NASCAR driver - and make lots of $$$. Girls from CT have no chance of making money professionally in sports but getting a full-ride to college equates to saving $100,000 - $200,000 in tuition for the parents. This could be equated to making money professionally.

This is why CT parents of female soccer players go nuts on TS. Am I right?

There are probably 10 kids a year in CT that get substantial scholarships. Keep in mind their college coach can take them away by year two or a kid can earn one... lots of ebb and flow. The idea that parents get so wrapped up in this is beyond me. I've been coaching in this state for 30 years and there's about ten girls in that time that have gone on to bigtime college soccer on full boats. 10 girls. That's it.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 10:57 AM

My assumption is that for half of the parents it has nothing to do with the $$ for a scholarship but it is all about bragging rights that their walking & talking status symbol is better than someone else's. Considering the lineup of range rovers and mercs you see parked at games all weekend long, i have serious doubts that the need for college money is that big a factor for most people.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There are probably 10 kids a year in CT that get substantial scholarships. Keep in mind their college coach can take them away by year two or a kid can earn one... lots of ebb and flow. The idea that parents get so wrapped up in this is beyond me. I've been coaching in this state for 30 years and there's about ten girls in that time that have gone on to bigtime college soccer on full boats. 10 girls. That's it.

You must be a sporting club coach or some hoo donk M class high school. I have only been on the scene for a few years and I can get close to 10 girls from CT high schools that have gotten full scholarships.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There are probably 10 kids a year in CT that get substantial scholarships. Keep in mind their college coach can take them away by year two or a kid can earn one... lots of ebb and flow. The idea that parents get so wrapped up in this is beyond me. I've been coaching in this state for 30 years and there's about ten girls in that time that have gone on to bigtime college soccer on full boats. 10 girls. That's it.

Don't know where you've been coaching or what level. Being a good enough female soccer player to play at the D1 or D2 collegiate level is a great financial benefit to many more than just 10 girls a year. I don't know what you consider "substantial". I consider 50% or more of the annual college tuition, room, board costs covered by a combination of academic and athletic money substantial. There are at least 50 girls from CT getting that annually. Soccer plays a big role in getting accepted into certain schools, too. You can poo-poo the importance of soccer all you want, but folks who have been through it know.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:08 AM

There is some decent money on the women's side for talented players - even if you can get 25% that is a good amount off a costly Northeastern school (where most kids will end up within a half day's drive from home). On the men's side money is practically nonexistent. In CT more of the focus is using soccer as a means to get into better/more prestigious schools, especially the hypercompetitive ones It isn't so much because parents think their kids are top D1 Stanford bound and then will go on to become a pro player.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:10 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

You must be a sporting club coach or some hoo donk M class high school. I have only been on the scene for a few years and I can get close to 10 girls from CT high schools that have gotten full scholarships.

I'm not talking about book money to Central CT or tuition at Mount Holyoke... it's about big time soccer. I can tell you this... these ten went to Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Virginia, UConn Boston College (Actually several), etc... go look at the perennial top 15 teams in country and tell me more than 10 kids. Also these kids received FULL BOATS not partials or stipends or meal money... there's a difference. I actually coached 3 of these girls

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I'm not talking about book money to Central CT or tuition at Mount Holyoke... it's about big time soccer. I can tell you this... these ten went to Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Virginia, UConn Boston College (Actually several), etc... go look at the perennial top 15 teams in country and tell me more than 10 kids. Also these kids received FULL BOATS not partials or stipends or meal money... there's a difference. I actually coached 3 of these girls

you said full scholarships dbag. Now that you were called out, it is only full scholarships to schools ranked in the top 10?

Those little blue pills have side effects and I think you are experiencing one of them pops

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Don't know where you've been coaching or what level. Being a good enough female soccer player to play at the D1 or D2 collegiate level is a great financial benefit to many more than just 10 girls a year. I don't know what you consider "substantial". I consider 50% or more of the annual college tuition, room, board costs covered by a combination of academic and athletic money substantial. There are at least 50 girls from CT getting that annually. Soccer plays a big role in getting accepted into certain schools, too. You can poo-poo the importance of soccer all you want, but folks who have been through it know.

you are feeding into the pipe dream. all those kids on the the supposed list are just schools that they are going to. not one of them mention how much scholarships they get. Many schools on the list are Ivy and D3 schools that give no money anyways.

I think 10 a year is more realistic with regard to real money.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

you are feeding into the pipe dream. all those kids on the the supposed list are just schools that they are going to. not one of them mention how much scholarships they get. Many schools on the list are Ivy and D3 schools that give no money anyways.

I think 10 a year is more realistic with regard to real money.

The only proof is to actually see an Invoice from the school. Since those aren't public , any numbers or figures thrown around are just speculation and hype.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:49 AM

This thread brought to you by Sporting "alternative facts"

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:54 AM

Even if a player received an athletic scholarship worth $20,000 per year for four years, it is more than she would make as a professional women's soccer player.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

This thread brought to you by Sporting "alternative facts"

Makes sense - we know none of their players will get any money from East Bumfk University

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Even if a player received an athletic scholarship worth $20,000 per year for four years, it is more than she would make as a professional women's soccer player.

lol that's true. That's $80K saved; heck even if they only get it for 3 years that's $60K. That can be the difference between graduating debt free or with a manageable debt amount vs a much heavier burden.

**Unregistered** · 04-20-2017, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I have wondered why TS is so popular with parents of female players, and attribute its success to the fact that a female athlete from Connecticut pretty much has zero chance of making money as a professional athlete in any sport. For this reason, CT parents focus their efforts zealously on the holy grail: a college scholarship.

I suppose that Kristine Lilly made some money playing soccer, but I doubt very much. The only sports where women make $$$ are tennis, golf and skiing. CT tennis players can't compete with kids from 24/7 sunny states. Same for golfers. CT skiers can't compete with kids from Colorado who ski every day after school on legit ski racing courses.

A boy from CT can become a professional football, baseball or basketball player - or even become a NASCAR driver - and make lots of $$$. Girls from CT have no chance of making money professionally in sports but getting a full-ride to college equates to saving $100,000 - $200,000 in tuition for the parents. This could be equated to making money professionally.

This is why CT parents of female soccer players go nuts on TS. Am I right?

as a minimum if you get back the $$$$ you spent on premier then you are doing fine- if its a a good academic fit and you get the above minimum you did fine
remember, the memories and the lessons your kid learned while playing youth have worth as well