Can someone discuss the benefits of D3 soccer.

[Guest]

Grossly supplemented with “they coulda gone D1”
The preponderance of negative D3 posts are focused on the parents, and their “coulda gone” statements. The majority of negative D1 posts target the institution (butthead state) or the player (not academically fit). Which one is worse?

And in fact, 3 of them DID go D1, and 3 of them got verbal offers for D1 that they turned down. So it's not just some parent overestimating their kid's abilities, it is a factual comment about 6-10 kids that he observed in his town.

And again, why is that an issue? It's just trying to set context for the ability level of the 10 kids he was talking about. It wasn't a negative comment about D1 or D3 at all. It was just an example of a set of kids who made a range of decisions about what they wanted to do in college. And it was made in response to a blanket comment that "most people outside of TS want D1". Do you think that statement is true?

[Guest]

Why does this matter? If you go to any of these schools, you are likely not going to be looking for a job in Anytown USA working for someone who has never heard of any of these strong academic schools.

It doesn't matter at all. I am on TS fluffing up the board while I root for NED over ESP. I find it hilarious that one Anonymous poster calls another anonymous poster "clueless" for a statement that reveals it is the accuser who is clueless.
Then in a (misguided?) attempt to defend their claim of national awareness, and cement themselves as clueless the cite themself, and their awareness of the schools on the list they created as evidence.
It's like sitting in Papa Ginos 1985 looking at yourself in mirrors reflecting mirrors

[Guest]

Here is some additional context (should be enough). 2 of the 3 received verbal offers from Big East teams when they were high school sophomores. I don't know what money was discussed. Both players ended up attending UCLA without any sports recruiting involved, and neither has continued any kind of organized sports. The 3rd one had multiple colleges interested, including 2 Big East teams and one Big Ten (this is where the actual verbal offer came from in her junior year). Again, I don't know what money was discussed. She ended up going to the Big 10 school anyways, but not as a soccer recruit, and I have no idea if she plays any kind of organized sport in college. From what I could tell, none of the colleges involved here were competitive for conference championships. And no idea what was discussed regarding playing time, role, etc.

Is that enough context to convince you they "coulda gone D1"?

Fwiw, we know another kid who was a top-third player on her ECNL team who ended up deciding to not play college soccer because she got into Stanford and wanted to go there regardless of playing soccer or not. She clearly wasn't good enough to play soccer at Stanford, but absolutely had the talent to play at a lesser D1 soccer program.

Yes. Big East was all I needed to hear. Thanks.

[Guest]

Yes. Big East was all I needed to hear. Thanks.

Clearly it wasn’t Georgetown. One of the top consistent and competitive programs in the country.

[Guest]

Clearly it wasn’t Georgetown. One of the top consistent and competitive programs in the country.

But, clearly not Ivy

[Guest]

Here is some additional context (should be enough). 2 of the 3 received verbal offers from Big East teams when they were high school sophomores. I don't know what money was discussed. Both players ended up attending UCLA without any sports recruiting involved, and neither has continued any kind of organized sports. The 3rd one had multiple colleges interested, including 2 Big East teams and one Big Ten (this is where the actual verbal offer came from in her junior year). Again, I don't know what money was discussed. She ended up going to the Big 10 school anyways, but not as a soccer recruit, and I have no idea if she plays any kind of organized sport in college. From what I could tell, none of the colleges involved here were competitive for conference championships. And no idea what was discussed regarding playing time, role, etc.

Is that enough context to convince you they "coulda gone D1"?

Fwiw, we know another kid who was a top-third player on her ECNL team who ended up deciding to not play college soccer because she got into Stanford and wanted to go there regardless of playing soccer or not. She clearly wasn't good enough to play soccer at Stanford, but absolutely had the talent to play at a lesser D1 soccer program.

To be clear, I dont need convincing. I have no doubt you are telling the truth. I am just pointing out that context matters. D1 covers a wide range of soccer options and in all honesty, I believe a large number of young women could play soccer at many of them IF they were willing to play for no money, be a bench type and find a major they wanted. That's why the "could have gone D1" is misleading. Its about what school can you attend that satisfies most of your criteria. The better player you are, the less you have to compromise. If your target is Big East, no shade, thats not a particularly high soccer bar. I may be wrong, but the Big East put 2 in the tournament last year, Georgetown and Xavier. Georgetown lost to Pitt - a mid-level ACC team and Xavier did a lot better, beating Tennessee before losing to Virginia. Both were bounced in rd 2.

[Guest]

Clearly it wasn’t Georgetown. One of the top consistent and competitive programs in the country.

Yep, as said, none of the colleges involved were competitive for conference championships. But they are D1, so that's all that matters, right?

[Guest]

To be clear, I dont need convincing. I have no doubt you are telling the truth. I am just pointing out that context matters. D1 covers a wide range of soccer options and in all honesty, I believe a large number of young women could play soccer at many of them IF they were willing to play for no money, be a bench type and find a major they wanted. That's why the "could have gone D1" is misleading. Its about what school can you attend that satisfies most of your criteria. The better player you are, the less you have to compromise. If your target is Big East, no shade, thats not a particularly high soccer bar. I may be wrong, but the Big East put 2 in the tournament last year, Georgetown and Xavier. Georgetown lost to Pitt - a mid-level ACC team and Xavier did a lot better, beating Tennessee before losing to Virginia. Both were bounced in rd 2.

I agree. I wrote the note about these kids in response to a comment that said "outside TS far more people think D1 is the way to go.", with my note illustrating (admittedly anecdotally) that "far more" is not necessarily true.

And fwiw, I did say Big East and Big 10. And the 3 that did end up playing D1 are 2 in Patriot League and one in NEC.

[Guest]

I agree. I wrote the note about these kids in response to a comment that said "outside TS far more people think D1 is the way to go.", with my note illustrating (admittedly anecdotally) that "far more" is not necessarily true.

And fwiw, I did say Big East and Big 10. And the 3 that did end up playing D1 are 2 in Patriot League and one in NEC.

Thanks. College soccer is not just about the sport. There are so many options that its possible to find the right fit. That said, the notion that D1 represents a level of soccer excellence that D3 does not is BS. A few obvious exceptions aside, if willing to accept certain conditions, many young women could play D1 soccer. Most would not accept the conditions required to do so.

[Guest]

To be clear, I dont need convincing. I have no doubt you are telling the truth. I am just pointing out that context matters. D1 covers a wide range of soccer options and in all honesty, I believe a large number of young women could play soccer at many of them IF they were willing to play for no money, be a bench type and find a major they wanted. That's why the "could have gone D1" is misleading. Its about what school can you attend that satisfies most of your criteria. The better player you are, the less you have to compromise. If your target is Big East, no shade, thats not a particularly high soccer bar. I may be wrong, but the Big East put 2 in the tournament last year, Georgetown and Xavier. Georgetown lost to Pitt - a mid-level ACC team and Xavier did a lot better, beating Tennessee before losing to Virginia. Both were bounced in rd 2.

Meh, and the year before they put six in the NCAA's. They will typically put in more teams that are non-conference champions than others in the Region, although most of them are outside this Region (i.e. Xavier, G'Town, Butler). If it's so poor, though, why aren't we seeing more local players on those teams? Sounds like it's pretty easy to make those rosters, no? What most of the Big East schools have vs. the others in the area, though, is $$$ as they latch onto the successful basketball programs.

[Guest]

Thanks. College soccer is not just about the sport. There are so many options that its possible to find the right fit. That said, the notion that D1 represents a level of soccer excellence that D3 does not is BS. A few obvious exceptions aside, if willing to accept certain conditions, many young women could play D1 soccer. Most would not accept the conditions required to do so.

I guess we'll never know. We hear A LOT about players who coulda gone D1, but we don't hear a lot about players turning down actual offers. Not interest, not trading e-mails, actual offers. If you look at the bigger clubs who are sending full (or almost full) rosters onto play in college, it's extremely rare to see the top half of the roster go to a D3 school. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but looking over the rosters of some of these teams and knowing the players, it's not that common.

Conversation my daughter had with one of the highest-ranked D3 schools in the area - Coach: "You will step in and start right away. We are building our first year class around you."
Conversation my daughter had with a mid-level D1 school in the area - Coach: "We view you as a project and are looking you and your growth over the last 2 years to continue, and will be a major contributor as an upper classman" (her scholarship reflected that)

Same player, two completely different conversations related to how that same player's quality reflects on the roster. She was always vocal she didn't want to go to where she would walk in and start since she wanted as much quality as she could achieve. TIFWIW.

Side note, while she is happy where she is and loves the school, and I am happy for her as well....I REALLLLYYYY liked that D3 coach and would've been happy if she ended up there.

[Guest]

Meh, and the year before they put six in the NCAA's. They will typically put in more teams that are non-conference champions than others in the Region, although most of them are outside this Region (i.e. Xavier, G'Town, Butler). If it's so poor, though, why aren't we seeing more local players on those teams? Sounds like it's pretty easy to make those rosters, no? What most of the Big East schools have vs. the others in the area, though, is $$$ as they latch onto the successful basketball programs.

why is in the area relevant?

[Guest]

I guess we'll never know. We hear A LOT about players who coulda gone D1, but we don't hear a lot about players turning down actual offers. Not interest, not trading e-mails, actual offers. If you look at the bigger clubs who are sending full (or almost full) rosters onto play in college, it's extremely rare to see the top half of the roster go to a D3 school. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but looking over the rosters of some of these teams and knowing the players, it's not that common.

Conversation my daughter had with one of the highest-ranked D3 schools in the area - Coach: "You will step in and start right away. We are building our first year class around you."
Conversation my daughter had with a mid-level D1 school in the area - Coach: "We view you as a project and are looking you and your growth over the last 2 years to continue, and will be a major contributor as an upper classman" (her scholarship reflected that)

Same player, two completely different conversations related to how that same player's quality reflects on the roster. She was always vocal she didn't want to go to where she would walk in and start since she wanted as much quality as she could achieve. TIFWIW.

Side note, while she is happy where she is and loves the school, and I am happy for her as well....I REALLLLYYYY liked that D3 coach and would've been happy if she ended up there.

I dont get your point? How about this. My D turned down several D1 schools as in responded with thanks for your interest, but no thanks. She selected the D1 school that fit her criteria best. Why does the D1/D3 distinction even matter? One of her criteria was she wanted as little debt as possible and we gave her a finite amount that we were willing to contribute. I wanted her to have skin in the game.

[Guest]

why is in the area relevant?

Because most students go to schools within 4(?) hours from home. In no way suggesting the conference is competition with the P5 schools. If you are looking at schools in the area, that conference is better the the others (IMO).

Just making a general statement, lots to consider beyond the conference. LOTS.

[Guest]

I dont get your point? How about this. My D turned down several D1 schools as in responded with thanks for your interest, but no thanks. She selected the D1 school that fit her criteria best. Why does the D1/D3 distinction even matter? One of her criteria was she wanted as little debt as possible and we gave her a finite amount that we were willing to contribute. I wanted her to have skin in the game.

The response was to this, which I bolded: That said, the notion that D1 represents a level of soccer excellence that D3 does not is BS

Same player looked at completely differently in how they are expected to perform based on the Division