Can someone discuss the benefits of D3 soccer.

[Guest]

Back to OP question
The benefits of D3 soccer are pretty much the same as soccer at any level (camaraderie, exercise, purpose, etc). The trade-offs The similarities between D1 and D3 are greater than the differences but some like to make a big deal about them. D3 tends to be smaller private colleges with pretty campus and a higher academic bar for admissions (Academic Prestige). D1 tends to be larger schools, mix of Pub and Private, and often a notable sports team (Athletic prestige) along with a more accessible academic policy In both cases there are a range of schools on both the athletic and academic scale, and soccer can give her access to a college on the higher end of that range which she may not have been able to attend otherwise (or you afford).

Outside the physical campus and size of school the commitment level will differ. Some relish that commitment others want more time to explore. Just as there are highly committed D3 players, there are plenty of D1 players with balanced experiences doing internships, etc. No one “owns you” in D1 and D3 players aren’t clumsy oafs. Find your fit and wear it proudly. Ignore any advice from someone who starts by telling you what the other division isn’t

+1

There are some specific, regulatory differences. Biggest differences are scholarships, pre-season, and spring season. The rules in-season during the fall are basically the same.

1. D3s don't offer athletic aid, DIs can, but some don't (like Ivy's). Both can offer financial aid and some offer non-athletic merit aid. If an athletic scholarship is an important need for you, DIIs and NAIAs also can offer athletic aid and sometimes are more generous than D1s.

2. D1s start preseason earlier (16 calendar days before the first competitive matchday). D3s can practice 16 "units" before the first competitive match day. Two-a-days count as two "units." In theory, a D3 could practice once a day for 16 days and sort of match a D1 preseason, but since D3s start games a week later than D1s, they still report later and therefore have a longer summer.

3. All divisions of NCAA soccer are limited to 15 hours of Countable Athletically Related Activities per week during the season, which includes competitions and practices, but does not include travel, compliance meetings, athletic trainer rehab etc. So, in-season, the official time demands of D1 and D3 can be pretty similar depending upon travel. In general D1 travel is more significant, but bus travel over fewer miles can sometimes take longer than a plane trip over more miles (and vice versa with flight delays). Some D3s can have crazy travel schedules (see Colorado College). Some D3 conferences (e.g., UAA) also require more flights than D1 conferences

In general, D1s and D3s both have between 15-20 games in the fall season. A D3 could have more games (and a longer fall season) than a D1 if it makes a deep conference and NCAA tourney run and vice versa.

4. D1s can practice 45 days in Spring starting Feb. 15, no more than 8 hours per week, with a limit of 4 hours per week that are soccer coach supervised. D1s can play 5 exhibition games in Spring. They must conclude games and coach-led practices 7 calendar days before finals week

As of Spring 2024, D3's can practice 24 days (no more than 4 days a week) in Spring starting February 1 and concluding 5 weekdays before finals week. 1 of those 24 days can be a game day (although they can do intra-squad scrimmages on other days), which could consist of more than one game as long as no one plays more than 90 minutes of competitive game time between the two games on that one day. NESCAC, as a conference, has not historically allowed teams to hold coach-supervised spring practices at all.

Both D1s and D3s can take an international trip once every four years and get more games/practices

5. Both D3s and D1s can have player-organized practices and lifting/conditioning anytime they want. Some D3s have pretty organized captains practices that make up the difference in Spring practice days with D1 and others don't. Some D3 coaches get reports on who attends captains practices and lifting/conditioning sessions (making them closer to mandatory) and others don't (and even encourage players to get internships or study abroad - using that in their recruiting pitch).

[Guest]

While not Physics and so far not yet retired, Jeff Bezos is doing ok with his electrical engineering degree from Princeton.

I think this is the part of the program where we are supposed to ask if that degree helped him.

[Guest]

I think this is the part of the program where we are supposed to ask if that degree helped him.

Interestingly, Bezos started out his time at Princeton as a physics major, but quickly realized he wasn't smart enough to compete with the other physics majors at Princeton. He switched to Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and then used the skills from those majors to work at a hedge fund. The combination of engineering/math, computer science and finance gave him the foresight to start Amazon. True story.

[Guest]

+1

There are some specific, regulatory differences. Biggest differences are scholarships, pre-season, and spring season. The rules in-season during the fall are basically the same.

1. D3s don't offer athletic aid, DIs can, but some don't (like Ivy's). Both can offer financial aid and some offer non-athletic merit aid. If an athletic scholarship is an important need for you, DIIs and NAIAs also can offer athletic aid and sometimes are more generous than D1s.

2. D1s start preseason earlier (16 calendar days before the first competitive matchday). D3s can practice 16 "units" before the first competitive match day. Two-a-days count as two "units." In theory, a D3 could practice once a day for 16 days and sort of match a D1 preseason, but since D3s start games a week later than D1s, they still report later and therefore have a longer summer.

3. All divisions of NCAA soccer are limited to 15 hours of Countable Athletically Related Activities per week during the season, which includes competitions and practices, but does not include travel, compliance meetings, athletic trainer rehab etc. So, in-season, the official time demands of D1 and D3 can be pretty similar depending upon travel. In general D1 travel is more significant, but bus travel over fewer miles can sometimes take longer than a plane trip over more miles (and vice versa with flight delays). Some D3s can have crazy travel schedules (see Colorado College). Some D3 conferences (e.g., UAA) also require more flights than D1 conferences

In general, D1s and D3s both have between 15-20 games in the fall season. A D3 could have more games (and a longer fall season) than a D1 if it makes a deep conference and NCAA tourney run and vice versa.

4. D1s can practice 45 days in Spring starting Feb. 15, no more than 8 hours per week, with a limit of 4 hours per week that are soccer coach supervised. D1s can play 5 exhibition games in Spring. They must conclude games and coach-led practices 7 calendar days before finals week

As of Spring 2024, D3's can practice 24 days (no more than 4 days a week) in Spring starting February 1 and concluding 5 weekdays before finals week. 1 of those 24 days can be a game day (although they can do intra-squad scrimmages on other days), which could consist of more than one game as long as no one plays more than 90 minutes of competitive game time between the two games on that one day. NESCAC, as a conference, has not historically allowed teams to hold coach-supervised spring practices at all.

Both D1s and D3s can take an international trip once every four years and get more games/practices

5. Both D3s and D1s can have player-organized practices and lifting/conditioning anytime they want. Some D3s have pretty organized captains practices that make up the difference in Spring practice days with D1 and others don't. Some D3 coaches get reports on who attends captains practices and lifting/conditioning sessions (making them closer to mandatory) and others don't (and even encourage players to get internships or study abroad - using that in their recruiting pitch).

It took 31 pages to get this analysis. Well done.

[Guest]

Back to OP question
The benefits of D3 soccer are pretty much the same as soccer at any level (camaraderie, exercise, purpose, etc). The trade-offs The similarities between D1 and D3 are greater than the differences but some like to make a big deal about them. D3 tends to be smaller private colleges with pretty campus and a higher academic bar for admissions (Academic Prestige). D1 tends to be larger schools, mix of Pub and Private, and often a notable sports team (Athletic prestige) along with a more accessible academic policy In both cases there are a range of schools on both the athletic and academic scale, and soccer can give her access to a college on the higher end of that range which she may not have been able to attend otherwise (or you afford).

Outside the physical campus and size of school the commitment level will differ. Some relish that commitment others want more time to explore. Just as there are highly committed D3 players, there are plenty of D1 players with balanced experiences doing internships, etc. No one “owns you” in D1 and D3 players aren’t clumsy oafs. Find your fit and wear it proudly. Ignore any advice from someone who starts by telling you what the other division isn’t

Well said, well done. Finally!

[Guest]

I think this is the part of the program where we are supposed to ask if that degree helped him.

Definitely did. Otherwise how would he be able to join DE Shaw? Wall Street and top consulting firms mainly recruit from top schools, like Princeton. Just go to LinkedIn and look at where their employees come from.

[Guest]

Definitely did. Otherwise how would he be able to join DE Shaw? Wall Street and top consulting firms mainly recruit from top schools, like Princeton. Just go to LinkedIn and look at where their employees come from.

Yep, these Wall Street companies love hiring people with engineering degrees, because they are rigorous and strong with math.

[AskTheCoach]

[QUOTE=Guest;n4529907]

+1

There are some specific, regulatory differences. Biggest differences are scholarships, pre-season, and spring season. The rules in-season during the fall are basically the same.

1. D3s don't offer athletic aid, DIs can, but some don't (like Ivy's). Both can offer financial aid and some offer non-athletic merit aid. If an athletic scholarship is an important need for you, DIIs and NAIAs also can offer athletic aid and sometimes are more generous than D1s.

2. D1s start preseason earlier (16 calendar days before the first competitive matchday). D3s can practice 16 "units" before the first competitive match day. Two-a-days count as two "units." In theory, a D3 could practice once a day for 16 days and sort of match a D1 preseason, but since D3s start games a week later than D1s, they still report later and therefore have a longer summer.

3. All divisions of NCAA soccer are limited to 15 hours of Countable Athletically Related Activities per week during the season, which includes competitions and practices, but does not include travel, compliance meetings, athletic trainer rehab etc. So, in-season, the official time demands of D1 and D3 can be pretty similar depending upon travel. In general D1 travel is more significant, but bus travel over fewer miles can sometimes take longer than a plane trip over more miles (and vice versa with flight delays). Some D3s can have crazy travel schedules (see Colorado College). Some D3 conferences (e.g., UAA) also require more flights than D1 conferences

In general, D1s and D3s both have between 15-20 games in the fall season. A D3 could have more games (and a longer fall season) than a D1 if it makes a deep conference and NCAA tourney run and vice versa.

4. D1s can practice 45 days in Spring starting Feb. 15, no more than 8 hours per week, with a limit of 4 hours per week that are soccer coach supervised. D1s can play 5 exhibition games in Spring. They must conclude games and coach-led practices 7 calendar days before finals week

As of Spring 2024, D3's can practice 24 days (no more than 4 days a week) in Spring starting February 1 and concluding 5 weekdays before finals week. 1 of those 24 days can be a game day (although they can do intra-squad scrimmages on other days), which could consist of more than one game as long as no one plays more than 90 minutes of competitive game time between the two games on that one day. NESCAC, as a conference, has not historically allowed teams to hold coach-supervised spring practices at all.

Both D1s and D3s can take an international trip once every four years and get more games/practices

5. Both D3s and D1s can have player-organized practices and lifting/conditioning anytime they want. Some D3s have pretty organized captains practices that make up the difference in Spring practice days with D1 and others don't. Some D3 coaches get reports on who attends captains practices and lifting/conditioning sessions (making them closer to mandatory) and others don't (and even encourage players to get internships or study abroad - using that in their recruiting pitch). [/QUOTEPretty good synopsis, with a couple of clarifications to add:

Pretty good synopsis with a couple clarifications to add!

2. D1s preseason is earlier yes, much earlier. Our first competition date was moved up a week this season, so first game is Aug 15, and the players report on July 29. Although it's not unusual for players to be here all of July for summer school and working with high performance coach.

3. Our CARA hours are 20 not 15 (and I'm pretty sure D3 is as well)

4. Part of our Spring Season is considered our "playing season" and is the balance of what's left of the 132 total days we are allowed (we can split our season into 2 segments). So typically, we can train 8 hours (no more than 4 soccer) from Jan to near the end of Feb. Then, the balance of spring is much like fall with up 20 hours CARA and one day off mandated..except a lot worse with more lifts, more training and less games!

I would point out that one of the biggest surprises to freshmen is how hard spring is. They go into it thinking it's the "off season" but in some ways it's way worse than fall, and lacks the excitement of meaningful games to break up monotony....they are tired and sore and over it by the time we are done!

[Guest]

My daughter had choices of D1 & D3 and chose D3 because it suited her. She accepted a D1 offer but then started thinking about the next four years and her “end game”. The biggest difference for her was the social aspect of going to a smaller college in size and less students. She wanted to have a full college experience which included doing a semester abroad that you can do playing D3. It has been a great balance for her of strong academics in which her major requires a lot of lab work. In addition, during the summer she can stay for a full internship without returning earlier for pre-season. The plus for her is that the college team is very strong and has made the NCAA tournament each year she has been there so far. For her it’s a win/win of strong academics and allowing her to continue to play soccer in a competitive environment.

[Guest]

Can someone discuss the benefits of D1 soccer?

[Guest]

Can someone discuss the benefits of D1 soccer?

Scholarship, exposure, facilities, academic support. Both divisions have pros and cons, depends on what you are looking for.

[Guest]

Can someone discuss the benefits of D1 soccer?

Highly subjective there is no answer. The benefits are individualistic of the student-athlete and what they want for the next four years that is a bridge between teenager and adulthood. I suggest you do your own homework and sit down with your daughter and come up with a realistic game plan based on your daughters abilities academically, socially and athleticism. All must be equal or all three will not be successful in college. Soccer alone will not work they must be well rounded. If you want to say your daughter is playing D1 then there are 330 plus colleges to choose. Good luck!

[Guest]

Scholarship, exposure, facilities, academic support. Both divisions have pros and cons, depends on what you are looking for.

Good explanation. There's a path for everyone so best to choose what fits for your family and not be too concerned with what others are doing.

[Guest]

Highly subjective there is no answer. The benefits are individualistic of the student-athlete and what they want for the next four years that is a bridge between teenager and adulthood. I suggest you do your own homework and sit down with your daughter and come up with a realistic game plan based on your daughters abilities academically, socially and athleticism. All must be equal or all three will not be successful in college. Soccer alone will not work they must be well rounded. If you want to say your daughter is playing D1 then there are 330 plus colleges to choose. Good luck!

What an odd way to put it.

What if I don't care to say anything about it and it's what she wants? is that still OK?

[Guest]

Scholarship, exposure, facilities, academic support. Both divisions have pros and cons, depends on what you are looking for.

So other than scholarship, how is this different from D3?