Sticking with college soccer

[Guest]

The reasons are various:

I saw one kid who went to an ACC school and was a star player as a freshman (based on minutes and goals scored listed on the team website). She transferred to another school and is not on that school's soccer team. I'm assuming that she transferred because the team she was at/near the bottom of ACC standings with a terrible record and she just didn't think there was any point at playing on a team that might only win 2-3 games a year.

Saw another kid at a D3 school on Long Island transfer to a D2 school in upstate NY (presumably closer to where she is from) and has a player page on that D2 team but is not listed on the roster.

Another one transferred from an ACC school after getting almost no playing time to a MAAC school and is still getting almost no playing time (although more playing time than she did at the ACC school).

Another one at a NEC (D1) school who got ok playing time (tho not a starter) who appears to have simply quit the soccer team after the team finished in the bottom third of their table. Not clear why she quit.

Another one at an LEC (D3) school who missed freshman season because of COVID and then transferred to a Boston area D1 school and is not playing soccer. The LEC school finished 2nd in the conference, so the program was one of the stronger ones in the conference. I assume she transferred because the LEC school was a poor academic/student life fit.

...There are more, but these are a pretty good representation of the things I've found.

Hahaha...1 offs. Yeah representative (eye roll). How about vanderbilt girl playing at UVa; how about GT girl at Wake; Univ Fl transfer who is at FSU...there are more.

[Guest]

Reasons for leaving a team (with or without a transfer)

- Never playing and/or coach made it clear you probably won't much in the future
- Decided it was just too much with school work/possibly just burned out
- Unhappy with the team and/or staff (even if playing a lot it could be on a garbage team)
- Coaching change/uncertain if the new regime will want you
- Unhappy with the school

As for transfers - sure there are ones that work out well, ones that don't. Players that have learned what is a better fit for them and use that knowledge will have better success. Players that don't understand they're not as good as they think will not.

[Guest]

Hahaha...1 offs. Yeah representative (eye roll). How about vanderbilt girl playing at UVa; how about GT girl at Wake; Univ Fl transfer who is at FSU...there are more.

The transfer portal works for those 5th year players who have experience in the “trenches” and have been to the big dance. For those three players they have beneficial for a year. The vast majority of players in a transfer portal come with baggage and really do not add immediacy to a strong program.

[Guest]

Reasons for leaving a team (with or without a transfer)

- Never playing and/or coach made it clear you probably won't much in the future
- Decided it was just too much with school work/possibly just burned out
- Unhappy with the team and/or staff (even if playing a lot it could be on a garbage team)
- Coaching change/uncertain if the new regime will want you
- Unhappy with the school

As for transfers - sure there are ones that work out well, ones that don't. Players that have learned what is a better fit for them and use that knowledge will have better success. Players that don't understand they're not as good as they think will not.

Transfer portals work for those players from P5 conference teams who are not getting the playing time they expected. These are known players. In addition, you have 5th year graduate students from big programs thabare known players. These are no brainers. The vast majority from middle tier programs who were not playing have little or no interest from middle tier/ mid level programs.

[Guest]

Hahaha...1 offs. Yeah representative (eye roll). How about vanderbilt girl playing at UVa; how about GT girl at Wake; Univ Fl transfer who is at FSU...there are more.

As I said, they were a good representation of the things I found among the players I was familiar with. Never said it was representative of the whole college soccer world.

[Guest]

Reasons for leaving a team (with or without a transfer)

- Never playing and/or coach made it clear you probably won't much in the future
- Decided it was just too much with school work/possibly just burned out
- Unhappy with the team and/or staff (even if playing a lot it could be on a garbage team)
- Coaching change/uncertain if the new regime will want you
- Unhappy with the school

As for transfers - sure there are ones that work out well, ones that don't. Players that have learned what is a better fit for them and use that knowledge will have better success. Players that don't understand they're not as good as they think will not.

Good list. I would add that some of these athletes just want to party and have fun- not outwardly admitting but it’s the truth. Most have missed the HS parties and sacrificed a lot to make it there. Then they get there and just want to be a teenager.

[Guest]

Good list. I would add that some of these athletes just want to party and have fun- not outwardly admitting but it’s the truth. Most have missed the HS parties and sacrificed a lot to make it there. Then they get there and just want to be a teenager.

Coaches tell you college is made of three parts - athletics (their priority ) academics (hopefully yours) and social. You can't do all three well so something has to go. Some kids aren't mentally prepared for the rigors of being a college athlete and it's too much. Along the way many realize this is the end of their soccer careers and they better start figuring out the rest of their lives and focusing on that

[Guest]

Transfer portals work for those players from P5 conference teams who are not getting the playing time they expected. These are known players. In addition, you have 5th year graduate students from big programs thabare known players. These are no brainers. The vast majority from middle tier programs who were not playing have little or no interest from middle tier/ mid level programs.

Yes many will enter the portal, plenty won't land anywhere

[Guest]

Coaches tell you college is made of three parts - athletics (their priority ) academics (hopefully yours) and social. You can't do all three well so something has to go. Some kids aren't mentally prepared for the rigors of being a college athlete and it's too much. Along the way many realize this is the end of their soccer careers and they better start figuring out the rest of their lives and focusing on that

Rubbish. Good coaches prepare you for life. Team culture teaches you many life lessons. trying to compartmentalize this stuff is plain stupid. The generalizations are pointless. College. like life is what you make of your opportunities.

[Guest]

Rubbish. Good coaches prepare you for life. Team culture teaches you many life lessons. trying to compartmentalize this stuff is plain stupid. The generalizations are pointless. College. like life is what you make of your opportunities.

And life's opportunities are whatever the receiver wants them to be. Not always apparent to everyone else. But as long as the person picking the opportunity sees it as such, then that is all that matters.

[Guest]

Yes many will enter the portal, plenty won't land anywhere

Of course. Have you ever seen the list for the draft? You have to be considered a top prospect.
But some could play in other divisions; leagues (naia, etc.) If they don't get good interest. For many the road has an end after college; eligibility exhausted. For some, they make moves to open doors playing or staying connected to the sport/industry.

[Guest]

Rubbish. Good coaches prepare you for life. Team culture teaches you many life lessons. trying to compartmentalize this stuff is plain stupid. The generalizations are pointless. College. like life is what you make of your opportunities.

Some coaches foster a nearly stifling team environment where practically tour whole life revolves around your tram. Theres no need for that and it isn't mentally healthy. College is a time to learn about life, other people and yourself. You'll already spend enough time with your teammates

And some coaches are certifiable. Is that a valuable life lesson?

[Guest]

Not sure what this has to do with sticking with college soccer. Every student/athlete has their own truth as to what’s their end game. The smartest student/athletes look at the long term while some just look at the short term without giving much thought. Sticking with college soccer is more of a metaphor about your own life and what you want to accomplish in those years in between high school and the real world. There is no right answer but rather about the maturity of the student/athlete who has to navigate being both a student and athlete. My daughter graduated after playing D1. All her friends made different choices. Some stayed for all four years. Some left after sophomore years, others transferred to D3 for better academics/competitive soccer and some turned down P5 Conference schools for the Ivy’s. Sticking with college soccer is about evolving as a student and as an athlete. Balancing your love of soccer with what becomes important as a student. It has nothing to do with a coach. It’s about the individual. Once they figure that out on their own then they can make an informed decision.

[Guest]

Not sure what this has to do with sticking with college soccer. Every student/athlete has their own truth as to what’s their end game. The smartest student/athletes look at the long term while some just look at the short term without giving much thought. Sticking with college soccer is more of a metaphor about your own life and what you want to accomplish in those years in between high school and the real world. There is no right answer but rather about the maturity of the student/athlete who has to navigate being both a student and athlete. My daughter graduated after playing D1. All her friends made different choices. Some stayed for all four years. Some left after sophomore years, others transferred to D3 for better academics/competitive soccer and some turned down P5 Conference schools for the Ivy’s. Sticking with college soccer is about evolving as a student and as an athlete. Balancing your love of soccer with what becomes important as a student. It has nothing to do with a coach. It’s about the individual. Once they figure that out on their own then they can make an informed decision.

Sounds like you have never had a good coach.

[Guest]

Sounds like you have never had a good coach.

What does that comment even mean?