Parents of D1 players, or potential D1 players

[Guest]

Let’s take a break from the toxicity, and from anonymously hurling insults at one another.

For parents of D1 or potential D1 players: at roughly what age did you acknowledge that your child was serious about the game and was willing to work to play at the next level? Obviously this world is full of parents that want to live vicariously through their children, but when did you realize that it was more than just about hanging out with their friends?

[njguy0717]

Obsession with D-1

[Guest]

Let’s take a break from the toxicity, and from anonymously hurling insults at one another.

For parents of D1 or potential D1 players: at roughly what age did you acknowledge that your child was serious about the game and was willing to work to play at the next level? Obviously this world is full of parents that want to live vicariously through their children, but when did you realize that it was more than just about hanging out with their friends?

Ur forgetting D2 and D3

[Guest]

Let’s take a break from the toxicity, and from anonymously hurling insults at one another.

For parents of D1 or potential D1 players: at roughly what age did you acknowledge that your child was serious about the game and was willing to work to play at the next level? Obviously this world is full of parents that want to live vicariously through their children, but when did you realize that it was more than just about hanging out with their friends?

When they become self motivated and want to play on days they don’t have training. Those that work on their technical skills by themselves by playing wall ball and other type of drills and pick up games. That’s when you know it’s more than an activity. They watch matches as well as look at drills online to improve. Soccer for most is an after school activity but for those who want more then do all these extra things on their own. That’s how you know.

[Guest]

^^^^^^^^
agree. Usually the cross roads happen in HS years. Kids self motivation should be the driving force in their advancement/development.

[njguy0717]

It’s a good question, but D-1 should not be the focal point of the inquiry. We should be asking when children of all collegiate levels showed the dedication and commitment towards making it their goal to play at the next level,

There is barely any scholarship money available, and playing D-1 soccer is not like playing D-1 basketball or football - look at the attendance at a handful of D-1 games across the country during the season. In other words, the D-1 soccer experience doesn’t blow away the D-3 experience like it does in other sports.

If your child enjoys the game enough to want to make soccer a big part of their college experience, that also validates a lot of the time and effort expended here, not just whether they earned a few dollars playing D-1.

[Guest]

Mine loved soccer but wasn’t obsessed. Also played bball for 2 years and varsity track for 4, while doing ECNL. Didn’t really watch soccer or train outside on own. No time & plenty of hours of soccer with ECNL. Did do WPSL in the summers in hs. Wasn’t sure she wanted commitment of D1 so also looked top academic D3. Decided on D1 because big part of her soccer enjoyment was playing “good soccer” (high level). Played every game for 4 years in D1. Loved it but was definitely a grind & regretted missing out on studying abroad, internships, & not meeting more NARPS - though has friends for life from team. Only about 25-30% of players played through till senior year for various reasons. It is a grind. Most who quit were seen as “happier”. I agree that D1 vs D3 isn’t as important as what they want out of college. No matter the level, chances are strong, they won’t be playing all four years so pick for the school itself & overall experience & time commitment over the particular level.

Knew from an early age she probably could go D1 years down the road based on ability (at 14 played u16 & D1 coaches started trying to recruit her) but didn’t know she’d really want to or where until junior year of high school. Enjoy the journey. Play as long & as much as she wants if you’re able to support that. Don’t worry if others say she’s not good enough. If she loves the game, play at the highest level she can and you never know what happens 90% of life is showing up.

[Guest]

Let’s take a break from the toxicity, and from anonymously hurling insults at one another.

For parents of D1 or potential D1 players: at roughly what age did you acknowledge that your child was serious about the game and was willing to work to play at the next level? Obviously this world is full of parents that want to live vicariously through their children, but when did you realize that it was more than just about hanging out with their friends?

Like many others My D played year round since she was 8. Playing college was always the goal but I was having to push her till about 14-15. Thats when she really started to mature as a young woman and she took control of her workouts and extra training.

[Guest]

Let’s take a break from the toxicity, and from anonymously hurling insults at one another.

For parents of D1 or potential D1 players: at roughly what age did you acknowledge that your child was serious about the game and was willing to work to play at the next level? Obviously this world is full of parents that want to live vicariously through their children, but when did you realize that it was more than just about hanging out with their friends?

I'd say it was a dream from very early on. She got serious about understanding what needs to be done around 8th grade. However, "hanging out with her friends" was, and still is, a major factor. She loves the team environment, loves her "sorority" of fellow players is as much of a reason why she's still playing as for the game itself. If she didn't have close relationships with her teammates, I don't think she loves the game enough to keep playing it.

[Guest]

What is all of your take on the ECNL and youth soccer culture as a whole? Any perspective for young parents on all this craziness?

[Guest]

Only about 25-30% of players played through till senior year for various reasons. .

You have any type of data to prove that? Because, I see nowhere near that number. I won't say I looked at every roster, but when mine was sorting through offers we looked at that very piece of data as we wanted to see how many players start and transfer or quit from those teams to get an understanding of player satisfaction best we could. And, we saw that number around 10% don't play all four years, not 70-75% like you state. That's wildly different. Again, not at every school just the 5-6 we were in serious discussions with.

[Guest]

Mine loved soccer but wasn’t obsessed. Also played bball for 2 years and varsity track for 4, while doing ECNL. Didn’t really watch soccer or train outside on own. No time & plenty of hours of soccer with ECNL. Did do WPSL in the summers in hs. Wasn’t sure she wanted commitment of D1 so also looked top academic D3. Decided on D1 because big part of her soccer enjoyment was playing “good soccer” (high level). Played every game for 4 years in D1. Loved it but was definitely a grind & regretted missing out on studying abroad, internships, & not meeting more NARPS - though has friends for life from team. Only about 25-30% of players played through till senior year for various reasons. It is a grind. Most who quit were seen as “happier”. I agree that D1 vs D3 isn’t as important as what they want out of college. No matter the level, chances are strong, they won’t be playing all four years so pick for the school itself & overall experience & time commitment over the particular level.

Knew from an early age she probably could go D1 years down the road based on ability (at 14 played u16 & D1 coaches started trying to recruit her) but didn’t know she’d really want to or where until junior year of high school. Enjoy the journey. Play as long & as much as she wants if you’re able to support that. Don’t worry if others say she’s not good enough. If she loves the game, play at the highest level she can and you never know what happens 90% of life is showing up.

Agree with your sentiments about playing high level D1 College soccer, your daughter’s experience is similar to my daughter. Where we disagree (or your experience was different) is the percentage of players who played thru Senior year. In her class two players transferred but the rest played all 4 years. This amount is consistent with her friend’s teams as well. Maybe in programs that are not competitive or play in a non-competitive conference have a larger amount quitting after 2 years but I also find that hard to believe especially if they have athletic scholarship money. To say that 75-80% quit is just hard to believe.

[Guest]

Like many others My D played year round since she was 8. Playing college was always the goal but I was having to push her till about 14-15. Thats when she really started to mature as a young woman and she took control of her workouts and extra training.

Whoa...playing college was always the goal starting at 8??

[Guest]

What is all of your take on the ECNL and youth soccer culture as a whole? Any perspective for young parents on all this craziness?

Depends of your kids age.In the years before high school I don't think ECNL is worth it. Just make sure your kid is in a good healthy learning environment with a good coach. For our daughter she didn't start playing on an ECNL until freshman year. For her the timing was perfect and at the HS age I feel ECNL was definitely worth it for the college recruiting. She now plays D1 soccer

[Guest]

Whoa...playing college was always the goal starting at 8??

Fur us too. Discussions about attending college started as soon as my kids were in Kindergarten. For soccer my daughter loved going to Rutgers games and always talked about wanting to play in college.