Another D1 program bites the dust

[Unregistered]

So so true and long overdue shift which hopefully removes the pay to play model. With percentages around 1-2% it’s insane to spend all this $ and time.

That 1-2% figure is irrelevant because it's ALL US high school players, many of whom don't play any soccer at all outside of HS let alone at a higher level. Nearly all ECNL teams and most GAL, especially top teams, will have all their players recruited for college. Below that say EDP or NPL level teams will get some players recruited, then it's practically a cliff after that

[Unregistered]

Agree with your first paragraph.

For the second, the strong academic D3 schools (eg. Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Williams, Tufts, Swarthmore, etc) will attract high level players with good academic records. If you look at their rosters, they definitely have a good number of ECNL/DA players. Those players with the combination of strong academic performance and soccer ability aren't looking at TCNJ or Montclair State; they are looking for top-tier colleges. As a result, there are more players from top-tier leagues trying to get into those schools than there are slots, so it's a buyer's market for those soccer programs. I'll agree that if you want TCNJ or Montclair State that you probably don't need ECNL/GAL or other costly national league.

Yes there's "D1" and then there's D1 light, and some of those schools are just not of interest to many educationally focused soccer families

[Unregistered]

Yes there's "D1" and then there's D1 light, and some of those schools are just not of interest to many educationally focused soccer families

There are some strong D1 academic schools that have bad soccer programs, too.

[Unregistered]

There are some strong D1 academic schools that have bad soccer programs, too.

True that. But those are the types of schools that would be more likely to drop teams or move to D3 because the "focus on academics" press release would sit better with families, applicants and alumni.

[Unregistered]

Also, unlike what parents think, kids want to go to college "to party".

If D3 colleges wanted to differentiate (other than academics/party) they could fix the substitution rule. All of a sudden it could make their athletic program more watchable and more desirable.

[Unregistered]

Also, unlike what parents think, kids want to go to college "to party".

If D3 colleges wanted to differentiate (other than academics/party) they could fix the substitution rule. All of a sudden it could make their athletic program more watchable and more desirable.

Of all the ways to improve college soccer that would be further down the list.

[Unregistered]

True that. But those are the types of schools that would be more likely to drop teams or move to D3 because the "focus on academics" press release would sit better with families, applicants and alumni.

Only schools that would consider dropping D1 status are the ones currently not making it in D1. I doubt any major conference D1 school is going to kill recruiting and potential money to go D3.

[Unregistered]

Only schools that would consider dropping D1 status are the ones currently not making it in D1. I doubt any major conference D1 school is going to kill recruiting and potential money to go D3.

Of course not, but really what drives it is football and basketball. It costs big $ to run football teams and many D1 teams aren't getting the big $ that Power 5 conference teams do. Does it make sense any longer for a school like Marist or SHU to keep running football teams? Solid regional schools that aren't exactly world beaters in football, not exactly Clemson lol But football is the main reason there's so many Title 9 scholarships for women.

[Unregistered]

Agree with your first paragraph.

For the second, the strong academic D3 schools (eg. Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Williams, Tufts, Swarthmore, etc) will attract high level players with good academic records. If you look at their rosters, they definitely have a good number of ECNL/DA players. Those players with the combination of strong academic performance and soccer ability aren't looking at TCNJ or Montclair State; they are looking for top-tier colleges. As a result, there are more players from top-tier leagues trying to get into those schools than there are slots, so it's a buyer's market for those soccer programs. I'll agree that if you want TCNJ or Montclair State that you probably don't need ECNL/GAL or other costly national league.

This is very accurate and where my daughter was in this category. Her first choice was Ivy and then the strong academic programs you mentioned. All are solid soccer programs with ECNL players who want to continue to play competitive soccer but not at the level of D1. Those spots are highly sought out and you will find those D3 college coaches at both ECNL and DA events. A great option for those student-athletes rather than athlete-student.