So called "elite" teams are also expensive and the return is dubious. If you’re spending a lot of cash on travel for elite teams , hoping to receive a scholarship, I’d encourage you to check out the numbers. Just 2% of ALL high school athletes receive a college scholarship. The odds of hitting your number at the Roulette table are slightly better. They don’t improve because you specialize earlier. If college is a long-term goal, you’re better off putting your money into a 529 plan than spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on youth travel sports.
-
-
Most of the parents/families on the high-travel teams are perfectly aware of the odds and scholarship money is not the end-game. Getting into a top or preferred school is; soccer is one means to that end; and academics are stressed just as much as soccer if not more so. -
You assume parents don’t know the odds of sports scholarships? Kids on an elite” club team have nothing to do with expecting a sports scholarship. We can have both kids in club sports and a plan for college.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
Schools do not care at all if you play soccer as far as gaining entrance, unless you are going to play for them having soccer on your resume matters not one iota.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
College admissions are complicated so there is no one answer. But to the extent that personal narratives and extracurriculars matter, many kids these days want to show their 'excellence' in something. It doesn't have to be a professional pathway, just a highly-competitive 'elite' soccer career, which shows they have drive, discipline, etc., that can be channeled into other pursuits as they get older.Originally posted by Guest View Post
But for most of these kids, the main thing is that they love playing and enjoy the competition.Comment
-
Agree and competitive soccer (or any sport) offers valuable experiences to kids regardless of whether they desire to play in college. We are not chasing a scholarship and our kids are not even sure if they want to play in college or focus on their academics and social life. It’s hard to balance it all. But being on a team where they can play at the right level of competition, challenge themselves, enjoy their teammates and travel a bit has been an overall great experience for them. Some of the travel of these teams is excessive as for all but one or two very top teams - there is plenty of competition within driving distance and everyone else should only be hopping on a plane max once a year for a tournament. As long as the kid enjoys it and the parents are not delusional about their kid’s prospects - the only downside is cost. There does need to be more scholarship opportunities afforded to kids with the drive and talent but not necessarily the funds to play.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
Much of the passion seems to reside in the parents whose planning is imitative of Wiley Coyote.
Those that know don’t say, and those that say don’t know.
Beep beep!Comment
Comment