I remember hearing about a girl from Cincinnati who committed to UNC that didn't play for her high school team - just her club team.

 

Alyssa Rich. She was a Milford High School student who didn't play (her junion and senior year I think) for her high school and just focused on playing for Ohio Elite. Went to UNC. I am not sure if she has graduated by now or is still a student there.

I assume they mean don't play "additional" soccer because that could lead to injury. Or are they saying there's a greater chance of getting injured in high school vs club?

 

I was told by both college coaches there is an increased chance to get injured in high school soccer. Both gave similar examples but they said you may have a softball player that has never played soccer and decides to play high school soccer. Maybe she is a big, strong, fast girl but no foot skills so the coach puts her at defender. Your daughter plays forward and this defender mows her down and your daughter tears an ACL.

That's pretty much the way both coaches explained it. They also said they would never be at a high school game to watch a player or look at high school film because it does not represent the level of competition you will face in club soccer.

No one cares who wins the club games. No one is going pro. Play for your school or you're a self absorbed individual.

No one cares who wins the club games. No one is going pro. Play for your school or you're a self absorbed individual.

 

Too simplistic.

Too simplistic.

 

They're playing club only and not school, because they think its going to get them a scholarship. They can get that same $750 partial to Mt St Joe or IUPUI playing for the high school team. All 3 of my kids play club sports too, but I still think its just a money grab. And winning those touneys has no real value IMO.

They're playing club only and not school, because they think its going to get them a scholarship. They can get that same $750 partial to Mt St Joe or IUPUI playing for the high school team. All 3 of my kids play club sports too, but I still think its just a money grab. And winning those touneys has no real value IMO.

 

Wow are you out of touch. College coaches don't attend HS Games. The only way to get a scholarship is to play club. Look at it this way - the top club players don't need to play more club because, well, they're the top players and already have coaches interested - so playing HS isn't going to hurt their exposure. And the bottom club players have probably maxed out their talent - so playing more club isn't going to help them either.

 

But that big middle talent core of club players - players that still have room for improvement, that could become a top tier player, that need some more exposure against players with similar talent, for them HS is not going to help them from a soccer standpoint. Club year 'round is a better option. Unless your HS team has dedicated soccer players, going out there with a bunch of softball and basketball players is a waste from a soccer standpoint.

 

If you think so little of club sports, they why are you paying for it? Perhaps you are at the wrong club if you think it's a money grab. These days, players play HS to stay in shape for club, not the other way around. And it's that way for all sports that have a club option. Everyone will say it shouldn't be that way, but that's the way it is.

Club sports should not be about getting a scholarship to play in college. Any decent club should tell you that upfront. You put your child in a club system if they are passionate about a sport and want to dedicate themselves to it. They want to be taught how to play the game they love by qualified trainers, not little Johnny or Jenny's mom or dad. If they are fortunate and do well in the club system, they will go to tournaments and showcases and THAT is where they will be noticed by college coaches. Club sports give the kids an opportunity to put themselves in a position to play at the next level, that is it...... Any club or college coach will tell you, the money comes from your academic record. If your kids clubs are not stressing grades then you are in the wrong place!

 

Some kids are lucky and do get varying amounts of athletic money. We have kids from this area that are getting athletic money to play. However, you would never get a $750 partial from Mt. St. Joe because they are D3 and don't give athletic money (and don't let anyone tell you differently) Now IUPUI might, but see they are D1 and they can do that sort of thing.

 

Players do not advance their talent playing high school soccer. They do it for the experience. They do it to be with their friends. And if you pay attention, the schools that do well, have a large number of kids on their rosters that play club ball. It's not the high school coach that makes them good, it's the club coaches. Any high school coach, if they are being honest, will tell you that the more club kids they have, the happier they are.

 

I miss the days where everybody played 2 or 3 sports and everything was just for fun. But then I look at my kids who are dedicated athletes and students, are far more mature and organized than I was at their age, and have had far more opportunities presented to them than I ever had and I think maybe today isn't so bad.

My kids play for fun. As someone who played small college sports its not for everyone. If youre not going D1 full scholarship and need your school paid for, you are wasting your time. Its a full time job with very little reward or benefit. Small college sports aren't a picnic. Probably had more fun in the adult rec leagues.

Take your traveling club and gas money and put it in a 529 plan. You'll have more money for college that way than you'll ever receive from directional U.

Can someone who really knows - please post the average amount a soccer player receives from an athletic scholarship. We all read about this player or that player getting a scholarship to play soccer, but what are they really getting.

 

I remember being told about a recruited D1 soccer player that started on an SEC school that did not get significant funds until senior year. Considered transferring or just giving up soccer due to lack of available monies.

Can someone who really knows - please post the average amount a soccer player receives from an athletic scholarship. We all read about this player or that player getting a scholarship to play soccer, but what are they really getting.

 

I remember being told about a recruited D1 soccer player that started on an SEC school that did not get significant funds until senior year. Considered transferring or just giving up soccer due to lack of available monies.

 

Amen. I think if you want to play and love the sport, great. Just don't count on it as your means to college.

Can someone who really knows - please post the average amount a soccer player receives from an athletic scholarship. We all read about this player or that player getting a scholarship to play soccer, but what are they really getting.

 

I remember being told about a recruited D1 soccer player that started on an SEC school that did not get significant funds until senior year. Considered transferring or just giving up soccer due to lack of available monies.

 

More info:

 

Soccer Scholarships & Chances of Playing College Soccer

Amen. I think if you want to play and love the sport, great. Just don't count on it as your means to college.

 

That could be said for every travel sport. The chances are slim. We are doing it for the fact that it exposes our boys to superior competition. I'm hoping that facing this now as a younger kid will make them understand consistency and hard work in a way that they wouldn't get elsewhere. I'm hoping that these lessons pay off in their professional lives as they'll be ingrained. We shall see if that gamble/investment is worth it.

More info:

 

Soccer Scholarships & Chances of Playing College Soccer

 

 

Now that's a link full of exactly the info I was looking for.

 

Takeaway: 1 in 10 kids playing high school soccer go on to play in college

D1 schools have 14 equivalencies to spread around between the 24-32 players

Most kids getting less than half tuition from athletic scholarships

Now that's a link full of exactly the info I was looking for.

 

Takeaway: 1 in 10 kids playing high school soccer go on to play in college

D1 schools have 14 equivalencies to spread around between the 24-32 players

Most kids getting less than half tuition from athletic scholarships

 

This is true with every sport at a D1 college outside of football which is the main moneymaker and basketball which is also a big moneymaker. Most if not all clubs will emphasize that being prepared academically should come first and foremost in order to offset the high cost of college.