My daughter is going to sign a D1 letter of intent to play basketball this fall. She played volleyball her entire career and is playing again her senior year. High school volleyball starts in mid July and runs right up to basketball season. There were times I wish she would focus just on basketball because that is her passion though she is a very gifted volleyball player as well. She worked very hard in the off season on her basketball skills and played summer basketball right up through this summer to gain the exposure that she needed for college recruiting and to improve her skills. We were very up front with the volleyball coach and she knew that basketball would come first in July and she was wonderful to work with. My daughter commited to working the best she could on shooting and her strength throughout volleyball. The college coaches were very supportive of her playing two sports and have come to numerous volleyball games to watch her and support her. She was very dedicated to her volleyball team and would not think of quitting volleyball to focus just on basketball. It may not be the recipe that works for everyone, but it has worked well for my daughter.

 

Yea for you and your daughter! I have seen the other side of it with both soccer and volleyball where there high school and club coaches do not want to work with them during the basketball season and are not flexible. I agree with being up front with the coaches to set the expectation from the get-go. I am about to find out about this same situation with my daughter so I am hoping we will have the good fortune that you and your daughter have.

Every player is different in their own way. Whatever works for them. I understand the coaches standpoint in trying to get them to concentrate on one sport; however I played with, and have witnessed, over the years, many multi-sport stars who could pick their College sport. It's a much different world today so I'm not sure the best advice for today's athlete.