Only 1% of high school athletes receive a Division 1 scholarship, yet parents fork out billions
- Thread starter BKWRDKUROUT
- Start date
The crazy thing is mothers are more serious than a lot of fathers in regards to their sons and daughters playing sports now a days. Not too long ago I witnessed a mom going 51/50 on a coach because he wasn't hard enough on her son. She said something pertaining to her son being a punk and it was the coaches job to make him a man. I was like, "oh snap!!!"
Witnessed a lot of obsessive and often unexplainable parenting as my son grew up and participated in sports thru college. But now I think I understand why.............
http://new.theastrologer.com/friends-family/parent-by-sign/
It may be forces beyond our control....
http://new.theastrologer.com/friends-family/parent-by-sign/
It may be forces beyond our control....
Dr. Harry Edwards makes the point most clear: if you want money for college, work your ass off in school and get great grades. So much more money available through academics than athletics. College athletics creates this weird buzz, but academic monies allow for much more freedom for the student.
It's way cool when a kid that couldn't otherwise afford a four year college get's to go because of athletics and grades. In my mind there are two very important things to remember. Athletic scholarships are earned, not given. Also, a kid that is blessed enough to go to college on a scholarship is devoting a huge part of their day to the sport they are there to play.
I would take that one step further and say if your kid isn't at least all area it's probably a waste of money.
For d2 and d3 maybe spend the money because they may discover a school your son never heard of. I did not never a dime and my kid had plenty of D3 offers. As a parent you need to do the leg work. Go to the ncaa webpages and get a list of all d2, d3 schools and go from there.
For d1 your kid has to be a behemoth or have elite speed and quickness to have a chance. There are so many kids in the pool why would a coach look for something other than the above?
For d1 your kid has to be a behemoth or have elite speed and quickness to have a chance. There are so many kids in the pool why would a coach look for something other than the above?
You nailed it! I run a baseball program that's been around 20+ years so I've seen this up close. We are very fortunate as the great majority of our guys get decent scholarships but they are the top 1% kid. I see programs who promise their players scholarships and these kids have no business playing at the next level. But they are paying these groups, chasing camps and showcases, all because people are telling them what they want to hear. They spend thousands and thousands, money they could have applied towards school.
I'm a parent. Have younger children and I was lucky enough to play D2 college hoops. I worked hard and loved the game. My parents worked and came to my games when they could. It was up to the kids back then. No personal trainers or specialist. Also no internet and you only heard of people through word or mouth, newspaper, and if you saw them play in person. The Jason Kidd era.
But from what I can see its a lot of the parents who didn't even play sports that are the crazy ones today. I look at them and say when did your career stop? Little League? Jr High hoops. What are you getting so upset for? I'm very realistic with my kids. They are above average athletic. Are they going D1 some day.. I don't know. Odds aren't in their favor and I really don't care. I'm the guy who generally sits back and takes it all in. Let them be kids. Most of my friends who played college sports are the same way. Do you guys see the same? I know a lot of you guys played at D3, D2, D1 level. Anyway just my perspective.
But from what I can see its a lot of the parents who didn't even play sports that are the crazy ones today. I look at them and say when did your career stop? Little League? Jr High hoops. What are you getting so upset for? I'm very realistic with my kids. They are above average athletic. Are they going D1 some day.. I don't know. Odds aren't in their favor and I really don't care. I'm the guy who generally sits back and takes it all in. Let them be kids. Most of my friends who played college sports are the same way. Do you guys see the same? I know a lot of you guys played at D3, D2, D1 level. Anyway just my perspective.
Some of the very best academic schools are D3. A guy I work with son was getting plenty of D1AA looks but no offers. He accepted a 2/3 scholarship offer at St Olaf in Minnesota and saw playtime as a true freshman. Dad and son are thrilled with their decision.
One catch to all this is most D3 schools are back east. A couple of good California D2 schools are Azusa Pacific and Humbolt State. D2 can actually award full ride athletic scholarships where I believe D3 schools are limited to 2/3. Don't quote me on this stuff, though.
Last edited:
I only played football at the high school level. Not much demand for 6'2" 170 pound skinny legged nose tackles in the NCAA. I like to think I'm objective about the talent level my two kids display athletically. I think you are on target that the parents that never played the game or played at low levels tend to be the least objective. To me it's pretty simple, it's less about how good a kid is in high school but more about how that kid "projects" at the next level with college coaching. They can't make a 6' kid 6'5" but they can take a 6'5" kid and coach him up if he has any natural ability at all.
bubba3000- Ha ha... Yeah I'm 6"2-6"3 depending on the program and not many D1 programs needed off guards that weren't 6"5+. But I knew it and it was apparent when I played in spring/summer leagues against these kids. And I wasn't getting a line of BS from coaches or my parents. I feel old when I say this but those were the days if you played poorly you would hear it. Much straighter shooters. You stunk up the gym. You need to get better. It hurt at the time but man I thank them today for that candor.
You hit the nail on the head! I look around at there parents and say hmm..... 5"8 short Italian guy and kid is full grown at 12. He probably isn't going to be that tall. Then there is that skinny kid who looks like a boy who is 6"4 as soph but he's dad is 6"6 and mom is 5"10. That is the kid I'm looking at.
I have to calm my wife down at times. She gets caught up in it. I just say in time.... Just wait. And most importantly you have to love the game. It has to be your passion. I always got a kick out of Jason "white chocolate" williams. But man does he love the game. He still plays. He use to show up at playgrounds in sac. Its in his blood. Find your passion.
You hit the nail on the head! I look around at there parents and say hmm..... 5"8 short Italian guy and kid is full grown at 12. He probably isn't going to be that tall. Then there is that skinny kid who looks like a boy who is 6"4 as soph but he's dad is 6"6 and mom is 5"10. That is the kid I'm looking at.
I have to calm my wife down at times. She gets caught up in it. I just say in time.... Just wait. And most importantly you have to love the game. It has to be your passion. I always got a kick out of Jason "white chocolate" williams. But man does he love the game. He still plays. He use to show up at playgrounds in sac. Its in his blood. Find your passion.
D3s do not give athletic awards. What they do give, especially the highly USNWR ranked LACs (liberal arts colleges) are major funds from their endowments to entice (academically superior/higher) applicants to accept offers through those monies. However, in most D3s, it's "pay to play" and most of the schools will let you on the squad with HS experience. Whether you play or not is another question. Let's also clarify a "2/3" offer. That is likely a two-thirds share of tuition. At St. Olaf (42k! same as Amherst!!) that's 50% of the total. Room and board (averaging 12k-15k now) is usually NOT included in the D3 chatter. If you're at Mt. Union though you are probably pretty good. Yes, a "full ride" for the 85 in D1 and 65 in D2 will usually include the R & B expenses.
For parents of other sports than FB, please do not be discouraged by the comment if your kid "is not an all league player don't waste your money." Some, not many, HS coaches play cards with their league nominations. NCSF stated he's been in the room for that and found it distasteful. Have to agree I've seen it happen with lame excuses masking ulterior motives. A select few of those kids go on to D1, impress their college coaches with their skill and effort, get more money than their teammates/peers (those with the "coveted" NLI) after frosh year as a reward and some develop and work hard enough to attain next level. It takes tremendous effort and time management while juggling classes, papers, travel, etc. When it comes to fruition, one can only shake their head and realize HS "Coach" was not as stellar as they once thought.
