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Post by egbbfb03 on Apr 24, 2023 14:32:43 GMT -5
I am sure it has been discussed here before but want some thoughts.
We have a boy who will be playing U18 this club season. He is only a soph so he graduates in 2025. The age split thing a few years ago got him. He does strive to play college soccer but he understands that IF he does play then it would most likely be a small/DII type program. Thankfully grades are a priority for him so why not attend a small school with a great education and try to play soccer there??
Well, he is about "tired" of the club soccer scene. He LOVES the game but the 3x a week practice, out of town weekends, etc have begun to wear thin. Simply put........he wants to be a "normal" high school student. He wants a job, not rush thru homework after practice, not miss HS events, etc. I understand that and as a parent I support that.
Our question/seeking comment is this...........is it even possible to draw the eye of a college coach (even small schools) W/O playing conventional club soccer? He would still train with a friend who is a trainer, have HS soccer, attend college ID camps, etc. We love our club and it has been great for him but at the same time the teenager wants to be a teenager for a season. Any thoughts are appreciated.
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Post by DunwoodySoccerDad on Apr 24, 2023 14:43:02 GMT -5
I am sure it has been discussed here before but want some thoughts. We have a boy who will be playing U18 this club season. He is only a soph so he graduates in 2025. The age split thing a few years ago got him. He does strive to play college soccer but he understands that IF he does play then it would most likely be a small/DII type program. Thankfully grades are a priority for him so why not attend a small school with a great education and try to play soccer there?? Well, he is about "tired" of the club soccer scene. He LOVES the game but the 3x a week practice, out of town weekends, etc have begun to wear thin. Simply put........he wants to be a "normal" high school student. He wants a job, not rush thru homework after practice, not miss HS events, etc. I understand that and as a parent I support that. Our question/seeking comment is this...........is it even possible to draw the eye of a college coach (even small schools) W/O playing conventional club soccer? He would still train with a friend who is a trainer, have HS soccer, attend college ID camps, etc. We love our club and it has been great for him but at the same time the teenager wants to be a teenager for a season. Any thoughts are appreciated. Sorry for the candor but if he’s tired of club soccer he will absolutely hate college soccer. Granted, he’s getting school paid for (or partially paid for) so the dynamic is very different than club soccer, which you have to pay for. But the demands are much worse than club. As one club coach advised our team recently- if you want to play college, be prepared because they basically own your ass. As for your question, I’d be surprised if your kid can get noticed by any colleges if he’s not playing club. |
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Post by randomparent on Apr 24, 2023 15:00:56 GMT -5
I am sure it has been discussed here before but want some thoughts. We have a boy who will be playing U18 this club season. He is only a soph so he graduates in 2025. The age split thing a few years ago got him. He does strive to play college soccer but he understands that IF he does play then it would most likely be a small/DII type program. Thankfully grades are a priority for him so why not attend a small school with a great education and try to play soccer there?? Well, he is about "tired" of the club soccer scene. He LOVES the game but the 3x a week practice, out of town weekends, etc have begun to wear thin. Simply put........he wants to be a "normal" high school student. He wants a job, not rush thru homework after practice, not miss HS events, etc. I understand that and as a parent I support that. Our question/seeking comment is this...........is it even possible to draw the eye of a college coach (even small schools) W/O playing conventional club soccer? He would still train with a friend who is a trainer, have HS soccer, attend college ID camps, etc. We love our club and it has been great for him but at the same time the teenager wants to be a teenager for a season. Any thoughts are appreciated. Sorry for the candor but if he’s tired of club soccer he will absolutely hate college soccer. Granted, he’s getting school paid for (or partially paid for) so the dynamic is very different than club soccer, which you have to pay for. But the demands are much worse than club. As one club coach advised our team recently- if you want to play college, be prepared because they basically own your ass. As for your question, I’d be surprised if your kid can get noticed by any colleges if he’s not playing club. What DunwoodySoccerDad said is 1000% spot on. |
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Post by bolo on Apr 24, 2023 15:13:37 GMT -5
I am sure it has been discussed here before but want some thoughts. We have a boy who will be playing U18 this club season. He is only a soph so he graduates in 2025. The age split thing a few years ago got him. He does strive to play college soccer but he understands that IF he does play then it would most likely be a small/DII type program. Thankfully grades are a priority for him so why not attend a small school with a great education and try to play soccer there?? Well, he is about "tired" of the club soccer scene. He LOVES the game but the 3x a week practice, out of town weekends, etc have begun to wear thin. Simply put........he wants to be a "normal" high school student. He wants a job, not rush thru homework after practice, not miss HS events, etc. I understand that and as a parent I support that. Our question/seeking comment is this...........is it even possible to draw the eye of a college coach (even small schools) W/O playing conventional club soccer? He would still train with a friend who is a trainer, have HS soccer, attend college ID camps, etc. We love our club and it has been great for him but at the same time the teenager wants to be a teenager for a season. Any thoughts are appreciated. Sorry for the candor but if he’s tired of club soccer he will absolutely hate college soccer. Granted, he’s getting school paid for (or partially paid for) so the dynamic is very different than club soccer, which you have to pay for. But the demands are much worse than club. As one club coach advised our team recently- if you want to play college, be prepared because they basically own your ass. As for your question, I’d be surprised if your kid can get noticed by any colleges if he’s not playing club. Yeah, my wife had two girls in her sorority pledge class back in the '90's (big SEC school) that were also playing soccer, and both of them lasted one season before they decided they would rather just be regular college students because the demands of soccer plus regular college & social life were too much. And I would imagine those soccer demands are even greater these days. You've got to really love it to keep it up in college, especially when you know there's zero chance of a pro career after. You can always try to play club for a lot of schools, not as much time commitment. |
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Post by bogan on Apr 24, 2023 15:43:27 GMT -5
I’d also say look at a D3 school. They aren’t handing out sports scholarships, and there is a whole month where the coach can’t contact them in the spring. But as far as club, I think it’s a must if he really wants to play at the next level.
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Post by bolo on Apr 24, 2023 15:59:37 GMT -5
I’d also say look at a D3 school. They aren’t handing out sports scholarships, and there is a whole month where the coach can’t contact them in the spring. But as far as club, I think it’s a must if he really wants to play at the next level. Agree, I know a good number of folks that played sports at D-III schools and still had fun, "normal" college experiences. And got great educations doing it. Yes, the financial commitment at a lot of those schools can be significant, but there's a lot of scholarship money not related to sports floating around as well. |
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Post by allthingsoccer on Apr 24, 2023 17:34:13 GMT -5
I can tell you not a lot of Colleges are handing out $$ to play. They are saving that for top level or international recruits.
The commitment is pretty high D1 and D2. So your player might find it difficult if not liking the travel/ commitment now.
Most scouts are pulling from Portal, International, MLS Academies, MLS Next, ECNL, and then High School. The chances of playing college soccer is very, very slim.
D3 is best bet but even then, you probably will have to still play club.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Apr 24, 2023 19:08:02 GMT -5
I agree wholly with what others have already said. One thing I would say is, if you are able to come up with a plan to communicate with college coaches and get them to come watch you at showcases, you might be able to succeed. You just have to have an "in" with club teams that will allow you to participate with their teams in showcases... Good-luck
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Post by rifle on Apr 24, 2023 19:38:44 GMT -5
Visit some schools. Check out their club team. How many former college players do you know of who played next/high level soccer beyond college?… I suspect you’ll find that most just play in Sunday leagues. College soccer is like a job.
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rotgg
Jr. Academy
Posts: 90
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Post by rotgg on Apr 25, 2023 8:34:08 GMT -5
With out knowing more about the young person in question it would be impossible to answer this question.If he was extremely physically gifted and very good soccer player any scout or coach would take notice.If he is not I would guess the above comments are probably right on.
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Post by soccerloafer on Apr 25, 2023 8:55:17 GMT -5
College soccer, at a high level, is not in the cards. Sorry. It's an all inclusive grind that becomes your personality.
Walk on at a smaller school, play club at a bigger school. Play intramurals in a variety of sports. Make a diverse group of friends, have a life, drink some beer, go on random adventures.
Life comes at you fast, enjoy it.
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