<p>So I'd like to have our friends post their general knowledge of after being recruited, how many stick with their sport, for how long, and at what level/school/major. I think some of our pre-college posters would find it useful.</p>
<p>Some things I've heard is that: the coach isn't so nice anymore; the team parties too much; I couldn't play and major in science; I didn't get any playing time</p>
<p>One baseball player in our town transferred from a D1 to a D3 because he didn't like the control the coach had over his time, and felt the workouts were too time-consuming.
A swimmer at Harvard is thinking of quitting due to time constraints.
Two swimmers at SUNY schools quit due to trouble with being on a team and taking a heavy academic load.
Swimmer at Midd doing fine, great coaches and team.
Volleyball player at MIT very happy, but the first semester is pass-fail.
Volleyball player at SUNY doesn't like the coach, can't fit science courses in, so has to attend summer school. Not quitting so far.
LAX boy went to UMiami-too much partying(yes, I know)Now at Syracuse not playing.
LAX girl at Hopkins very happy.
Crew walk-ons at Cornell try it, and quit(two)
Runners everywhere still running unless injured....etc etc etc.</p>
<p>One baseball player started at JuCo out west for 2 years, had an OK experience, transferred to D1 on the East Coast at not very academic college, hated the team, the coach, the school, transferred after 1 semester to a West Coast start up D1. Likes the team and coach, but has had injuries and had to sit out a season. Finally hoping to have a good season this spring and will be staying for 5th year next year. It’s been a mess going from Quarter to Semester to Quarter system and transferring credits etc.</p>
<p>My freshman DS, niche sport at D3, had a great season. Likes coach, teammates, doesn’t party with them, not sure if they party much. Will be sharing a suite with a teammate next year. No problems mixing academics and sport with very rigorous math and science load including a lab course. Doing well academically. And, very importantly, still loves his sport!!</p>
<p>Junior D distance runner (3 season athlete) Ivy, still running well and competing at the highest level-kind of a late bloomer Loves the school/team/coach and the choice she made. Pre-med, making the grades, enjoying great summer internships/travel opportunities.</p>
<p>Her friend (soccer and track recruit) was admitted to the same school and expected to do both sports. Soccer was over for her very quickly due to injury, but she’s on the track throwing down fast times a year later. The transition away from soccer was rough, but the school was the right choice, so all is well. Econ- great student, also having incredible summer program experiences.</p>
<p>Relative recruited D3 girls Soccer at private U. Didn’t like coach much, didn’t play hardly at all freshman year but thought maybe it was because she was a freshman. She along with 10 others left after second season! Some stayed at school not playing, some switched sports, most transfered and are no longer playing - kinda sad. These were girls who played on travel teams, broke state records, etc and now have given it up.</p>
<p>D will be entering her final season this fall as a DII vball player. She has had a wonderful experience. After red shirting her first year, she has gone on to start and play every game of her past 3 yrs. along with earning several awards. Her coach has been great and her teammates her very best friends. She feels like even though it has been very time consuming, it has added so much to her whole college experience. She has done so many things, and gone to so many places that she never would have without playing a sport. She also has made some very good contacts that may help her when she enters the work force at the end of next year.</p>
<p>I heard 80% of NCAA D1 recruited athletes are out by the end of their sophomore year. Based on observations of d’s sport I’d say that’s true. We’ll see if she continues:) </p>
<p>the most stated reason is why do all the time if you’re never going to start, make the top team, be in the top 3…whatever description fits for your sport.</p>
<p>Pach, that is a great stat for parents(and athletes) to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Anyone know D3 stats? I think most us us would be happy to be PMed by newbies for info on specific schools in “our” sport-so D3 swimmers folks, esp NE LACs, feel free to contact me.</p>
<p>Son just completed first DIII swim season. Great coach, great team, great parents and he really enjoys the school. DIII offered him the right balance of academics and athletics.</p>
<p>Our son is a D1 golfer majoring in a science heavy major. He is in the lineup every tournament, really likes coaches and team. Grades are fine, travel is amazing. The only difficulty for him is he is serious about his sport so he is not into the party scene which is rampant in the dorms, makes it a bit tough sometimes.</p>
While I believe there is a lot of turnover on college teams that 80% number seems way too high … I certainly know it is not correct for the Boston area D1 basketball, football, and lacrosse teams and I’m pretty sure it’s not true about hockey and cross country and track. If someone said something like 25-50% I’d certainly buy it but the 80% number seems way too high.</p>
<p>pacheight- is your D a rower? At an Ivy? I often wonder how many non scholarship athletes (rowers in this case) drop off due to attrition…because there is no money and no financial tie invested in staying with the sport. In other words, because the athlete is not receiving athletic money, it doesn’t really matter whether they row or not once they’re in college. However, if a student has an athletic scholarship, and needs the athletic money to stay at the school, does that lead to a lower attrition rate?</p>
<p>Sorry if you’re student is not a rower…the athletic $ idea still applies, though.</p>
<p>Interesting question. I think the 80% quoted by pacheight for D1 recruited athletes being out after sophmore is a little high in our (baseball) experience. Based upon the many players we’ve known from high school travel baseball I’d say it is more like 50%. I may come back to you in a year with a different number as son is half way through his freshmen baseball season. We have seen & heard a lot of movement, dissatisfaction from my son’s friends who are playing D1 and D3 baseball. On the flip side that means the other 50% are happy including my son.</p>
<p>Truthfully, I think it is knowing yourself first. The word “fit” gets overused, but it is so true IMHO about the athletics and the academics. I thnink it is so important to know where you fit in the athletic and academic world, and what you can expect. For example, my son played with a 4-star national baseball prospect who went to a top five national program (College World Series team). He has worked his butt off, but he only has 3 at bats to show for his whole freshmen year. He probably won’t play until he is a junior. That is one of the huge decisons…playing time. I suspect it is the #1 reason athletes quit or transfer. This could have been avoided had he selected a “lesser baseball school” where he could have won a starting spot. Some of this is out of the athletes control, such as the nice recruiting coach who turns into Mr Hyde at the first practice. I’ve heard those stories as well.</p>
<p>As for my son, he is moving right along playing baseball. He is getting some pitching innings in, and started his first Ivy conference game last weekend. The coach started him slowly and now seems to be getting more work on the mound. He will probably get another start this weekend or possibly long middle relief. He is working his fanny off with baseball and studies, and doen’t have a lot of social time. He isn’t much of partier or drinker, so I don’t see that interfering with his priorities.</p>
<p>I can only speak for D2’s vball team - D3 very competitive. Coach brings on about 4 new girls per year, all recruited. Everyone has stayed with the team all 4 years (for as long as I’ve followed the team). There are injuries every year sidelining impact players. They recuperate and are back on the team the next year - in their original positions. It’s a very supportive team, very supportive environment.</p>
<p>From our private high school, which sends about 15 athletes per year to college:</p>
<ul>
<li>Most football players are no longer playing after 2 years.</li>
<li>Baseball players continue to play, but like fenwaysouth said, there is some transferring.</li>
<li>Water polo, tennis and volleyball players seem to continue playing</li>
</ul>
<p>S is a junior and still loves his sport and is competing at his Ivy, but unfortunately has spent more time injured than healthy. On his team, probably 70 - 75% of the athletes have remained on the team through senior year. For those athletes we know who have stopped participating (at a range of different DI schools), it seems they’re making reasonable decisions given the information or facts they’re facing now - e.g. most often injuries that they can’t seem to get past, not being as competitive as they’d like, and for one athlete - dissatisfaction with the amount of control her coach exerted over her college experience (classes she could take, roommates, etc).</p>
<p>Interesting that baseball students transfer-maybe a sign of true “love of the game”-go where you can play, because that’s the most important thing to them?</p>
<p>2 swimmers still swimming as juniors, one transferred due to the swimming program being cancelled(D1)</p>
<p>Too bad about the injured-that’s always such a disappointment.</p>
<p>fenway, I am so jealous, I am a baseball fanatic…And a member of Red Sox Nation…</p>
<p>D is a freshman distance runner (three-season), but is still loving her team, her teammates, and coaches. She has been injured on and off with minor, soft tissue stuff, but this does not alarm us given the undertraining at her high school and the huge step up to a top Div. 1. Of her recruiting group, 2 out of 6 quit already (injured, injured and homesick), and all have had bouts with injury. In fact, D is the only one currently training normally. This year, 2 upperclass distance girls quit so far, and 2 took leaves of absence for the spring season to deal with personal issues.</p>
<p>On D’s team, the distance runners cycle in and out of training and competing, as they are injured and then recover. It seems that the main attribute one needs to make it there is perseverance. D is not running well yet, but laughs and says that she plans to stick it out to the bitter end and eventually she will have her day in the sun!</p>
<p>D is on the home stretch of her freshman track season at an Ivy and has had a great experience. Teammates and coaches have been a great match. It has been a bit of an adjustment moving up from HS to D1 sports. She hasn’t hit her goal marks but is confident in the coach’s knowledge to help get her there in the future. All that said, some of the upperclassman have told her it gets harder and harder to stay motivated for success in the sport as graduation nears. Internships and career focus tend to take priority over sport. Some kids feel a 2 year ‘tour of duty’ fulfills their obligation to the team - especially if they aren’t hitting new goals and qualifying for post season NCAA meets.</p>
Loves the school/team/coach and the choice she made. Pre-med, making the grades, enjoying great summer internships/travel opportunities.</p>