@doschicos, do you have an opinion on the good BS with good soccer programs that yield the best success for D1 and ivy soccer, I could not really find any meaningful data on which programs produce the best results (combination of academics and soccer) in the ISL. Many thanks!
@SoccerMom2018 if the goal is to play D1/Ivy, why wouldnt you go the DAP approach?
2013 Boys Commitments (Probably last year with DAP waivers – Bolts are not waiving anymore)
D1
Haden Cosman-Berkshire School-American University
Cole DeNormandie-U Cincinnati-Lincoln Sudbury HS-Boston College(transfer)
Zeiko Lewis-Berkshire School-Boston College
Adolph Kawuba-NEFC Eagles-Wilbraham& Monson Academy-Boston College
Noah Sinkoff-Berkshire School-Boston University
Felix DeBona - Revs -Boston University
Nate Pomeroy-Bolts-Groton Dunstable HS-Brown University
Sebastian Blickman-Lincoln-Bucknell University
Chris McCormick-Suffield Academy-Western United-Bryant University
Pedro-Lucas Ferreira-Bridgton Academy-St.Mary’s-Bryant University
Matthew Mozynski-Franklin-Revs-Campbell University
Jett Oristaglio-FC Blazers-Nobles&Green-Dartmouth College
Johannus Grevelink-Winchester- IMG Academy-George Washington University
David MacKinnon-Oliver Ames-University of Hartford
Andrew Wheeler-Ominu-MPS-Roxbury Latin-Harvard University
Stephen Yen-Concord Carlisle-Harvard University
Tyler Goncalves-Bolts-College of The Holy Cross
Ryan Kingsley-Revs-North Attleboro-College of The Holy Cross
Chris Leeman-Bolts-College of The Holy Cross
Sam Millbury-Seacoast-Brooks-Lafayette College
Derek McCaffrey-NEFC/Bolts/BU-Groton Dunstable HS-University of Louisville (transfer)
Brandon McCarthy-Ludlow-South Kent-Monmouth University
Harrison Balder-Bolts-Thayer Academy-Northeastern University
Matthew Callahan-Bolts-Newton North-Northeastern University
Marc Greenblatt-Bolts-Winchester-Northeastern University
Elliot Mustoe-Lexington HS- Northeastern University
Robert Schallmo-Bolts-Thayer Academy-Northeastern University
Fabio Machado-Revs-Drexel University-Providence College (transfer)
Dominik Machado-Revs-Providence College
Mac Steeves-Bolts-Needham HS-Providence College
David Itoafa-MPS-Siena College (changed from NJIT)
Chip Sherman-Aztecs-Masconomet HS-Siena College
Coupar Lipp-Revs-Shrewsbury High School-Saint Joseph’s University
Matthew Bolduc-FC Blazers-Wichendon School-UMass
Josh Jess-Blazers-Douglas HS-UMass
Drew Johnson-Aztecs-UMass
Johnny Mendoza-Bolts-NMH-St. Lawrence University-UMASS (Transfer)
Matthew Pease-Valeo-Natick HS-UMass
Justin Rothermich-MPS-Sutton HS-UMass*
Erich Khan-Millbury HS-UMass*
Guilherme Rodrigues-Lowell HS-UMass
Roy Butlin-Bolts-Milton HS-UMass Lowell
Eric Martin-Danvers-UMass Lowell
Carlos Ruiz-East Boston HS-BU-UMass Lowell (Transfer)
Guilherme DeSouza-Blazers-UMass Lowell
Jaytoe Teh-Springfield-Cincinnati State-University of Kentucky (Transfer)
Brandon Allen-Berkshire-UNH (changed from F&M)
Gunnar Ericsson-Seacoast-Haverill-UNH
Duff Thompson-Bolts-BB&N-UNH
Will Szostkiewicz-Revs-Longmeadow-UNH
Bernard Yeboah-NEFC Eagles-Worc Academy-University of Vermont
Brett Perisho-Blazers-Nashoba HS-University of Vermont
Jackson Dayton-Deerfield Academy-University of Vermont
Daniel Giron-Dean College-FC Stars of Mass-University of Vermont (Transfer)
Max Cook-Bolts-Duxbury-Yale University
Ryan Simpson-Revs/Bolts/MPS-BB&N-Yale University
2015 Boys Commitments
D1
Demetri Kostakis-FC Stars-Andover- Air Force Academy
Trevor Davock-NEFC-Rivers-Boston College
Corin Kwasnik-NMH-Boston University
Conor Ingari-?-Winchester-Boston University
Colin Chiakpo-Bolts-Lexington-Boston University
Charlie Booth-FC Stars-Concord Carlisle-Bryant
Brendan Robinson-NEFC-Medway-Bryant
Neeraj Mahey-Bolts-Acton-Colgate
Ryan Bellavance-FC Blazers-Rivers-Colgate
Steve Deleo-Bolts/FC Blazers-Acton-Colgate
Aram Ouligian-FC Blazers-Needham-Colgate
Dylan Mott-Revs-Philips Andover Acad-Columbia
Owen Marshall-DC United-Philips Andover Acad-Columbia
Ben Nicholas-Beachside-NMH-UConn
Deandre Brown-Oakwood-Springfield Central-UConn
Alex Zecca-?-Beaver Country Day/Weston-UConn
Jimmy Coyle-Berkshire-Elon
Justin Donawa-Berkshire-Dartmouth
Amadu Kunateh-Revs-Lawrence Academy-Dartmouth
Kyle Ryan-Bolts-Westford-George Mason
Clayton Hafer-Bolts-Bedford-Holy Cross
Garrett Leahy-FC Stars-Concord Carlisle-Holy Cross
Eoin Houlihan-Bolts-North Andover-Holy Cross
Matt Morana-Revs-Shrewsbury-Lehigh
Kevin Boino-Western-Wahconah-UMass
Suri Chavali-Revs-Brookline-UMass
Mark Dunphy-?-Braintree HS-UMass
John Black-Ole Football Acad-Masconomet-UMass
Ty Goncalves-Transfer Holy Cross-UMass
Gabriel Rodriguez-Seacoast-Brewster-UML
Kevin Herrera-Seacoast-Brooks-UML
Julian Stewart-FC Stars-Acton Boxborough-UML
Edward Venta-Yepes-Pride-Lowell HS-UML
Adam Norman-NEFC-Wellesley-UNH
Adam Gibbs -Bolts-Westboro-Northeastern
Alex Reissmann-Cushing-Northeastern
Emmett Gordon-Valeo FC-Belmont Hill-Northwestern
Steven Kilday-Crusaders-Worcester Academy-Providence
Keith Dixon-FC Blazers-Amherst-URI
Austin Aviza-Revs-Medway-Syracuse
Miles Robinson-Bolts-Arlington-Syracuse
Jack Harrison-Manhattan PSG-Berkshire-Wake Forest
Lucas Wartella-Black Watch-Monument Mtn HS-WVU
@laenen, what is a DAP waiver?
@laenen,
Of the 6 students admitted to Ivies on your 2013 list three attended schools (Nobles, RL, and BB&N) that are in the ISL, the league the schools the OP’s son is considering play in, and two of the other 3 are from schools with extremely strong public school teams. CCHS was the state champ and ranked #8 in the country in 2014. Groton-Dunstable took the state titles in 2011 and 2012.
Both of the students on the 2015 list who ended up at Ivies came from prep schools, one of which, Lawrence, is a school on the OP’s list.
If the OP’s son’s goal is to play Div.1 soccer it might make sense for him to stay home and play club. If his goal is to play soccer at an Ivy League school or a college of a similar calibre such as Stanford or Williams it would make more sense to attend one of the prep schools to which he’s been admitted. My sense is that the OP would not be particularly happy to have her son end up at UMass Lowell, a school with strong soccer but relatively weak academics.
Milton Academy alone sent 27 students to the Ivy Leagues last year. While they were clearly not all or even most soccer players a D1 level player with good grades from such a school will likely have a wide array of college choices.
http://miltonmeasure.org/2014/06/matriculation-class-of-2014/
As I understand it the OP is looking for the goldilocks school, strong enough to gain acceptance to a top college while not being so rigorous that her son is likely to flounder academically.
@Sue22 – I don’t know the OP intentions. I am merely putting data out there,
@SoccerMom2018 – A DAP waiver is when a DAP club allows a player to miss DAP practice and play for their ISL team. When DAP first started there were a lot of waivers. It is my understanding that DAP clubs are not waiving as much. 60-70% of kids going D1 are coming from DAP.
The question your family needs to answer is which one is more important academics or D1?
If you have to choose – Would you choose a strong D1 soccer program with a mediocre academics over a D3 school like Amherst?
@sue22, that is precisely correct. Thank you. The time commitment to train and play at club or DAP is enormous. In Calif, you cannot play high school and DAP at the same time. DAPs train 5x a week, and club trains 3x a week year round. DS has chosen to play club since it was important for him to play at his school.
DS’s ultimate goal is to play Ivy soccer or select D1 programs. I think this means that DS needs to go to a strong academic institution good enough to get into the ivies (well said @sue22) but not so academically rigorous that you have to spend your every waking hour doing a paper or studying, since this does not allow you any time to play club/DAP.
From a parent’s perspective (mine), spending this kind of money is no joke (we are FP). Getting the best of all worlds - academics, athletics, true college prep, great mentorship, lifelong friends, really paves the way for a bright future. At the end of the day, DS has to choose which path he takes. My goal is to provide him the opportunities I can as a parent so he can have good options down the road.
Any insight is appreciated! Thanks.
It would be helpful to know what his options are as knowing that, I could give you insights into which schools have good DAP/Club teams nearby, impressions of BS coaches, places to live as I know you mentioned relocating. If your son wants to play at a competitive college level, it would help to get some play outside of the BS fall season.
As I see it the real issue for top players at prep schools is not in-season play. During the fall a kid at a prep school with a top program will get good coaching and a lot of touches. These kids typically play 6 times a week (M-F + Saturday games). The issue is off-season play. A kid who doesn’t play club/ODP, etc. in the fall typically won’t be able to in the spring and the prep schools don’t play soccer in the spring. Trying to get a boarder to an activity outside of school is pretty much impossible if you’re not there to drive him, so whether or not he could get a waiver is a moot point if he’s living 3000 miles from home.
In some ways the best of both worlds is a strong day school plus outside play with a top club/ODP program. The problem with that is that it places an incredible amount of strain on the student and I’ve seen kids burn out on the schedule as they try to balance academics with the travel requirements of their outside team. Such kids can also end up feeling outsiders to their school if they’re always on the road when their classmates are socializing on the field or in the bus to and from games.
I’m also a big proponent of cross-training. Too many kids’ athletic careers are ended by repetitive use injuries. These tend to be more common in girls but they’re certainly not unheard of in boys. I had a kid who had to stop playing one sport when an unexpected physical issue came to light. She was able to continue with another sport she didn’t start until her freshman year, and for which she was eventually recruited by colleges.
Adding, after reading doschico’s post above, that I forgot the OP is considering relocating. In that case it would make sense to talk to schools about how willing they are to grant waivers from the school’s sports requirements. I would also be careful about schools with Saturday classes and research whether they would conflict with Saturday soccer commitments.
I mostly agree with Sue except the part about in-season play, As you can see by the commitments there are very few from any one school. This is why USSF went to the DAP model and for the most part forbidden high soccer. The players you are practicing against are the best of the best. That is why the DAP is becoming the exclusive feeder into D1.
If he hasn’t done it, I would suggest trying to get him in front of the Bolts or the Revs and seeing what his options are after that. There are only 2 or 3 clubs after that.
@Sue22 In MA, ODP is effectively dead on the boys side. And it is on life support on the girls side.
Thank you all - very helpful comments.
What are the top 2 clubs outside of DAP in the Boston area. I don’t want to sacrifice academics for athletics (although I’m sure DS would not agree with that ). But since I’m paying the $50K a year, I get to have the final say :))
Also, does Academy allow kids to play HS soccer in MA? In Calif, it’s not allowed. I’m not sure time commitment will be realistic even as a day student - with homework, school activities, it’s almost impossible to make it to practice especially if practice is 5x a week year-round.
Unless there have been major changes in the past year or two (my direct experience ends then), it is possible to play DAP and attend BS, although juggling the time commitments of the two isn’t easy. How flexible a DAP team will be depends on how good your son is and how much the team needs/wants him. I know DAP teams who will cut some slack for a wanted player who might need to miss practices and/or games, especially in the Fall when it conflicts with playing for the high school team. One option is to get a waiver and another is to be a Developmental Player.
" What is a Developmental Player (also called a DP)?
Coaching staff will select a roster of Full-Time players for each of the Development Academy teams. In addition, certain players may be selected as Developmental Players (DP’s) throughout the season. DP’s will play Full Time on one of the other Surf teams in their age group and will be able to play with the DA team for a total of 6 matches in a season. DP’s will be able to train with the DA team on days he does not train with his primary team. The coaching staff closely watches the development of the DP and may move certain players to Full-Time status later in the season. DP’s are allowed to participate in High School soccer programs."
Also this website might be helpful although it is frequented by many boneheads:
http://talking-soccer.com/TS4/showthread.php?t=144311
@SoccerMom2018
DAP players can not play HS. Just like doschicos stated -for the right player there are always except. However, my sons play for 2 different DAP clubs. I am not aware of any BS/DAP players. If you are looking to play Ivies, NE team only average 5 per year. If you consider Williams and/or Amherst etc Ivy-like the numbers go up.
I think you can look at the commitment list to see what clubs are strongest. Tryouts are on-going but to break unto a U-17 team is going to be challenge. To me that is your next step, try to break onto one of the top clubs.
If you are relocating here, then the day school with a top club is the stronger path to be able to use a soccer hook next year. Boys soccer recruitment is in their junior year
I think if @SoccerMom2018’s son, who played DAP in the much, much more competitive California region, won’t have any issues securing a spot on a New England DAP team if they determine he can swing the dual commitments to school and outside soccer.
Did he play CA DAP? I missed that. I agree CA is more competitive in soccer than MA.
At least I thought I read he had, or maybe it was CA ODP. Either way, a much more competitive landscape than MA and the New England DAPs aren’t that competitive on a national scale.
DS didn’t play CA DAP since DAPs are not permitted to play HS soccer and there is no waiver here. He is in CA ODP. Just wondering - any suggestions on good clubs? I hear Bolts or GPS? How about Stars? Thanks again!