<p>she’ll turn 17 before she gets to the university in the fall, I know it’s awfully young to be going away to college. </p>
<p>i’d be disappointed for her (and me as a spectator:)) if she burned out at the start of her college athletic career, because she’s worked so hard to get there. But in the long run I don’t think she expects to stay in her sport, it’s not that kind of sport. Unless of course she goes into coaching…I’ve always thought junior and college level coaches have a great job! Although college coaching is what I’d recommend, you can actually feed yourself on that salary.</p>
<p>And I don’t expect her to stay in the sport beyond college or a few years after college, again it’s not that type of sport, no professional leagues here or abroad.</p>
<p>but, there is a very good possibility she’ll have an amazing 4 year sports experience on her new team, if she makes the cut. it’s a team full of rock star athletes!</p>
<p>and I agree that because of the time demands on athletes an athlete will not have the time to get the most out of the educational opportunities of the school; more classes, deeper research, etc. But I do think a healthy and top physical shape person performs to their intellectual ability better than someone of the same intellect who is a couch potato. And I think athletes can be higher performers academically because of their ability to focus and practice aka study:)</p>