How time consuming would it be to play D1 soccer at a school like Columbia or Yale (my two top choices). I am on par with both schools in terms of both athletics and academics, but I worry that balancing sports with college would become too much for me.
Thanks!
Even though Ivy will be different from some D1 experiences, it’s still D1 which means major commitment. There is a saying with D1 athletes…College has three experiences - socializing, academics, and athletics. You get to pick two.
The NCAA allows 20 hours per week, 4 hours per day and 1 day off during season for “countable hours”. I think every D1 coach is going to push right up to that number (which doesn’t include training room time, getting to and from the practice facility and any “voluntary” team service activities). So, yeah, it’s a big time commitment - but a lot of kids do it, obviously. Some lab-heavy majors can be a real challenge as a D1 athlete.
My daughter didn’t have an issue with the amount of time required (much more than 20 hours with training time, pre-wrap, jogging, eating off schedule of the dining hall so hunting down food took time), but she was really tired at the end of the season. Really tired. Unfortunately, all her travel came at the end of the season, 3 long bus trips away 3 weekends in a row, and finals were just around the corner when the season ended. She does have a social life outside the team, a boyfriend, and a sorority, but those all take a back seat to school and team, especially in the spring.