future of sports.

[McRib]

growing up I played lil league baseball, basketball HS football, and AYSO soccer as I'm sure many of us did. a few guys I played with in all 4 went pro after high school. their parents spent huge amounts of money on camps and traveling teams. I also watched a handful spend big money on kids who didn't make it to the big shows. not even AAA versions. they were all quite talented in their fields.

what does it take nowadays? anyone raising the next kobe? magic? jordan, Beckham? Sosa, McGuire? LT? the fridge?

 

[82daytona]

growing up I played lil league baseball, basketball HS football, and AYSO soccer as I'm sure many of us did. a few guys I played with in all 4 went pro after high school. their parents spent huge amounts of money on camps and traveling teams. I also watched a handful spend big money on kids who didn't make it to the big shows. not even AAA versions. they were all quite talented in their fields.

what does it take nowadays? anyone raising the next kobe? magic? jordan, Beckham? Sosa, McGuire? LT? the fridge?

Kids still play sports?

 

[McRib]

Kids still play sports?

some of them are. how else are the pro teams keeping up stock?

 

[Mr. C]

what does it take nowadays? anyone raising the next kobe? magic? jordan, Beckham? Sosa, McGuire? LT? the fridge?

Well it looks like (by your name dropping)if you are black you have a 75% better chance. LOL JUST KIDDING.

There are so many kids with off hook talent these days. In many ways I think it can be just dumb luck that got you noticed and on someones radar; In other cases I think it might just be who you know. Many kids don't have the funds to do all the travel sports and I would bet there are many out there that are better then most that are on some travel teams.

 

[Advantage 1]

A buddy here at work has signed up one of his girls (13 years old) on a 'good' soccer team. He is in Ladera Ranch. Good, bad or indifferent, he was telling me this year could cost him upwards of $10,000 for her to play. I do not know what that entails...

I played baseball in High School. The only new item every year was an aluminum bat. They lose their 'punch' after a solid season. My glove was broken in and loved it. Still have it. Damn thing is over 20 years old

 

[RodnJen]

It takes true talent. There are many kids that are good but only a handful will make it. For some, they and their parents are focused, but I think that is the minority of pro athletes. There is a big push in the medical community of slow down on the early league and travel teams. They are finding that that there are so many pitches in an arm for most athletes. If they have a true talent, and love for the game, they will peak at the appropriate time and have a longer, healthier career.

Parents these days are just f-ing nuts trying to get their kid to be the next..... or get that scholarship. Some are even seeking prophylactic Tommy John surgeries because they think it will prevent an injury down the road.

If the kid loves it and wants to play, let them. Doing it as an investment isn't a good long-term strategy for health or wealth. IMHO

 

[bluebleeder]

Having made it to AAA (Marlin and Rockie's organizations)I feel somewhat qualified to answer. Travel ball, private coaches, going to a high profile high school etc. all helps. Video diaries of the kids performances to send to college coaches and pro scouts also helps. The biggest thing is to always play with and against the best talent across the widest geographical area. Take me for example, I was the best in little league, the best in high school, All City, All State etc. Once I got drafted, guess what? EVERYONE was the best in their own town or state and it was quite humbling. Oh and the fact that I ran out of talent and some didn't was also humbling.

 

[TRAVISD]

My son who is 11, played Pony ball and we did a travel team plus he wanted to do swimming. My daughter who is 13 was on the swim as well. During the week we were not home before 9pm and every weekend was spent either at a pool in So Cal or a baseball field and sometimes both places at once. So last summer the kids came to us and said they wanted to take a break from it all. They missed being a kid, eating family dinners and just having fun. So now, most of our weekends are spent in Havasu waterskiing, wakeboarding etc.

When we told the coaches we were stopping the teams, they all had such attitudes about it and didn't understand why, even after explaining it to them. In their eyes we should be eating, sleeping, breathing that sport and nothing else. These kids team sports are just crazy now, you cant go a play different sports, because if you do you are behind in the other.

 

[rivrrts429]

I have two friends that made it to the majors, both pitchers. One lasted 3 years with only one major league appearance and the other didn't last a season. Both had career ending arm issues.

As one of them told me, in college not a single scout came to see him pitch when he threw 96mph. He juiced in the off season and saw 97/98mph. One fucking mile an hour changed his world.

Instantly he had scouts coming to see him at 97+ mph but he started to lose his ball control because his chest was growing and screwing up his mechanics.

Ultimately his arm went to shit because of the power and odd mechanical motions needed to make the pitch throughout the years.

It's so competitive now. They say pretty much any sport is a one in a million type odds. Look at football. The average career of a player in the NFL is something like three years. Just because you make it doesn't mean you'll remain. Actually once you make it to the big leagues them the real work begins.

 

[DILLIGAF]

It is a business now.....kids with talent are many times forced to choose a sport over another one. I have been thru a lot of this stuff with my son. When it stopped being fun and became a business it took away the purpose for playing in the first place. Then it becomes the parents pushing them forward when the kids heart isn't in it anymore. Coaches are supposed to be much more than "what have you done for me lately" and more "trying to build character and integrity in oneself and as a group". Sadly.....most youth coaches are just caught up in the winning at all costs when it comes to the travel teams. It is a product of the parents IMO.

Hockey and soccer seem to be the worst to me.....

 

[PVHCA]

Club Soccer is a flippin racket, these organizations and coaches make shit loads of money dangling the carrot. I have very close friends whose daughters have had huge success and others, not so much. Between girls volleyball and soccer, colleges are offering great scholarships to either sports. My nephew started 3 years at Bishop Gorman(top BB team in the nation, always), he gets a full ride to DIV 3 Cumberland College in Nashville, great opportunity but he felt he got the shaft because he didn't start his Frosh year, he walks and is now pondering his very limited options, STUPID/SELFISH move on his part. My son's friend, another Bishop Gorman product this time in Football, full ride to Nebraska, been the starting right tackle since midway through FROSH year, Nick Gates will eventually be a 1st round draft pick in the NFL. All depends on the talent level, there are PLENTY of talented kids out there, not as many great ones though.

 

[brgrcru]

I spent thousands, when they were young and did not travel much 12k a year per child.
as they got older, it was close to double that a year. 14 years of that.

never intended them to go to the highest level and play pro.
but they did play at the highest level when they were kids and teenagers.
Girl went on to play a year at U OF A wildcat. all that money for 1 year div 1 college ball and then the words Dad, "I dont want to play." its okay she graduated and is a nurse now. kept her out of trouble and she was busy.

Boy played and was named MVP CIF. was on a national champ team twice, played all over the world as a youth player.
had a chance to stay in Hanover and play, no contract, but an opportunity. did not want to stay.

played a year in college. and hung up his soccer boots. learned a trade and now has a CNC machine in our garage and works for uncle all week. then comes home.

moral to my story, we had great times spent $$$$$$$ on training, shoes, clothes, fees, personnel training, air fare, hotel etc.
it takes a special human being to take it to the next level. no matter how much you spend, it all helps. but it is up to the individual. they have to live, breathe, the sport and put everything else aside, be a little lucky, no river trips, no glamis trips, no girl friends.:grumble:

plus you have to be in the right place at the right time.
My hats off to any one in any sport that can get it done. its a super commitment from the family.

 

[Faceaz]

Not a main stream sport. But, my little guy is ranked #1 in the Nation for BMX (for his age) & is going to Worlds to represent the USA in Columbia this year. IMO allot of parents throw huge amounts of money at it, but it's not necessarily the answer. Our annual budget for racing is 10-15k (I know of families spending double to triple that) but that's not a complete picture. I think to make it a household needs to survive on 1 income. I work part-time & am part owner of our local BMX Track. So, I have a ton of time to work with him, spend time training, get him to practices, races, etc. If I had a full time job, he might put in 1/4 of the time he does & certainly wouldn't be as good. The only reason I am involved with the track is for free track time whenever we want it. His sponsor gives him bikes, pays entry fees, gear, etc., so that helps & he has an excellent bike. But, before all of that, no kid will be successful without a passion for their sport. I see allot of parents living through their kids. The kids don't stand a chance in the long run because they're just doing it for the parents. I tell him all the time "you can back it down, have more fun & just race locally" - he gets PISSED when I suggest it. For now the passion is there, if it goes away, I don't expect him to stay on top.

 

[Oso Viejo]

Except for Football, sports success in HS seems less important than year round training and play. The folks running the highest profile club teams make LOADS of money in baseball, basketball, volleyball, and even training fallsport guys who compete in 7 on 7 games and lineman competition. Hell, they even have kicker/longsnapper camps.

The other big dollar enterprise is the running of events for the year round teams; those guys just rake it in. Kid baseball has like a zillion World Series events every year . . . at all different ages. They start em at 5U and go up to 18U and there are a dozen outfits all running tournaments. The sweet spot seems to be about 11 to 13 since when parents start realizing their little all star probably won't play too much in HS the family moves on.

 

[Old Texan]

It takes true talent. There are many kids that are good but only a handful will make it.

For some, they and their parents are focused, but I think that is the minority of pro athletes. There is a big push in the medical community of slow down on the early league and travel teams. They are finding that that there are so many pitches in an arm for most athletes. If they have a true talent, and love for the game, they will peak at the appropriate time and have a longer, healthier career.

Parents these days are just f-ing nuts trying to get their kid to be the next..... or get that scholarship. Some are even seeking prophylactic Tommy John surgeries because they think it will prevent an injury down the road.

If the kid loves it and wants to play, let them. Doing it as an investment isn't a good long-term strategy for health or wealth. IMHO

This, above......Talent is the key and it cannot be taught. There are border line cases that can work harder but you cannot coach speed, hand eye coordination, or physical talents.

The outstanding are visible and they will be seen by someone at some level. Every level has it's stars and a handfull are just that much better. Parents are often not objective and many don't even understand what the sport is about and what true talent is about.

Parents can burn kids out just as easy as they can push some improvement.

Major league baseball is a prime example why all the money spent in the US can't move the talent needle upwards. The poor Carribean nation kids are dominating because they have true natural talent.....Again, speed cannot be bought nor can natural physical talent. Enjoy what you have and allow your kid to enjoy what they bring to the field. Everyone cannot be a top line professional or a helluva lot would.

 

[H20-ski]

My boy waterskies as much as possible. Wants to compete like Nate Smith.

 

[G. Faulk]

My son who is 11, played Pony ball and we did a travel team plus he wanted to do swimming. My daughter who is 13 was on the swim as well. During the week we were not home before 9pm and every weekend was spent either at a pool in So Cal or a baseball field and sometimes both places at once. So last summer the kids came to us and said they wanted to take a break from it all. They missed being a kid, eating family dinners and just having fun. So now, most of our weekends are spent in Havasu waterskiing, wakeboarding etc.

When we told the coaches we were stopping the teams, they all had such attitudes about it and didn't understand why, even after explaining it to them. In their eyes we should be eating, sleeping, breathing that sport and nothing else. These kids team sports are just crazy now, you cant go a play different sports, because if you do you are behind in the other.

I hear ya and good move on your part. My daughter has swam since age 6 and is now swimming in college. My family spent weekends at almost every cali competition pool from Sac to Diego. Sometimes as far as Texas and Florida. At the age of 8 her head coach pulls us into his office and says she's got talent choose the pool deck weekends or Havasu and the Dunes now. I sometimes regret the decision we made, I got sucked into the free ride to college thing. The brutal demand she put on your body and mind at such an early age I honestly cannot tell ya if its worth it. I will say, she puts her mind to something and she almost always gets it done and I think she develop that from her swimming. Also it keeps them out of trouble. Tough call, the kids now a days are bigger, faster, and seem to have more top notch athletes then before.

Heres another crazy fact, my brother in law spends 20K for my nephew as a goalie on a traveling hockey team per year, shits getting expensive.

 

[DILLIGAF]

This, above......Talent is the key and it cannot be taught. There are border line cases that can work harder but you cannot coach speed, hand eye coordination, or physical talents.

The outstanding are visible and they will be seen by someone at some level. Every level has it's stars and a handfull are just that much better. Parents are often not objective and many don't even understand what the sport is about and what true talent is about.

Parents can burn kids out just as easy as they can push some improvement.

Major league baseball is a prime example why all the money spent in the US can't move the talent needle upwards. The poor Carribean nation kids are dominating because they have true natural talent.....Again, speed cannot be bought nor can natural physical talent. Enjoy what you have and allow your kid to enjoy what they bring to the field. Everyone cannot be a top line professional or a helluva lot would.

For some they work harder as it is their way out of poverty. Most American kids won't know that type of poverty and they just don't put the work in. That's another aspect to the Carribean kids and their success.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Go check out Trophy kids on Netflix......

Some sick super unrealistic parents out there....Like mentioned being the best kid in Pony or AYSO gives you a good chance at being good in High school. If you are the best athlete in High School with a solid GPA you have a very good chance of getting a Scholarship to College. Once you get to a real college all bets are off and it gets harder and more competitive going forward.


I have friends that were all state athletes that got full rides in Baseball,football,wrestling and basketball......Every single one of them found out that they were average once they got to College at best.

I will support my kid for as long as he wants to play and once he commits to a season I won't let him quit.

 

[adam909]

Interesting thread here. I grew up in the club soccer scene really young.. Was on the same club team as Landon Donovan. Made the Olympic development team when i was 14. Played varsity soccer all four years of high school. My parents pushed me so hard every day that as I got older i lost the drive. I remember one time i got in trouble for making a silly mistake on the field and at that point I didn't want to play again. College teams wanted me but I lost the love and drive for soccer..

So here I am 20 years later with a daughter in softball. I see that I'm doing the exact same as what my parents did to me in sports. My daughter has talent, but is she a natural? I would say no. Is she good? absolutely she stands out when she's hitting and fielding.. Im at the point now at how hard do I want to push her? I know she's only 10, she loves softball. Every day after school she wants to practice hitting and fielding. She wants to watch softball games on youtube to learn from. She knows about travel ball due everyone saying thats where we need to go to. But I'm at that point with her that I see she's serious and I need to let her better her self and I need to move her to the next level. So here I am about to start this journey knowing in softball college ball is the farthest you can go for girls.. time will tell.

 

[Cole Trickle]

For some they work harder as it is their way out of poverty. Most American kids won't know that type of poverty and they just don't put the work in. That's another aspect to the Carribean kids and their success.

I agree but there is no amount of training or work you can put in to get to the point where you can throw a baseball triple digits.

Look at the Shaq or cam newtons of this world.......straight freak of nature physical lottery winners. There also singers that are just born with something special.

 

[Yellowboat]

i paid for a striving oylpians travels for 2 years before the London games. 64k in travel and hotels. granted I did go with her for about of 1/3 of those. it aint cheap.

 

[pronstar]

I have friends that were all state athletes that got full rides in Baseball,football,wrestling and basketball......Every single one of them found out that they were average once they got to College at best.

Excellent point.
Good gradeschoolers are average when they get to HS Varsity.

The HS varsity studs go to college, and the entire team is stocked with similar kids from around the country.

Sure, there might be one or two standout players on a given college team. But then you get to the pros and the entire league is nothing but those standout college players.

 

[DILLIGAF]

I agree but there is no amount of training or work you can put in to get to the point where you can throw a baseball triple digits.

Look at the Shaq or cam newtons of this world.......straight freak of nature physical lottery winners. There also singers that are just born with something special.

For some....for some

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Club Soccer is a flippin racket, these organizations and coaches make shit loads of money dangling the carrot. I have very close friends whose daughters have had huge success and others, not so much. Between girls volleyball and soccer, colleges are offering great scholarships to either sports. My nephew started 3 years at Bishop Gorman(top BB team in the nation, always), he gets a full ride to DIV 3 Cumberland College in Nashville, great opportunity but he felt he got the shaft because he didn't start his Frosh year, he walks and is now pondering his very limited options, STUPID/SELFISH move on his part. My son's friend, another Bishop Gorman product this time in Football, full ride to Nebraska, been the starting right tackle since midway through FROSH year, Nick Gates will eventually be a 1st round draft pick in the NFL. All depends on the talent level, there are PLENTY of talented kids out there, not as many great ones though.

Club soccer seems like the biggest scam perpetuated on the upper middle class. I don't know what the endgame for putting your kid though an entire childhood of soccer is. Especially 20+ years ago when soccer had no future at all. Now they dangle the Pro Soccer carrot in front of you I guess.

If it is for scholarship purposes the market is flooded. And all the money you spent you could have just paid for college for your kid anyway.. I don't get the draw.

If I am going to push my kids into a sport it is going to be something I enjoy... like go karting or BMX LOL.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Excellent point.
Good gradeschoolers are average when they get to HS Varsity.

The HS varsity studs go to college, and the entire team is stocked with similar kids from around the country.

Sure, there might be one or two standout players on a given college team. But then you get to the pros and the entire league is nothing but those standout college players.

I always laugh when people are talking trash about a back up QB in the nfl. A third string QB is realistically one of the best athletes in his state and has more talent physically than you can ever imagine....he was probably all state in high school for football,baseball and basketball.

 

[PVHCA]

Club soccer seems like the biggest scam perpetuated on the upper middle class. I don't know what the endgame for putting your kid though an entire childhood of soccer is. Especially 20+ years ago when soccer had no future at all. Now they dangle the Pro Soccer carrot in front of you I guess.

If it is for scholarship purposes the market is flooded. And all the money you spent you could have just paid for college for your kid anyway.. I don't get the draw.

If I am going to push my kids into a sport it is going to be something I enjoy... like go karting or BMX LOL.

I could fill a lot of ears with stories on this racket, flipping nothing more than "common thieves".

 

[PVHCA]

I always laugh when people are talking trash about a back up QB in the nfl. A third string QB is realistically one of the best athletes in his state and has more talent physically than you can ever imagine....he was probably all state in high school for football,baseball and basketball.

I played football with 3 of the Henley brothers at my Alma Matar, Damien High. Thomas(the oldest) a senior when I was a frosh tackling dummy, he went to Stanford and never amounted to anything in football, got a great education. Eric(the youngest), played with him on JV and Varsity went to Kansas St and Rice, never amounted to anything on the football team either. That leaves Daryl(middle), played with him on varsity, he got a full ride to UCLA, drafted by the RAMS, big $$$ contract, oh ya he's in jail for life for running cocaine and trying to have the judge killed. 1 out of 3 ain't bad, LOL

 

[Old Texan]

I could fill a lot of ears with stories on this racket, flipping nothing more than "common thieves".

My youngest played Club Volleyball. The clubs that pissed me off were the ones that charged fees to try out. Basically they were doing a fundraiser and raised hopes of kids trying to make a club.

We were lucky and she got picked on a club headed up by the UofH head coach and several top line local HS coaches. Didn't cost us a dime to try out as it should not. Felt good to beat the clubs that tried to make a buck off tryouts.:thumbsup

 

[gqchris]

I played baseball thru High School and traveling ball. I discovered what chicks were about, and lost focus.

But one thing that haunts me now at 42 years old, my right shoulder is fucked! I was not a pitcher, but always played shortstop or left field. I never worried about throwing my arm out, but paying the price now. I dont know how the pro guys can live with the arm injuries:thumbsdown

 

[pronstar]

I played baseball thru High School and traveling ball. I discovered what chicks were about, and lost focus.

But one thing that haunts me now at 42 years old, my right shoulder is fucked! I was not a pitcher, but always played shortstop or left field. I never worried about throwing my arm out, but paying the price now. I dont know how the pro guys can live with the arm injuries:thumbsdown

Drugs and docs...most pro athletes, and even collegiate athletes, do not age well at all.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Drugs and docs...most pro athletes, and even collegiate athletes, do not age well at all.

I've noticed a lot of college athletes that didn't make it to the pros are in sales. The vast majority of the ones I have worked with in the IT industry are wackos and carry around a snack sized ziploc full of pills for the day.

 

[HBCraig]

It takes tremendous dedication now. I played at a fairly high level in the farm system with the Rangers and the Blue Jays. I never amounted to shit.

I coach two travel teams; a 12U softball team and a 10U baseball. I know of 5 8th graders my daughter plays against that are have full rides to major schools. Kids now are practicing a ton and it scares the hell out me with arm injuries. I honestly dont think they should be throwing as much.

 

[Yellowboat]

It takes tremendous dedication now. I played at a fairly high level in the farm system with the Rangers and the Blue Jays. I never amounted to shit.

I coach two travel teams; a 12U softball team and a 10U baseball. I know of 5 8th graders my daughter plays against that are have full rides to major schools. Kids now are practicing a ton and it scares the hell out me with arm injuries. I honestly dont think they should be throwing as much.

I wrestled for 25 years. trust me, my joints are shot. I had said ride, then I blew my shoulder out and all that went away.

 

[bluebleeder]

Drugs and docs...most pro athletes, and even collegiate athletes, do not age well at all.

You got that right. 23 years of catching has awarded me 3 spinal surgeries with 2 titanium plates , 6 knee surgeries and a rotator cuff surgery. I had a lot of fun destroying my body don't get me wrong.

 

[MSum661]

It takes tremendous dedication now. I played at a fairly high level in the farm system with the Rangers and the Blue Jays. I never amounted to shit.

At least you made a move to get on with your life! I know a few that still can't get over it after things ended. Stuck in limbo mode 24/7. Angry all the time.
I always said the Farms need Teams and great Players on the field to create that Game situation so that the one incredible player can be seen and make it through all the way.

If you played A, AA or AAA ball.....consider yourself fortunate just for the experience factor. And if you won tough games and played with other great players along the way, you have some great memories to hold on to.

 

[Motor Boater]

Sports are totally different these days. When I was young I played baseball, basketball, golf, skiing, tennis. Nowadays it's so intense the kids basically have to chose one sport at a very young age. My kids are just starting in sports. I pray they never become a pro athlete, all those guys are screwed up and have horrible lives. It amazes me how important sports are to some people. Parents fighting in the stands, overbearing dads etc. It's just crazy. Don't get me wrong I loved playing sports and think it teaches kids great lessons and values, I'm just not going to lose my mind and hate my kid if he's not the best athlete known to man. And I'm certainly not going fight another parent in front of a bunch of young impressionable kids over a bad call.

 

[Singleton]

I front the costs for my nephews. One plays soccer and another plays baseball. Both are club / travel teams, with paid coaches and college recruiting coordinators. Cost about 10k each kid a year. HS sports alone will not get you a athletic scholarship to college. Oldest is JR is HS (soccer) youngest is FR (baseball). Both have UT scholarships for the sports already verbally extend.

 

[brgrcru]

Let's just say I don't believe 90% of parents that say there kids are getting rides to school, just for a sport.
Most kids need to have great grades along with there sport.
Unless they are top picks and playing the three major sports in men's, football, baseball, basketball. There is not much money left. For all other left over sports, unless they are Olympic or national team select.

Girls on the other hand, will get a little money also, but have to have good grades. And also have to be Olympic or national team , be it this country or another.

I call total bulshit on any parents saying there kids got a free ride, on any other sport accept the top 3, just on there athletic ability = unless you have a foreign name ex. rameriez, blosvich, Kim, abluadua, or foreign citizen, or Don't make enough money, . The schools will help a little. If your white, your kids better have 3.5 or better, to have a chance. Just saying.

 

[Yellowboat]

Let's just say I don't believe 90% of parents that say there kids are getting rides to school, just for a sport.
Most kids need to have great grades along with there sport.
Unless they are top picks and playing the three major sports in men's, football, baseball, basketball. There is not much money left. For all other left over sports, unless they are Olympic or national team select.

Girls on the other hand, will get a little money also, but have to have good grades. And also have to be Olympic or national team , be it this country or another.

I call total bulshit on any parents saying there kids got a free ride, on any other sport accept the top 3, just on there athletic ability = unless you have a foreign name ex. rameriez, blosvich, Kim, abluadua, or foreign citizen, or Don't make enough money, . The schools will help a little. If your white, your kids better have 3.5 or better, to have a chance. Just saying.

I can attest to the fact that even a super star is not enough any more. about 10 years back there was a guy by the name of palmino, wrestler from the bay area. 1st ever 4 time Ca state hs wrestling champ. no one has even ever came close to that. his grades sucked, he had a kid and got in trouble with the law.( minor stuff) he went from having every single big wrestling school in the nation and usa wrestling beating a path to his door... he went no where. I mean no where.

 

[Singleton]

Let's just say I don't believe 90% of parents that say there kids are getting rides to school, just for a sport.
Most kids need to have great grades along with there sport.
Unless they are top picks and playing the three major sports in men's, football, baseball, basketball. There is not much money left. For all other left over sports, unless they are Olympic or national team select.

Girls on the other hand, will get a little money also, but have to have good grades. And also have to be Olympic or national team , be it this country or another.

I call total bulshit on any parents saying there kids got a free ride, on any other sport accept the top 3, just on there athletic ability = unless you have a foreign name ex. rameriez, blosvich, Kim, abluadua, or foreign citizen, or Don't make enough money, . The schools will help a little. If your white, your kids better have 3.5 or better, to have a chance. Just saying.

I agree with this. My nephews verbal offers get them into the school, but the scholarships are about equal to room and board only. Tuition will still have to be paid

 

[94Nautique]

Interesting thread, seems most of us agree, it can quickly go over the top. As well, I have heard so much mis-information about kids and young adult sports its sad. Here's a couple of truths about NCAA sports:
Div 1 is a full scholarship model. All sports have a maximum number of grants they are LEGALLY allowed to use, and its ALWAYS a smaller number than the number of athletes allowed on the team. (read: coach eather gives the 9 soccer scholarships to 9 players, or they spread it out across the 28 or so players on the team. Or if you won the sex lotto, 14 full rides for women D-1 teams. Dont get me started on Title9 and the its caused)

Div 2 is a full shared model. ?Division II offers a ?partial-scholarship? model for financial aid in which most student-athletes? college experiences are funded through a mix of athletics scholarships, academic aid, need-based grants and/or employment earnings.

Div 3 is NON-SCHOLARSHIP. NCAA Divisions I and II schools provide more than $2.7 billion in athletics scholarships annually to more than 150,000 student-athletes. Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships.


Next, there is no such think as a four year deal. All grants are resigned each year. Coaches award grants EVERY year, its normal for most kids to continue each year at the same rate, but it is not required. In my case, I got a 5th year, even though I was not even playing due to a career ending injury. (D1 soccer)

With regard to club soccer, not sure where the $10k per year figures per kid are coming from, my kids are in at about $2k plus a bit more for kit. Travel is not too bad, since we dont do a ton of tournaments. Maybe that $10k number includes travel too? I do it so they play year round, its a player development focused club, and I can train them on individual aspects of the game as my beliefs perfectly align with the club. (I think people call them privates, maybe I should invoice my kids!?)

Last thing is the notion of single sport specialization. Is it good or bad? Not sure, since I have told my kids from day one they should always play at least one individual sport and at least one team sport. Currently, we are water skiing, snow skiing and the boys have settled on soccer for the team sport.

Now on the other hand, my daughter is big into Musical Theatre...wow talk about $!!!! Lucky she goes to a charter school. (donation is voluntary...ya right)

some resources:

http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/scholarships
http://www.ncaa.org/about?division=d2

Its not lilke when we were kids and we rode our bikes to practice, our parents usually but not always watched our games, and we learned how to cuss in a bunch of different laguages (soccer, gotta luv the multi-national benefits!)

What I really want to see my kids do in college is be on the Water Ski Team. That is the coolest thing ever! Co-Ed, but each competes on their own. Ski everyday, team boat, chicks in bikinis, at the tournaments you ski Saturday, have a huge party Saturday night, then try to ski on Sunday. That is called living the dream.

 

[Singleton]

With regard to club soccer, not sure where the $10k per year figures per kid are coming from, my kids are in at about $2k plus a bit more for kit. Travel is not too bad, since we dont do a ton of tournaments. Maybe that $10k number includes travel too? I do it so they play year round, its a player development focused club, and I can train them on individual aspects of the game as my beliefs perfectly align with the club. (I think people call them privates, maybe I should invoice my kids!?)
.

The 10k a year number I stated is all in. My nephew in soccer has 2 seasons (indoor & outdoor). Each season is apx 3500, and then tournament travel on top of that. They travel out of state which eats money fast.
My other nephew in baseball only has 1 season 3k and that team travels out of state as well. When not in season they have strength and conditioning coaching (averages 2k), then position specific coaching (another 2).

Is it worth it, no sure. Both kids ask to play and are asked each year if they want to stop. If they continue great, if not that is OK. I tell them both go to college to get an education, playing a sport is secondary.

 

[welldigger00]

If the desire to play a sport doesn't come from within the kid, they will never go anywhere in said sport. My boy wrestled for four years before high school, and he did it because he knew that I liked wrestling. We went to practice three nights a week, for two hours each night, an had tournaments every Sunday. He came to me one day and said he's done. You can see it on the kids faces when you are at a game, or tournament, if they love it or not. I watched a dad at the flat track push his kid into faster and faster bikes, that his seven year old was running the 85 two stroke class, he couldn't start the bike on his own, his feet were 12" from touching the ground! This kid was terrified, and after each race, if he didn't win, his dad would be screaming at him all the way to the pits. The lessen that I've learned through this whole thing, is the worst part of any of these sports is the parents. The kid gets yelled at for not doing good, or the the parent makes a big scene at an event to try to justify why their kid should be ranked better, even though their kid sucks. But, in the end, for what? To go to college, and do what? In my opinion, and from what I've learned, let the kids play what sports they want, and focus on teaching your kids to become productive people, and have a sense of direction in their lives. So, when it's time to make a decision about school, or work, they've already established a game plan. Sports should be something that they love to do, not you as a parent.

 

[94Nautique]

The 10k a year number I stated is all in. My nephew in soccer has 2 seasons (indoor & outdoor). Each season is apx 3500, and then tournament travel on top of that. They travel out of state which eats money fast.
My other nephew in baseball only has 1 season 3k and that team travels out of state as well. When not in season they have strength and conditioning coaching (averages 2k), then position specific coaching (another 2).

Is it worth it, no sure. Both kids ask to play and are asked each year if they want to stop. If they continue great, if not that is OK. I tell them both go to college to get an education, playing a sport is secondary.

Thats what I was thinking. From my perspective, the marginal benefit for additional stuff outside of regular training (or 'practice' for other sports) is tough to rationalize. In sport, nature is king: speed, intensity, drive, size, athletisicm is baked in. You may move the needle by a percent or two trying to change those things. Now if its skill related it will allow them to achieve the peter principal later in their career, and increasing skill is the BORING part so good coaching counts. Of course, for me the conversation always goes back to looking at whos at the top of a given sport, and 9 times out of 10 they grew up with out coaching most of their lives and just went out and played 6 hours a day without some dickhead coach yelling in their ear.

Having said that, all this expensive sport outlays makes our boating ADDICTION look CHEAP!!!

 

[was thatguy]

I always laugh when people are talking trash about a back up QB in the nfl. A third string QB is realistically one of the best athletes in his state and has more talent physically than you can ever imagine....he was probably all state in high school for football,baseball and basketball.

This.

I did very well in football and baseball...until about 11th grade when everyone else grew a foot and I didn't!:yikes:cool

Always a first allstar pick, always the team captain. Won both offense and defense player of the year once, quarterback and free safety in football and catcher in baseball. Always 1st or 2nd fastest on the team, with fundamental knowledge and game situational awareness.

When I first got to high school the football coach knew who I was.

The coach recruited me and I played for a bit before I realized that my time was done.

At that time there was a guy named Rocky Klever who was the Varsity QB at my HS (West High).
He was pretty much all world in the state of Alaska.
He went on to Montana on a full ride I believe, then to the Jets where he was 2nd or third depth in literally every ball skill position.
He could do everything, even kick extra points.
6'3", 230 or so, which was big back then in the olden days! Everywhere he went coaches and whoever fawned and drooled over him, and rightly so. Rocky was as cool and poised as could be and was just the all American dream guy! Very cool and professional!
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KlevRo00.htm

Compared to him, I was basically a towel boy. But in the NFL (he spent just under 3 years I think) he was just another multi-talented utility player.
He made a few big plays for the Jets, I remember seeing this go ahead touchdown on Monday night football many years ago!
I was cheering like a mad man when he scored! "I know that guy!!"... as the announcer mispronounced his name.

But you are absolutely correct. I had never played with anyone as good as him when he was in HS, no one even CLOSE to that good!
Miles ahead of anybody in talent, skill and coachability (one of the biggest assets to a scout).

But in college ball guess what? Everyone recruited is that good or better. Only a handfull of HS players get recruited, only a handful of college players get drafted, only a handful of drafted players make it beyond a couple years.
Almost every ball position player in the NFL has HS quarterback on their resume. (Maybe not so much these days with position specialist players being taught from a younger age, but certainly in the past this is true)

ANYONE who makes it at all to the big leagues in any sport has a resume that is far and away above their peers when they were younger.
Look at the big stars. In basketball they were the kids scoring 80+ points a game in HS. In baseball they were the kids hitting home runs, pitching no hitters, and making double plays in EVERY game, etc.

 

[brgrcru]

Thats what I was thinking. From my perspective, the marginal benefit for additional stuff outside of regular training (or 'practice' for other sports) is tough to rationalize. In sport, nature is king: speed, intensity, drive, size, athletisicm is baked in. You may move the needle by a percent or two trying to change those things. Now if its skill related it will allow them to achieve the peter principal later in their career, and increasing skill is the BORING part so good coaching counts. Of course, for me the conversation always goes back to looking at whos at the top of a given sport, and 9 times out of 10 they grew up with out coaching most of their lives and just went out and played 6 hours a day without some dickhead coach yelling in their ear.

Having said that, all this expensive sport outlays makes our boating ADDICTION look CHEAP!!!

I am figuring at 10 k a year, everything gets thrown in the club pot. From gas, food, hotels, tourneys, food and all the extras.
My boy missed more school then I probably went to school.

Going to school to waterski :thumbsup

 

[brgrcru]

Club hockey, or any motorsports ? I couldn't afford it.

 

[pronstar]

I think freakish athletes can excel at several sports. Even today, a lot of too pros played multiple sports.

I don't think it's every athlete, but I do think it's accurate for some of the freakishly talented guys.

 

[brgrcru]

I think freakish athletes can excel at several sports. Even today, a lot of too pros played multiple sports.

I don't think it's every athlete, but I do think it's accurate for some of the freakishly talented guys.

When I use to coach club soccer, I had two brothers , Verso boys, that I coached for a few years that were just as talented in baseball and basketball . Both ended up playing soccer at stanford , who actually won div 1 soccer last year. There grades were 4.0 or better and both tried to out perform the other. Talk about brother pressure. 2 years apart on age.