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Post by airraider on Jun 10, 2007 13:52:15 GMT -6
Do we as coaches tend to foster false hopes for kids who dream of playing at the next level?
I ask this because a former player of mine who went to another school emailed me and told me he was going back to his original school because it would give him a better shot of getting seen by colleges.
Well this kid is a great center.. but hes only around 5'10 and runs around a 5.6 forty. He is as strong as an ox, but I just cant see him playing anything above D3.
There are far too many kids who keep this dream a live way too long and I am wondering if it ends up hurting them somehow.
And its not just the kids who are not good enough to play at the college level, its the ones who do not have the aptitude to make it in a college classroom.
The number of kids who are actually good enough to make a college team and smart enough to be a college student is not very high.
We all know that every freshmen who walks through the door has dreams of playing on Saturdays. But we also know that maybe 1 out of the 40 might actually stand a decent chance.
Do we owe it to these young men to council them in this matter? To let them down easy about the demands of a college football player?
Just wanted some feedback on this.
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Post by warrior53 on Jun 10, 2007 15:52:47 GMT -6
Great discussion question. We had a kid that was a giant, but an aweful football player - he started for us, but barely. His dad shopped him around and a couple of DI guys who flat out lied to the kid and told him he "had what it took to be at the DI level." It really caused a problem for us when he was struggling to be a varsity player for us (and we were not very good). The kid couldn't bench 200 lbs and had horrible hips. We were trying to be straight with him and tell him, that because of his size, someone may take a chance on him at the DII level, but he should focus on trying to go that route or lower. Signing date came and went - nobody took him - he ended up being a "perfered walkon" at a JUCO. Anyway, my point is the people who are doing the combines, the recruiting services and highlight tapes are trying to make a buck as well as some of the DI guys for whatever reason are telling kids they have "what it takes" when they know that they don't are making it hard for us to be honest with kids, and also affect our relationship with parents when they don't get recruited - it is all our fault in their eyes.
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Post by brophy on Jun 10, 2007 16:02:07 GMT -6
Do we as coaches tend to foster false hopes for kids who dream of playing at the next level? why not just give them the 'company line' of being realistic with them? "Listen, college ball is NOT easy....only the best of the best play at the next level...the committment, dedication, and effort required to play is something that YOU haven't shown yet." Kids, but mostly their parents, need to take stock at what the playing field looks like at the "next level". ENTERTAIN ALL OFFERS JUCO, DIII, DII, DI subdivision, DI The kid/parent needs to consider if they are better than the JUCO, DIII level? Can they afford to pay tuition without assistance? Part of our job as coaches is to educate underclassmen parents / kids in January on what is required of scholarship athletes / preparing for the college experience. |
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Post by warrior53 on Jun 10, 2007 16:31:57 GMT -6
You are right about educating parents. That is a big help. We did it with ours and those who came benefited greatly.
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Post by airraider on Jun 10, 2007 16:51:32 GMT -6
I have heard coaches in the past tell kids who they really needed that they had all these people looking at them. They told them this just to get them to work hard and to put in the effort. But, these kids had no chance of playing at the next level.
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Post by brophy on Jun 10, 2007 17:00:01 GMT -6
I have heard coaches in the past tell kids who they really needed that they had all these people looking at them. They told them this just to get them to work hard and to put in the effort. But, these kids had no chance of playing at the next level. so I guess those coaches felt lying to their players is okay. Is it okay with YOU? First thing most colleges ask is "Do you trust __(player)__ with your children?"I think the hardest thing to get across to players is that for every kid that makes their team, there are 100 others they recruited for that one spot....so if they aren't recruiting YOU.....where does the player think they fit in that pecking order? Thats why the focus for the kids/parents shouldn't be about playing for USC (or bust)....but about getting that "next-level education", and play football if they can. |
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 10, 2007 18:49:44 GMT -6
First of all to answer your question, you don't want to foster false hopes. If a kids says he wants to play college ball, I always ask him what school? If he says FLORIDA or MIAMI, I know we have come counseling to do. As a small school that generally isn't the problem. We've have a pretty good record of placing our kids at the D-III and NAIA level. Each year the seniors know "how good" they are as well as "how smart" they are. We've had 2 kids go D-I, but most of ours are simply good, smart kids (one got a perfect score on his SAT math!). My point is, our players know how good the kids who played before them were and know that they are going to have to be at least that good (and smart) if they want to play college. We also present a powerpoint to our parents each year that summarizes the steps we go through to place our players. As far as the players - let them know what the opportunities are as well as the challenges. Don't BS them, but don't sell them short of all the opportunities. There are quite a few D-III schools out there whose admissions standards are not that high - one of our seniors this year is going to a college with a 2.1 GPA and a whopping 740 on his SAT. The school was looking for paying bodies and he wanted to play college football.
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Post by brophy on Jun 10, 2007 18:56:50 GMT -6
Don't BS them, but don't sell them short of all the opportunities. There are quite a few D-III schools out there whose admissions standards are not that high - one of our seniors this year is going to a college with a 2.1 GPA and a whopping 740 on his SAT. The school was looking for paying bodies and he wanted to play college football. yeah, exactly.... if you WANT to keep playing, there are TONS of schools that you can play at. However, if you are realistic about where you can play, the opportunities won't pass you by (ignoring JUCO, DIII options by only looking for the Top 25 letters in the mail). You don't need full-ride offers to keep playing....there are a lot of ways to make getting a quality education a possibility without mortgaging the family assests...creative financial aid is what has to be taught to parents (who either think that ONLY DI schools can help or that ALL schools give full-rides). |
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Post by easye17 on Jun 10, 2007 19:06:04 GMT -6
One thing that we've done is to bring in all rising seniors and they're parents in the spring before their senior year. Go through a lot of things about the upcoming year and one of them is recruiting. We always ask where they are want to go and what they see for themselves next year and beyond. Invariably, every year there are players and parents who have an inflated image of who or what they or their sons are. We always tell them the truth about our feelings. We try to get you guys into whatever schools you are interested, but here's where we see you .... Some parents are shocked at what their kids tell them - D3 maybe D2, and the dad is sitting there with this look on his face like what about Notre Dame?? It's always worked out very well for us.
The problem is definitely all the commercialization of recruiting through the combines and recruiting services. They just fuel these feelings in kids that they are better than they really are. Its bad.
The worst part of it is there is really good DII/DIII football in our area (Pa.). Some very good players in our area end up going to some DII schools. Unfortunately, some kids are given the idea that if its not DI, its nothing and all other football sucks in comparison. Still good football in my opinion.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 10, 2007 19:52:30 GMT -6
Being honest with kids is important... but as fbdoc, easye17 and brophy pointed out, being honest with parents is even more necessary. We address this issue every year at our preseason football meeting. On average (a rough estimate) 1 kid/ every 10 high schools in our state will receive a D1 offer. 1/ every 5 will receive a D2 offer, and 1/2.5 will receive some money to play at the NAIA level.
I do not want to discourage those who want to play somewhere... that is not the point. But I do think it is important for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors (and their parents) to: 1) hear the truth... the odds are not good, 2) know what grades and test scores are needed as a minimum, 3) know what courses they must take to be a NCAA qualifier, and 4) know it is very competitive and a lot of work.
I wouldn't trade my experience in college football for anything- but it is not for everyone...and the players AND the parents need to know that. Heck, my first week of practice in college I saw more all-star game jerseys or all-state team t shirts than I had ever seen before in one place. And we were NAIA!
Knock on wood... but we've had no real problems with unrealistic expectations here (and for such a small school, we have what I would consider a very high percentage of players who received some money to play ball in college). A lot of that might be due to the fact that we are a small school, and to play college football anywhere is a thrill for our guys. Maybe our process of reiterating the competitiveness of college football at pre-season meetings helps too.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 10, 2007 20:09:23 GMT -6
Parents....ahh...if only they had an all orphanage league. That would be a choice job.
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Post by wingtol on Jun 11, 2007 6:43:41 GMT -6
Parents....ahh...if only they had an all orphanage league. That would be a choice job. That would be great and get rid of all these scouting services and these guys that think they are agents for HS kids to get them into college. |
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kdcoach
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Post by kdcoach on Jun 11, 2007 11:04:48 GMT -6
We also try to be straight with our players and parents. I think the combines and recruiting services ought to be treated like they are treating sports agents with college kids now. Unrealistic expectations that are created in the minds of the kids and the parents are very difficult to overcome and potentially damaging to the team. I saw a flyer for one of the combines that stated "Division 1 Colleges have been made aware of this event". Big deal right, but to the parents and the kid that got it they thought that meant that there were going to be college coaches there. I tried to explain that they weren't allowed to come to it but they didn't want to hear it. They spent the money and went then were disappointed when they didn't see any coaches there from colleges. These things play on the fears of the outlay of money for college that just about all parents have now. My other pet peeve is the guy that makes the $700.00 video and puts everything to music and mails it out. Every college coach I know that recruits our school says the same thing, the first thing they do is hit the mute button. I know it's their money, but it still gripes my {censored} when they get taken like that.
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CoachJ
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Post by CoachJ on Jun 11, 2007 14:52:32 GMT -6
I think the point is to define to the kids what "next level" means.
If to them it ONLY means D1, then the chances are real slim.
If it means playing football somewhere, then I would think the chances are really good, unless they have no ability at all or somehow are out of position in HS (180 slow lineman, for example)
I think a lot schools sell there kids short actually still. In my opinion coaches should be making 100's of tapes and sending them wherever they think can get a kid exposure. The #1 pet peeve I had with my high school coach, which still exists to this day, is he would not send out tape or pick up a phone for any of his kids. He expected recruiters to come to him. Doesn't work that way all the time. I know because I coached for 2 years in college and saw how the recruiting process works. We would make it to most of the larger schools and then surf through tons of tapes sent in by coaches.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 11, 2007 15:51:02 GMT -6
I think a lot schools sell there kids short actually still. In my opinion coaches should be making 100's of tapes and sending them wherever they think can get a kid exposure. The #1 pet peeve I had with my high school coach, which still exists to this day, is he would not send out tape or pick up a phone for any of his kids. He expected recruiters to come to him.
That's a good point. I always send film to every DII, DIII and NAIA school in the state and in the region. I have my own form I send out and it lists all our upcoming seniors (with my projected level), plus juniors to watch for. I get the tapes out and let the schools make the decisions. I do not sell anybody short in my program, but I am honest. If I have a guy who might not be up to a certain level, I will say that. We have a good record of placing players and I do not want to jeopardize our reputation for the sake of the kid who comes along and is legit.
I'm at a small school now... this process works well. Still, after 6 years in a 5A school, I could tell of about 10 kids who certainly could have played at a good DII school, who did not play because they were under the DI illusion. To those kids from 5A, D2 was inferior in their minds... and a lot of that was due to misinformed parents with unrealistic expectations, which they got from the recruiting services...selling dreams for $700.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 11, 2007 16:23:53 GMT -6
dcohio--Those camps are often a great "eye-opener" for the pretenders. Unfortunately, many kids still don't "get it". Your 6'4 stud might have say, dropped a few balls in drills...and a 5'7 4.9 WR might have dropped the same amount, and felt "hey, I am as good as that guy"
Bottom line I suppose, is that human nature is to perceive what you WANT to believe.
As far as players thinking D1AA, D2, D3, Juco is inferior in their minds...I think that is for the best. College football is SUCH a full time job, that I could see why many would not be interested in putting out the work without the trappings of playing in say Neyland stadium, or the Big House etc. Those with that attitude probably wouldn't enjoy their experience.
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CoachJ
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Post by CoachJ on Jun 12, 2007 6:33:22 GMT -6
That's a good point. I always send film to every DII, DIII and NAIA school in the state and in the region. I have my own form I send out and it lists all our upcoming seniors (with my projected level), plus juniors to watch for. I get the tapes out and let the schools make the decisions. I do not sell anybody short in my program, but I am honest. If I have a guy who might not be up to a certain level, I will say that. We have a good record of placing players and I do not want to jeopardize our reputation for the sake of the kid who comes along and is legit. I'm at a small school now... this process works well. Still, after 6 years in a 5A school, I could tell of about 10 kids who certainly could have played at a good DII school, who did not play because they were under the DI illusion. To those kids from 5A, D2 was inferior in their minds... and a lot of that was due to misinformed parents with unrealistic expectations, which they got from the recruiting services...selling dreams for $700. What you do is the best way in my opinion. Just send out a tape with a list of names (and your thoughts on level) and let the college coaches decide. I coached at a D2 school and we would even occasionally snag some marginal D1 talent and we would find a NAIA kid that looked like a diamond in the rough. You just never know for sure. It is just hard to hit every smaller school out there in person. Usually the school was more likely for a visit if we have gotten kids from there before, so by sending out tape, you in essence could start a pipeline from your school. Good for you, for your player, and for the college. Everyone wins. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2007 6:47:54 GMT -6
Some people don't realize what happens in college football. We all know from coaching that the game is a lot slower when you're watching it from above in the stands than below on the field. Parents can only relate what they watch their son do from the stands to what they see on TV-a similar angle and no concept of the speed of the game. Most kids aren't fazed by the speed of high school football because that's the level at which they're playing.
But we have an NAIA team in town and our kids go to those games and are always invited to stand on the sidelines. Even our kids who know they can play at that level come back with an observation "college football is a lot faster than high school."
That of course opens the door of conversation to "yes, and as you go up in levels, the game gets faster." Pretty soon kids know where they'd fit. . .or if they wouldn't.
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Post by brophy on Jun 12, 2007 7:10:07 GMT -6
Parents can only relate what they watch their son do from the stands to what they see on TV-a similar angle and no concept of the speed of the game. Most kids aren't fazed by the speed of high school football because that's the level at which they're playing. that is a real good point - the further away from the field you get, the easier it looks.I want to say that was something I heard Keith Jackson say during a game a couple of years ago. |
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Post by playfast on Jun 12, 2007 7:33:30 GMT -6
I believe the parents are more on the scholarship thing than the kids. Parents need to be educated. All of the above are great comments. I would like to add though that the trend I'm seeing from D1 guys is they don't want to get involved with rejecting a kid or telling a kid no they deflect the questions to the high school coach or simply state that they do not need help at that position.
I believe some parents are under the impression that scholarships are given out and not earned through years of training. Usually the player who does the least training they are the one with the parent who is telling everyone his child is competing for a scholarship.
Also, like Charlie Weis has said we need to be honest with our players concerning their ability. If a player is not performing to their potential or not using the proper technique it is important to state the truth and not sugar coat it. Have I made many enemies over the years yes but do we win games and do the majority of players and parents respect the coaches and the program yes. It is a double edge sword but like I tell the parents I will be honest and truth because that is being fair.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 12, 2007 8:05:40 GMT -6
Do we as coaches tend to foster false hopes for kids who dream of playing at the next level? Actually, I think the problem is much worse. I think that we, as a sports society, tend to make the FOCUS on MAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. That is all you hear...next level, next level, next level. The sports society is always looking to the future, and not on the precious present. Why isn't this kid just worried about having a GREAT HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE? Answer: Because we as a sports society have screwed him. We have placed so much emphasis on "the next level" that who can blame him. His current level isn't important..WE TOLD HIM SO. We told him when he was in midget ball, that he needed to do XYZ to get ready for jr high and h.s. We told him in Freshman ball he needed to do ABC TO GET ready for JV and Varsity. I have read it at least 100 times on this board..."He needs to __________ so that he will be ready for the Varsity level 'Where it counts'. AND THEN, once at that varsity level, does it count? NOOOOO... what counts is "making it to the next level" WE did this, as a sports society. H.S. seniors enrolling in colleges in January to help them succeed "on the next level" The projection as to what position kids will play "on the next level" The scouting services... the Vampires/agents of high school football. AAU--The vampires/agents of high school basketball (yes, some are legit though) Travel -fall-summer baseball---- you get the point. |
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Post by tiger46 on Jun 12, 2007 10:09:08 GMT -6
Parents can only relate what they watch their son do from the stands to what they see on TV-a similar angle and no concept of the speed of the game. Most kids aren't fazed by the speed of high school football because that's the level at which they're playing. that is a real good point - the further away from the field you get, the easier it looks.I want to say that was something I heard Keith Jackson say during a game a couple of years ago. I'm just a youth coach. But, I've got to steal that Keith Jackson quote for my 'Parent Conduct' Letter and first Parents Meeting. |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 12, 2007 11:35:18 GMT -6
Actually, I think the problem is much worse. I think that we, as a sports society, tend to make the FOCUS on MAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. That is all you hear...next level, next level, next level. The sports society is always looking to the future, and not on the precious present.
Why isn't this kid just worried about having a GREAT HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE? Answer: Because we as a sports society have screwed him. We have placed so much emphasis on "the next level" that who can blame him. His current level isn't important..WE TOLD HIM SO. We told him when he was in midget ball, that he needed to do XYZ to get ready for jr high and h.s. We told him in Freshman ball he needed to do ABC TO GET ready for JV and Varsity. I have read it at least 100 times on this board..."He needs to __________ so that he will be ready for the Varsity level 'Where it counts'. AND THEN, once at that varsity level, does it count? NOOOOO... what counts is "making it to the next level" WE did this, as a sports society.
H.S. seniors enrolling in colleges in January to help them succeed "on the next level"
The projection as to what position kids will play "on the next level"
The scouting services... the Vampires/agents of high school football.
AAU--The vampires/agents of high school basketball (yes, some are legit though)
Travel -fall-summer baseball---- you get the point.
coachd,
Your whole post was full of great points. The state of sports in society has come to this. I try to not promote that line of thought... but find myself doing it just like many others (especially JH-HS level here).
Part of the reason I returned to small school football was I got tired of all the peripheral "stuff" (like the recruiting services, parents who had DI aspirations for kids, etc.). We see that here, but on a much smaller and more manageable scale.
My basic thought is this: I love football so much that I played in HS and college (though I did not have the #s that made recruiters take notice) and will spend my life coaching it. For those kids like me (and we've had several), if they want to continue to play, I will help them in any way I can.
There is another group in this that gets my attention- those who have the skills to play in college but who, through financial or other reasons will not go to college without football. We've had a few of those too.
Now that being said, I do not find it my job to get kids ready for the next level, though I believe are if they go on. If you adhere to fundamentals, players will be ready. Schemes do not really matter for readiness sake (we run a single wing offense). It might hurt if we stayed in that with a stud QB, but I think we would throw it a bit more then too.
I agree with you though... I had to answer an interview question regarding the state of sports in American society... and made some similar points (though not as well as you did).
The love of the game- the competition, the camaraderie, the work, the learning... that is the value of football. If it opens up new doors, great- but I think too many lose sight of the doors that are already opened to those who play the game at whatever level they are playing.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jun 12, 2007 12:49:56 GMT -6
Senator--I really think the sports society is just following the mainstream society as the gap between the classes widens. We are a strange society. I mean, I believe there was more public outrage at the Paris Hilton prison debacle than there is over the Iraq situation. That is a tremendous shame, because the politicians already know what the outcome of the situation will be. We went through this in just 40 years ago.
If you really want to get depressed about the situation, see if you can find a phone interview between LBJ and someone (can't remember who it was, but It was aired on Bill Moyers). He discussed what he saw was an utterly hopeless situation in Vietnam. He saw no exit situation, and nothing to be gained. At the time, 268 "Advisors" had been killed. By the time society really "had enough" 50,000+ had been killed.
Bottom line, society...including the sports society... is divided and I dont know if that will change.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 12, 2007 16:44:06 GMT -6
I really think the sports society is just following the mainstream society as the gap between the classes widens. We are a strange society. I mean, I believe there was more public outrage at the Paris Hilton prison debacle than there is over the Iraq situation. That is a tremendous shame"Once I entertain you, I control you"... I can not remember who said that (origin from ancient Rome, I believe...but I think Hitler said it as well). We are such a media driven society that the Paris Hilton saga... the message boards, the online recruiting services have such an impact (and not a positive one), that it hard to not look at our nation, look at the fall of Rome... and look back at ourselves and shudder. I am a person who is belated. I dream of simpler times (E.A. Robinson Poem "Miniver Cheevy comes to mind...), which is probably why I ended up moving back to a little town in the midwest, where you would think the clock turned back about 40 years. Still...back to the point of "next level preparation", I was thinking that as a classroom teacher, I do this. Most of us do this- we get students ready for college, for jobs and for life. I still think that there is a way to focus on what we have here and now and savor the moments, while still preparing for the next steps. But I see and appreciate your points on this. Strange that I would find another cynic on a football coaches board... ... but I guess that's why I keep coaching, keep teaching, keep writing, keep surviving. I too am a cynic, but one with a tiny sliver of hope. If not for faith and football... well, I might just be another Ted Kaczynski. Anyway... this is getting depressing...  Truth usually is.
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 12, 2007 18:16:04 GMT -6
Senator - your closing comments on the previous post... are right on the money!
"The love of the game- the competition, the camaraderie, the work, the learning... that is the value of football. "
THAT is why we promote our sport, and our kids, to the next level. Should be lie to them (or the colleges, or the parents?) about their chance to succeed at the college level? No way, but most of us are in this game (coaching) because we played, we loved it and we think it can do the same for our players that it did for us!
The rest of it is all crap - the combines, the recruiting services, and the like - be honest with your kids about their talent, the opportunities that are out there, and what you can do for them. Beyond that, you'll make yourself crazy if you let the factors beyond your control get to you.
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Post by wingman on Jun 12, 2007 18:28:03 GMT -6
Senator,
I think Miniver Cheevy is a poor comparison other than his desire for the past. Cheevy never accomplished anything, and as a football coach I know you don't have enough hours in the day. I won't speculate on the drinking part.
English teacher/coach
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 12, 2007 22:41:06 GMT -6
Senator,
I think Miniver Cheevy is a poor comparison other than his desire for the past. Cheevy never accomplished anything, and as a football coach I know you don't have enough hours in the day. I won't speculate on the drinking part.
English teacher/coach You are probably right... but I have one heck of a sword collection. I even have a mace. ;D To me, football IS medieval warfare... and I have somewhat managed to turn back the clock by moving to rural Nebraska. But you are right... I don't just sit and pine... I might complain now and then though. 
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Post by wingtol on Jun 13, 2007 15:01:04 GMT -6
Read an article in the local paper today about two local colleges looking to switch conferences in a few years. Both are D-II and play in the GLIAC looking to move to the PSAC, two very very good football confrences prob among the best in the nation at D-II. Was shocked to see that the GLIAC has a 35 scholoraship limit for football and the PSAC has 25. I would like to show that to people and then let them see how many full rides there are out there. Wish some parents would educate themselves more before they start about the college thing. Maybe a bit off the topic but intresting
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CoachJ
Junior Member
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Post by CoachJ on Jun 14, 2007 7:49:32 GMT -6
Read an article in the local paper today about two local colleges looking to switch conferences in a few years. Both are D-II and play in the GLIAC looking to move to the PSAC, two very very good football confrences prob among the best in the nation at D-II. Was shocked to see that the GLIAC has a 35 scholoraship limit for football and the PSAC has 25. I would like to show that to people and then let them see how many full rides there are out there. Wish some parents would educate themselves more before they start about the college thing. Maybe a bit off the topic but intresting Just an FYI about the structure of College scholarships: D1- All scholarships are full. Teams can have a maximum of 85 scholarships and no more than 25 per year. That is not to say every team has 85 scholarships, that is just the max. Some may have less than that. You sometimes see teams sign 30 kids, but that is either because they don't expect them all to make it or have some special situation. D1-AA (FCS)- All scholarships are full. Teams have a max of 65 scholarships allowed. I am not sure what the year to year limit is or if they have one. There are several teams in 1-AA that don't fund the full 65 because they either don't have the money, or they recently moved up and still are attempting to ramp up scholarship levels. D2-The maximum in D2 is 36 scholarships. D2 is a little different in that they use "equivalencies" instead of full scholarships. This means if it costs $8,000 to go to your school that amount of money is equal to 1 equivalency. You can break it up anyway you wish. You could give 16 kids $500 a year or you can give 1 kid $8,000. Many of the coaches try to break these up because you have to spread a MAXIMUM of 36 equivalencies among around 90-100 players. To give a kid at least a little money allows them to say they are a scholarship athlete and any little bit does help. Good kids (likely multiple year starters, future all-conference type players) get around .5 to a .75 scholarship. Full scholarships are very rare and often reserved for a D1 that falls to D2 schools or for impact JUCO players. It is common place for marginal athletes, special team contributor types, and projects to get .4 or less scholarships. A lot of time these kids will get a token $500 or $1,000 scholarship and our looked upon as chances. The good thing is that they aren't locked into an amount forever. Based on play they can increase their scholarships over the years. As they blossom into a starter then you are looking at .5-.75 range by their junior or senior year. If they remain solid contributors and not starters, they may never see an increase, or may see a smaller increase. It is hard for a coach to manage 36 equivalencies so the the money gets tough. Now certain conferences in D2 don't fund the full 36. There are only 4 conferences that currently do. The NCC (which is almost gone), the MIAA (Missouri/Kansas), the GSC (Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama), and the GLIAC (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana). Several conference set the max around 25 equivalenices. These conferences include: NSIC (Minnesota, Parts of IA, and NE), RMAC (Mostly Colorado, some New Mexico, Nebraska), PSAC (Pennsylvania), and the SAC (North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina). Some conferences such as the WVIAC, (West Virginia) and SIAC have mixed amounts, but less than 36. There is also a conference the NE-10 (Northeast) that doesn't have athletic scholarships, but does have grant-and-aide for athletes. D3-No athletic scholarships, but grant and aide for students. Many of the financial packages they can put together really help the student athlete, but there is no guarantee on how much a kid will get for athletics. NAIA-The maximum is around 24 equivalenices I believe. I am not too familiar with how they break it up, but I believe it is similar to D2 style for spreading it out over players. The important idea here though is parents have to understand the term "full ride" isn't a reality outside the D1/D1AA level. If your son isn't D1/D1AA, then the likelihood that you will have to pay for some college is around 98%. There aren't that many D1 scholarships available. The D1 guys look out for themselves. They will keep kids on the hook as long as they need them and will drop them without much notice. Some coaches are fair and let you know where you stand, while others will fill you full of smoke and then drop you. Parents and players who really WANT or NEED scholarship money should be open to all possibilities. Unless 10 D1 schools have OFFERED you a scholarship, you better have your mind open to lower levels. The other big obstacle is that D1's will offer kids early (summer between their junior and senior seasons) and kids will wait to see what other offers come about. In the meantime these schools will fill up with committed kids and then the kid who thought he was a solid D1 prospect is scrambling for schools. It happens every year. Recruiting is a tough game for kids, coaches, and everyone involved. I would suggest that you find which of your kids are interested in going on to college and meet with their parents to discuss their options. It isn't an easy process, but if done right can be a great process. |
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