College attrition

Bdobyns

Bdobyns

SILVER ELITE
It has been a while since I have logged in, and I am curious what your experiences have been with college soccer. My kid still on her team, though she was out last season with ACL repair and recovery. She tells me that some of her old club teammates, high school teammates and friends that went on to college soccer are either hanging up their cleats or transferring schools. Something to keep in mind when looking at schools.
 
It's why you should always choose the school, not the soccer program. Injuries, burnout etc. are all amplified at the college level and it's common to see a good 50% of a class quit before their 4 years is up.
 
DD just finishing her Jr year. A number of her former teammates hung up the cleats. For some I think it's the reality of going from playing 90 minutes to sitting on the bench. When it's no longer fun they lose the drive.

And that's why you choose school first. Find a good school that has whatever it is that your kid wants to major in. (Not a bad idea to be sure they have two majors in mind just in case they want to switch) Then look at the soccer program, team and coach. My DDs coach left after her Freshman year and is fortunate enough that she likes her current coach as well.
 
Kids quit college soccer for a host of different reasons. No play time, don't like the coach, don't like the teammates, cannot keep up physically, cannot keep up acedemically, home sick, injury, develop other interests, and transfer due to change of major to name a few.

The most surprising reason although it makes perfect sense looking back are the ones that had no intention of playing in college other than to use it as their ticket to get into a particular college.

The players that we have seen have the most success in college are the ones that after committing, starting in their senior year of high school treated their conditioning like a full time job. They were determined to start college in shape and in the process learned how to juggle school and their job as an athlete.
 
Fact said:
Kids quit college soccer for a host of different reasons. No play time, don't like the coach, don't like the teammates, cannot keep up physically, cannot keep up acedemically, home sick, injury, develop other interests, and transfer due to change of major to name a few.

The most surprising reason although it makes perfect sense looking back are the ones that had no intention of playing in college other than to use it as their ticket to get into a particular college.
Click to expand...

Those are smart kids...
 
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your outlook), life isn't that predictable or deterministic. Life experiences, learning and age changes not only perspective but also who you are.

Try to future proof by picking multiple majors or selecting "the" school to attend can prove to be foolish most often. The student will find his/her own path regardless of all the planning. It may mean that you transfer out of Ivy/Ivy-like to UC or from northern to southern state, being close to home. Or change majors multiple times. It ultimately depends on what fits the student the most, and the likelihood of attaining success.

So what if they stop playing soccer. The end will come one day - regardless of when stopping. It may be after college or simply while in college. At some point, other than just a very small handful, will not be professional athlete and have to transition to a working career.

Just have to trust your kid and support them so that they know its okay to flounder a bit and be lost from time to time. Its all part of growing up and finding out who they really are. As for still playing in college, one has to really love the game and continue to evolve. Its just that simple.
 
mirage said:
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your outlook), life isn't that predictable or deterministic. Life experiences, learning and age changes not only perspective but also who you are.

Try to future proof by picking multiple majors or selecting "the" school to attend can prove to be foolish most often. The student will find his/her own path regardless of all the planning. It may mean that you transfer out of Ivy/Ivy-like to UC or from northern to southern state, being close to home. Or change majors multiple times. It ultimately depends on what fits the student the most, and the likelihood of attaining success.

So what if they stop playing soccer. The end will come one day - regardless of when stopping. It may be after college or simply while in college. At some point, other than just a very small handful, will not be professional athlete and have to transition to a working career.

Just have to trust your kid and support them so that they know its okay to flounder a bit and be lost from time to time. Its all part of growing up and finding out who they really are. As for still playing in college, one has to really love the game and continue to evolve. Its just that simple.
Click to expand...


Wow.

I can't believe it, you must of known my thoughts.

Well explained, hats off to you.
 
I think about 25 percent of my daughter's team mates and friends from similar teams that were devoted to college soccer dreams when in 10th grade are currently playing soccer and happy with the choice so far. These were girls in the top 5 percent.
 
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