Recruiting Tips for Parents Just Starting the Process

Simisoccerfan said:
The FAFSA formula takes into account the equity in your home and other non-retirement assets. It is not uncommon for the expectation to be that you spend 25% to 30% of your income on your kids education before you even qualify for governmental need-based financial aid. Public schools don't have alot of other need-based financial aid available. I have seen out of state public schools offer a discount off their out of state tuition. Also in public schools your kid is competing against everyone else for the few academic scholarships available. Private schools can really do whatever they want if their adminstrators are on board. They can steer money at times where they need it.
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true. you can get some major bucks from Cal Grant and Pell (max is like 18k). so if you get good grades and lower economic you can get at least 50% paid for, before scholarship. Not all privates can offer full academic scholarship with athletic. I know at a couple WCC schools you have to take one or the other (or a percentage of the "merit" scholarship). which kind of sucks...
 
dk_b said:
there are different levels and if your kid is getting a verbal, you want to note exactly what the offer is. Whether it is “cost of attendance”, whether it is limited to in state tuition and you’re out of state, etc. I believe the highest level is full ride, cost of attendance (and I think that phrase - cost of attendance - must appear on the NLI when the time comes). This is a good resource:https://www.athleticscholarships.net/cost-of-attendance-spending-money.htm.

in our experience, in the early stages, they speak of percentages or “full ride”. They don’t say “we are offering you a partial”, it is more, “first year is W%, second year is X%, third year is Y% and last year is Z%”. We’d ask some questions to drill down on what all of it meant, what was covered. Those are appropriate questions for the parents to ask even as the kids should drive more of this. I think coaches get that but you have to be know that you can F it up if you “negotiate” too much (though that will also be a function of where your kid falls as a target for the program.)

Not sure if this is now broader than Power 5, but Power 5 guarantees 4-year awards. That is significant because it used to be one year, renewable and programs could choose not to renew (that may still be the case outside of P5). That’s no longer the case so if your kid was due 100-100-100 for her last 3 years and she really is not a college level player, the school still needs to cover the award. (My kids had a babysitter some years ago who played college volleyball (D2 I think but I can’t remember). They tracked every stat in practices in addition to games. Why? It’s how they earned their next year’s awards). If not guaranteed by default, the NLI can be specific in that regard and that’s the binding agreement.
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All wondering about the process and how things are negotiated and how things breakdown.. look no further than this post. @dk_b has it on lock. Those of you going through things right now or on the path and asking the questions, pay attention to every word of what's being said here.
 
Last week was crazy, TMobile being down on Monday made it even worse. I don't think anyone knew what to expect. My 2022 kiddo was lucky to get a few camps in at her target schools earlier this year, but even counting that It's been 6 months since the coaches had a chance to see them play. The phone calls and emails definitely sounded like first dates lol. @dk_b thanks for the great insight.
 
Simisoccerfan said:
What I have seen is that the academic and athletic money is completely separate. Done by different groups with no interaction between the two of them. This might be different at private colleges. Plus the athletic scholarship is given well in advance of when you apply for a school. Academic and financial need money is done during or just after the application process.
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OK, so this brings up a question that perhaps you can help me answer. If a student receives academic monies, doesn't that happen after a commitment? Aren't scholarships discussed before verbally committed? I'm new to this whole process (daughter is a 2023) and learning a lot just reading. But this stumped me. If there is no contact between athletic and academic financial need, how does an offer occur??
 
SWHPH said:
OK, so this brings up a question that perhaps you can help me answer. If a student receives academic monies, doesn't that happen after a commitment? Aren't scholarships discussed before verbally committed? I'm new to this whole process (daughter is a 2023) and learning a lot just reading. But this stumped me. If there is no contact between athletic and academic financial need, how does an offer occur??
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At some schools, based on GPA and test scores, a coach can tell how much academic money a player will receive (some schools have very clear rules for giving merit money- we knew at my daughter’s D3 school). But at many schools the coaches probably won’t know, as Semi said.
 
Emma said:
While you are at the airport, flying to see her play, feed us some information about her growth and new life. This is the most useful thread on this forum and the NWSL would continue it a step further for the GOATS that will make it there or for the younger players striving to get to GOAT status. It would give everyone a realistic view of what to expect.
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Here is an update for you. They just left to pick up another one of the teams and then they are going to Utah. First game is on Saturday the 27th. For most of the games you have to pay for the CBS extra stuff (it's like an extra $7 a month although they have free trials). In case you hadn't heard one team is out of the tournament because a player or players that went out to a bar infected the team with Covid. 6 players and 4 staff all tested positive and the whole team in in quarantine. Sydney Leroux is pretty upset about it but is carrying herself with class. It sucks when some players put themselves ahead of their team (or society).

I don't see how college sports is going to happen this season and the NFL is really going to be hard to pull off too.

Good luck to you and your player.
 
SWHPH said:
OK, so this brings up a question that perhaps you can help me answer. If a student receives academic monies, doesn't that happen after a commitment? Aren't scholarships discussed before verbally committed? I'm new to this whole process (daughter is a 2023) and learning a lot just reading. But this stumped me. If there is no contact between athletic and academic financial need, how does an offer occur??
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The offer is typically just an athletic offer. This is all you typically know when you are verbally accepting an offer. She accepted the offer in July going into her senior year. In the fall she still had to apply to the school. This process also includes applying for financial and academic scholarships. In February she signed her NLI and scholarship paperwork. In March she got her acceptance letter to the school. In April she was awarded an academic scholarship independent of soccer. In late May she paid her deposit and accepted her spot in the school. That was our process.
 
MakeAPlay said:
Here is an update for you. They just left to pick up another one of the teams and then they are going to Utah. First game is on Saturday the 27th. For most of the games you have to pay for the CBS extra stuff (it's like an extra $7 a month although they have free trials). In case you hadn't heard one team is out of the tournament because a player or players that went out to a bar infected the team with Covid. 6 players and 4 staff all tested positive and the whole team in in quarantine. Sydney Leroux is pretty upset about it but is carrying herself with class. It sucks when some players put themselves ahead of their team (or society).

I don't see how college sports is going to happen this season and the NFL is really going to be hard to pull off too.

Good luck to you and your player.
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@MakeAPlay - curious, are the teams flying commercially on public flights or on privately chartered planes? Or, gasp, bus?
 
MakeAPlay said:
The team that I follow shared a chartered flight with another team. I am not sure about the other teams.
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While many of us on this forum talk about OUR dream for our kids, have unrealistic expectations and want our kids to shoot for the moon, you Sir, are livin’ the dream and always a good source of information. Kudos to you for staying on topic, never diving into the troll traps, rabbit holes and other politicking that goes on here sometimes.
 
Giesbock said:
While many of us on this forum talk about OUR dream for our kids, have unrealistic expectations and want our kids to shoot for the moon, you Sir, are livin’ the dream and always a good source of information. Kudos to you for staying on topic, never diving into the troll traps, rabbit holes and other politicking that goes on here sometimes.
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It has been a long road and I have had more than my share of beefs on this forum but as you will find out it goes really fast and you just sort of have to enjoy the time spent with your player. At the end of the day that is what matter most. I am really feel fortunate that the end of her club career happened before the GDA vs. ECNL debacle started and I am glad that her last year of college soccer happened before all hell broke loose with Covid. If this has taught me anything is that we all need to enjoy the ride because you can never tell when a good thing will come to an end.

Good luck to you and your player.
 
MakeAPlay said:
It has been a long road and I have had more than my share of beefs on this forum but as you will find out it goes really fast and you just sort of have to enjoy the time spent with your player. At the end of the day that is what matter most. I am really feel fortunate that the end of her club career happened before the GDA vs. ECNL debacle started and I am glad that her last year of college soccer happened before all hell broke loose with Covid. If this has taught me anything is that we all need to enjoy the ride because you can never tell when a good thing will come to an end.

Good luck to you and your player.
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Maps, now you understand what I was ranting about for over a year. I saw the battles in CRL and then ECNL and then college and if your player is great she will be invited to local ODP and if she's good there, she can go to AZ and battle other top top ODP players around the country. My dd hasn;t played a big time game since June of 2017. GDA really did a number on some of us. We need to look ahead and make it better for all girls and not be all about the college deal. Options for all is what I want for the girl players. Anyway, God speed and I'm so happy for your dd and you to escape all the sh*t my dd had to endure and after talking to many other dads, I see we were not alone. Peace and TY again for being honest with all of us. Go Bruins!!!!
 
Could anyone who are familiar with the college recruiting process explain what would be impacts of "NCAA dead period extended through Aug 31."

What I see here are "no in person recruiting", and "no college coaches' visits to watch youth players for recruiting purpose" during the dead period.

My questions are,

- No college showcase till 8/31? What about SurfCup?

- No official college ID camp run by each college till 8/31?

- How about "multi college ID camp" events? I received many e-mails advertising "multi college showcase" in this summer run by commercial organizations. Could college coaches to attend such kind of camps still be approved by NCAA

DI Council extends recruiting dead period in all sports

The Division I Council extended the recruiting dead period in all sports through Aug. 31. The Council met virtually Thursday afternoon.
www.ncaa.org www.ncaa.org
 
Timan said:
Could anyone who are familiar with the college recruiting process explain what would be impacts of "NCAA dead period extended through Aug 31."

What I see here are "no in person recruiting", and "no college coaches' visits to watch youth players for recruiting purpose" during the dead period.

My questions are,

- No college showcase till 8/31? What about SurfCup?

- No official college ID camp run by each college till 8/31?

- How about "multi college ID camp" events? I received many e-mails advertising "multi college showcase" in this summer run by commercial organizations. Could college coaches to attend such kind of camps still be approved by NCAA

DI Council extends recruiting dead period in all sports

The Division I Council extended the recruiting dead period in all sports through Aug. 31. The Council met virtually Thursday afternoon.
www.ncaa.org www.ncaa.org
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This should kill Surf...at least for the older age groups. I suppose they could live stream all the games if older teams/clubs are still willing to participate.
 
Dubs said:
This should kill Surf...at least for the older age groups. I suppose they could live stream all the games if older teams/clubs are still willing to participate.
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I would think so. For @Timan - it’s like all is on pause (or remains on pause). Coaches can’t scout players at games, can’t have potential recruits on campus visits and can’t host/participate in ID camps (I’d assume all types because whether single school or multiple schools, hard to separate it from recruiting).
 
Timan said:
Could anyone who are familiar with the college recruiting process explain what would be impacts of "NCAA dead period extended through Aug 31."

What I see here are "no in person recruiting", and "no college coaches' visits to watch youth players for recruiting purpose" during the dead period.

My questions are,

- No college showcase till 8/31? What about SurfCup?

- No official college ID camp run by each college till 8/31?

- How about "multi college ID camp" events? I received many e-mails advertising "multi college showcase" in this summer run by commercial organizations. Could college coaches to attend such kind of camps still be approved by NCAA

DI Council extends recruiting dead period in all sports

The Division I Council extended the recruiting dead period in all sports through Aug. 31. The Council met virtually Thursday afternoon.
www.ncaa.org www.ncaa.org
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You need to remember that this is for ALL college sports. What they are saying is that they don't want to put coaches in the position of deciding between their health and traveling to meet recruits. Fall season coaches have bigger issues to focus on like how to have a season and keep everyone healthy. If I was a parent of a 2021 grad I would be concerned if my kid was not already deep on the path to committing because who knows when they will get a chance to get back out in front of coaches.
 
Dubs said:
This should kill Surf...at least for the older age groups. I suppose they could live stream all the games if older teams/clubs are still willing to participate.
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I was just thinking Live Streaming and recorded games for coaches to move between games. This would also help grandparents and siblings watch games. They should be able to afford this since they will be saving on the cost of hosting coaches. All player information can be presented and available digitally.
 
Kicker4Life said:
I think Surf could use this to turn lemons into lemonade For the olders ....If not for recruiting purposes, host teams for a pre-season “tournament” like the “She Believes Cup”. Even if it’s just local teams.
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Let's go local with all the top ECNL, ECRL, GAL teams and others and go play some soccer games. "I Believe in America Cup." Live Stream and college coach can have a cold one and watch the games.
 
full90 said:
14 total scholarships. To be split amongst the entire roster.
Schools will address budget by asking teams to travel fewer players and maybe consider a smaller roster (but at some schools the admin wants a large roster: it helps balance out football numbers and for private like usd, st Mary’s, Pepperdine, more walk ons mean more kids paying $70k to attend which makes everyone happy (except mom and dad).
reducing scholarship totals will come much later if things hit dire straights. Which may indeed happen but isn’t on the table yet.
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That is why the academic scholarships are so important. Make sure your player takes challenging classes, studies, works hard and gets the grades. The higher the academic gpa the better the opportunities. Ivy's really want to see all grades through the 11th grade.
 
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