good advice for many parents

[Golfquant]

https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/dont-let-your-kids-waste-their-time-on-sports/3659507

[mrshinsa]

TLDR...

 

Sports as an EC doesn't go very far.  And why would it?    

You're better off spending that time and resources helping out a village in a third-world country.  

 

 

[Movingday]

If my concern was a golf scholarship then I’d be better off pouring all that golf money into an education account and paying cash for his tuition 😂

Mu kids play sports because they love playing. They get all the debating they need with me and my wife 

[golferdad8]

On 3/1/2024 at 1:51 PM, Golfquant said:

https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/dont-let-your-kids-waste-their-time-on-sports/3659507

Some good takeaways including the reminder that there’s a difference between pursuing sports as a hobby vs as “hook” to get into prestigious college.
 

Another takeaway is it’s difficult to differentiate as a top collegiate athlete for popular team sports incl football, basketball, baseball & soccer (vs individual sports like golf, swimming or track). 

 

I’ve heard good things about debate as well but usually only if among the top debaters in the country. Frankly, if a college applicant is top ranked in the country for almost anything, it prob gives an advantage. However, for Power 5 schools, outside of top 100 - 150 in the grade for golf or specific positions in football or basketball probably will be difficult as a hook. 
 

As for twin boys, I bet the sports son can get a tag for Ivies or top D3 school while the debate son will not. 

[Steele47]

Always liked that Felicity Huffman approach.

[Tugu]

I was lost when UC Irvine was mentioned as a "reach" school. 

[AC168]

Being Top 50, 100, or even 200 (depending on sport) in the US or World opens a lot of doors.  Just being a Varsity Team in HS doesn’t move the needle.

[RmoorePE]

The bill of goods sold by coaches is that kids need to get into their sports while still in elementary school, to make the high end travel ball teams. Its just not true. Parents and students fall for this time and again and all it causes is unneeded stress when the kids body stops growing, or they decide the sport isn't for them. I love sports and especially youth sports, but once the parent of a 6th grader thinks their kid is in the game to get a college scholarship, it changes the nature of play to something else, which often leads to disappointment. If your kid is playing for the love of the game, the grind, and their team then you and they will never be disappointed.

 

As HS coaches we are involved in middle school, youth leagues, camps, AAU teams, and everything else that feeds our system. Plenty of people tell us their kid needs to be on our radar, because this kid is "the one". In some cases the kids came through to be nice players, but we learned pretty quickly we are really looking for the kid who's parents played college sports, or who's dad is 6'-8". No matter if they can't jump over a paint stripe in 6th grade or even catch the ball. We are forcing these kids onto travel teams, much to the chagrin of kids and parents who have been there 5 years, but fact is at the end of the game when everyone is tired the 6'-5" kid is still 6'-5".

 

The nice thing about golf is that a grinder can make it. If they don't have the elite hand speed, hand eye coordination, hip flexibility and fast twitch fibers it is hard to get on the top schools but they can still make it somewhere. If they are a kid who loves the game that should be enough - the chance to play golf at lots of places and make new friends along the way. What could be better?

 

Band, choir, debate, Business Skills, Leadership, and sports are all ECs. If you are really good at one or two, colleges will care. Scholarship committees love that stuff. If you really want college paid for, look into doing the things that scholarship committees like. My oldest did this and she will have a masters degree for free, despite turning down her college sports offers. 

 

I think the true bill of goods is sold by elite colleges and their tuitions. I agree that there are some degrees that are much better received from top end schools, but there are plenty of other degrees where you are better off picking a state school and entering the work force (STEM jobs), without $250k in debt. The barriers for college are at an all time low, sports are just one way to get there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[_chris]

I've seen and lived both ends of this. I knew someone in HS who competed in an olympic sport. Nearing 50, this person regrets their lost childhood and teenaged years heavily. I have a son who is convinced he is going to the MLB. I doubt he will and struggle to help him see other aspects of life. It's a challenge. I coach three different sports and have kids at both ends of the spectrum. I nearly lost my mind on a dad last year who made his 12 year old daughter cry on the course because he pushes her so hard. I'd place money that she goes pro at some point. Doesn't make it worth it in my opinion. Even Bryce Harper, a guy I think is a tool, but nonetheless a very talented tool, has admitted that all of the things he has accomplished and gained did not bring him the happiness he expected.