Comments about ‘Youth Sports: College athletics more than Div. 1’

I have been reading these articles, as well as the comments posted about them. It is true there are many ideas and strong feelings concerning sports. It is my opinion that there really isn't a right or wrong answer about pursuing sports. I think the biggest factor is the individual child, and what that child wants to accomplish. I have children that have pursued collegiate sports and some that have not. If the child does not feel passionate about what they are doing it simply is not worth it. The one point this article today hit was the misconception parents have that if their child is "good enough" colleges will come and find them. Many of the posted articles over the past few days have expressed that they feel this is true. IT IS NOT TRUE! If your child wants to pursue a college athletic scholarship it will not fall in their lap. The parents are going to have to do some of the work. I believe that club sports opens many doors as this is where most of college recruiting is done. Hate club sports if you want, but it is the reality.

....unless you sign up with Athletic Quest Recruiting Systems, your kid doesn't stand a chance. What a big crock. Such recruiting services are there for the lazy coaches and lazy parents, but there are plenty of coaches who still enjoy doing their own leg work.

I have two kids who both received full-ride D1 scholarships just from playing high school sports and performing well. No AAU, no recruiting service, none of daddy's money buying off the coaches, no nepotism or favor swapping.

The big misconception right now is that you have to pay an agent or play AAU to be noticed. Don't fall for that line. If your kid has talent and expresses interest in a program, most coaches are more than happy to come see what he/she can do. And they don't always pick the biggest, strongest, fastest. A good coach knows what skills will fill holes in his/her program and they are looking for a specific skill set.

If your child doesn't stand out on an AAU club team, they will not be noticed anymore than they will if they don't stand out on their high school team or the stat sheet. Yes, college coaches come to some of the big AAU tournaments, but that means little if your child doesn't have some talent.

You make it sound like if you play club, you can expect a scholarship somewhere. From personal experience, I would say less than half of the kids who play club get any kind of scholarship.

Another factor is how well your child's high school team does. College coaches aren't too impressed with individual efforts on losing teams. I know several instances where kids have been leading scorers in the state, but they played on a mediocre team and were overlooked because they didn't do well at the state tournament. College coaches seem to want kids who know how to win games.

My daughter has just completed her first year of playing basketball at a Div II JC out of state. She got tuition, books and fees paid. If girls will go out of Utah, they will find chances to play. She played club ball 1 year. The other players were the best source of what's available. She actually went after a scholarship that another girl decided not to take, as she had multiple offers. Now my daughter is heading back for her 2nd year. I was like all parents that figured coaches would approach my daughter. It doesn't happen. She was honorable mention all state. She had to adjust to being away from home, but is has been a wonderful experience for her. My suggestion is to talk to all the good players you know. They will know what schools contacted them and might give you a good lead for a scholarship.

To sports fan brought out the beauty of club sports while trying to discount it. The reason you play club sports is so that you can play with GOOD players, against GOOD players. That is what attracts college coaches. Why would a college coach go to a random high school game to watch okay players play against okay players when they have the chance to go to tournaments where they can see GOOD players play against GOOD players? The answer to that is they wouldn't. The only time college coaches come to high school games (State tournament being the exception) is to see AN INDIVIDUAL player they are already interested in. I agree that college coaches want kids that know how to win; why wouldn't they? They also want kids that know how to compete at the highest level possible. I'm not saying club sports are for everyone, but you are fooling yourself if you think kids that don't play are getting the same looks as those that do.

I just finished reading the article on youth sports and thought it was right on. Club sports don't get kids scholarships the kids do. What good clubs do is help kids develop their skills and placed them in positions to be seen by more potential recruiters. Those who say if the kid is good enough the coaches will find them, don't know how recruiting works. I also thought the article was dead on about the other options out their. Most people think if a kid doen't go Div. 1 he is wasting his time at any other level. Again if this is what you think you have no understanding of college athletics. Go watch a game at SLCC or Westminster talk to the kids look in their eyes you will see the same commitment intensity and joy in them that you see in any Div. 1 kid.
(Side Note) Bid misconception about playing at these schools they play at a very high level and the kids that play their are really good.

What's this about only club teams having GOOD players and high school teams only having OKAY players.

There are lots of GOOD players on high school teams and lots of OK players on club teams. It just depends on whose parents are willing to pay and how desperate club coaches are to fill a roster.

What it comes down to is, if a player is GOOD, the college coaches will see them regardless of the team. It does take work on the part of the player, the player's parents and high school coach to do some of the promotional work. e.g. send copies of game film to the college coaches, follow-up with e-mail, etc.

IT DOES NOT TAKE PLAYING ON A CLUB TEAM.

Club coaches want parents and athletes to believe that the club team is the key to being seen, but it isn't and sadly too many athletes and parents fall for the club propaganda and end up not only poorer but disappointed as well.

If the high school coaches are good ..they instill a belief and get results...assess fairly...develop the athlete with good work habits so that at the next level the next coach can do the same and enhance the athlete's performance along with their philosophy. But the problem lies many times with a coach acting as the know it all and the god sydrome..leaving out the possibility of even attempting to be a walk on..such as a Chad Lewis. Then they want to have us parents listen to them talk about life while they try to stifle and write the script...case in pt. Chad's parents had a great deal in instilling his belief in him all his life..yet some coaches want to overshadow this sacred area reserved only for the family...and I am not refering to Mr. Lewis's coaches ..it is the other coaches who act meat head and old school while the college level is more based on performance and science. Athletes don't let know body stifle your dreams because some coaches have never developed any kind of college connections yet sit around creating their own supermen. It is all in the networking developed that an opportunity to continue will arise.

To I'm confused: You are probably not as confused as you think. Look around on your child's high school team. I'm willing to bet that the GOOD players are probably also your GOOD club players. I know, there are always a few great athletes that seem to glide at whatever they do and yes those kids will probably catch a college coaches eye no matter what they do or don't do. And we all know that there are average players that are willing to pay and be dedicated to a club team. The club coach has a solid roster so they bring on an average kid. Every team, no matter how good, needs role players. You can fight it all you want but CLUB PLAYERS ARE BEING SEEN BY COLLEGE COACHES!! A few high school kids, that happen to be on a good high school team, may also be seen. College coaches are extremely busy. They don't have an endless amount of hours to recruit. I am willing to bet they will take the most productive approach; GOOD TEAMS WITH GOOD PLAYERS; CLUB BALL.

Wow, lots of long winded comments on this page.

I believe you are a little off base. I do agree however, that Parents need to really work if they believe and want their kid to move on to D1. A little known fact, 80% of coaches do not know what is needed to get their kid to a D1 level. These coaches do not fully understand the requirements for the NCAA clearing house. Fact, at the Poly Camp last week, one of the D1 coaches asked the players to raise their hand if they knew what the clearinghouse is? 6 hands were raised out of 300 kids. Huge problem. The bigger problem is, the counselors at the high school are not familiar with NCAA clearinghouse. High school graduation rules are different then the NCAA clearing house. Fore example, you need 14 core credits to graduate but 16 core credits to clear the clearinghouse. My suggestion, if you want your kid to move on... Hire an agent it will more than pay for it if your kid gets a scholarship.

From I'm Confused

As Shakespeare said in Hamlet, (and I'm taking poetic license) "The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks." Are you a club coach?

I'm not fighting anything. Rather, simply making the observation that an athlete does not have to be on a club team to be seen by college coaches.

Are club players being seen by college coaches. Yes.

Are high school only players being seen by college coaches. Yes

And, when it comes right down to it, fewer than 1% of high school athletes will attend college on an athletic scholarship - Division I, II or III.

If a player and his parents want to be part of a club team for the fun, the team experience, and to have a good time. Go for it.

If their expectation is to get scholarship, and that expectation is being fed by the club coach . . . my point remains. The family will find themselves poorer and disappointed.

To: to sports fan: HA HA HA HA HA hire an agent!! maybe you should aquaint yourself with NCAA rules before you start handing out really bad advice!!

sounds like we should all learn from the poet-sounds to me like he/she is poor and disappointed-try looking on the bright side of things and enjoy the club experience instead of focusing on a scholarship-seems to me you missed the point

It's really pretty simple ... to know if your kid is going to get a D1 scholarship. For example, if your son is a high school pitcher and throws in the low 90's he is going to get a D1 scholarship. If your son is 6'8" and is all state first team in basketball - D1. If your daughter is all state first team in anything - D1. There are alot of kids that have great skill but are a bit under sized or slow and will end up with a JC scholarship instead. To get a D1 scholarship you have to have the size, speed as well as skill - the whole package. Grades are secondary.

I am a club coach have been for the past 6 years. The experience has been amazing I have had the opportunity to take some of the best Utah kids in the country and play against some of the best players in the country. ie (OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Mike Beasley)
In facted just this year we played in a tournament in Las Vegas where Lute Olsen sat in a chair right next to our bench. Watching a kid that's going to AZ. Our kids were juiced. None of our kids were being recruited by Arizona but that didn't matter.
In the past 6 years we have sent more than 85% of our kids on to play COLLEGE BASKETBALL. This year three kids got offers after playing in April and May with us. One was an honorable All State kid who had nothing until people saw what he could do against D1 copetition.
Did we make these kids college players? NO we just helped little bit in the recruiting process. Hopefully helping to get more kids opportunities.

This is really funny. I played DI Football, I did not play for a club, I did not play for a fancy HS, I did not win a State Championship, I was not recruited, I called coaches myself, sent game tapes myself, and got picked up. Once I got there I worked, and worked, and worked and got on the field. Needless to say it depends on the work ethic and desire that the person has. It is all about the desire... and the effort behind it to get there... If you don't have the desire be there it will be miserable... Work ethic is key.... If you haven't instilled that in your kid they'll never play beyond HS. Go AGGIES!

Sam - You misunderstood. I am neither poor, or disappointed, nor did I miss the point.

I'm simply a HS Counselor in Utah County who has seen first hand the effects of club coaches who talk up the "play for me and you will get a college scholarship" and have watched students and parents make decisions based on the empty promises.

I do agree, if you are going to play club sports, do it for the fun, the practice, the travel. But don't do it in order to be seen by college coaches with the ultimate goal of going to college on an athletic scholarship.

Utah State is not D1!!!!!

Let's help everyone understand that on one hand, what you are saying is true. . . and what you are saying on the whole is very false.

The one hand is that MOST athletes and their parents have to work for college commitments and OTHERS (yes, a minority) only have wade through what comes to the with no effort on their own. Yes, Shawn Bradley and 111 offers.