Quote:
Originally posted by Dakota
On the scholarship expectations front, I do think that the rush of colleges to offer female sports has resulted in parents having an unrealistic perspective on what it takes to be a Div 1 level scholarship athlete, and has resulted in parents pushing their daughters early and agressively to get on the gravey train.
They don't stop to calculate that if they took all that money they pay for travel, coaches, clinics, etc., etc., beginning at age 9 and put it in a college fund, they could easily just pay for their daughter's education!
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Tom,
I've routinely made this comment to the parents and coaches of travel ball players for at least the past six years.
Rant on!
Without exception, they deny even the possibility it could be correct. Of course, every parent and coach states that all his/her players who want scholarships get them. What they don't tell you is that quite a few are partials for a local JC or Tech and the financial aid doesn't come close to what some have paid out for their girls to play ball.
I have found that the scholarship argument is much like the 250K people who had a ticket to the opening of some new arena that only seats 60K. I have never heard a parent admit that their "investment" wasn't worth it.
Now, don't get me wrong. I strongly support parents helping their children financially when they want to take part in some sort of athletic activity, but I think the "gotta be seen to get the big scholarship" angle is similar to buying a timeshare.
If you buy thinking of it as a financial investment, you will be sorely disappointed. If you go in thinking of it as a basis to build a level of personal investment for enjoyment and pleasure and everything else as a bonus, you will be better served.
The problem is that there aren't as many "big time" scholarships available as there are parents and players chasing that carrot. Pay for the kids to play and support their effort for as long as THEY wish to pursue it. If they get a scholarship, great. If they don't, hopefully they developed into a young adult having learned the values of team work, personal responsibility, commaraderie and respect for others along the way.
Rant off!
JMHO,