Academic and athletic "fit"

interesting indeed...


If the player is a high academic achiever then he would have that choice of "athletic" or "academic fit" and do well with either.

If the player is a 3.0 kind of student then good luck with the "athletic fit" in an "academic" school.

The player has to perform as a student before he gets to perform as an athlete.


I have always said that as a student-athlete you go where:

1) you are needed
2) you are wanted
3) you can afford it
4) you think you can succeed academically
5) you think you can contribute athletically

Pretty much in that order.

Sounds like "we" didn't do to well in the classroom.
Athletes (if this is a D1 program) on full scholarships don't usually transfer because they have to sit out

The "fit" in my opinion should be one that is right for both academics and athletics.

I found the article, but it seems to early to say what the deal is. Troy Aikman transferred to UCLA after the Oklahoma coaches didn't start passing more as he said they told him they would.

Sometimes the player can be right. You can be in the wrong system, even if its a good one.

quote:

The "fit" in my opinion should be one that is right for both academics and athletics

I agree with that. I also think that there has to be some adapting on the players end of it.There are not always perfect fits.There are different types of problems that can come up even at your perfect fit.

When you go to a strong academic D1 school, it is a full time job, to be an athlete.I think many young men don't understand what it means to be in this environment, until they are there.There is tons of support, if the young person will seek it out.

My sons coach told him when we were there dropping him off.He said the things to pay close attention to our 1. time management 2. nutrition 3. proper rest 4. always go to class(attendance is huge)5. Get to know your professors ( communication) 6. Don't wait until its a problem, get help immediately
7. Utilize the academic resources that are available ( they are paid for by the school, why not use them)

Too many kids aren't prepared. My own went to a JC last year and is at a good academic school this year, and the workload isn't even close.30 page research projects, fifteen page papers, projects, presentations.It is work, and lots of it.That doesn' even include the baseball part of it.

I think many athletes look at the baseball or sport side and don't really look at if they can handle the academics.Really , really evaluate both in your decision.

I do not envy parents going through the process, it is really hard to find the right fit. I believe the player can do some adjusting and make it a better fit if they do what is required.

Good luck to all those looking.

FOG, your post again is right on. Very well said.

You know, this topic can cover a large spectrum of emotion. From making Junior stay at a program because he committed to the coach to play and attend there. Pull up your boot straps and learn what the words "hard work", "commitment", "character", etc. mean and how they will form the building blocks of their future when they hit the work force. If they up and leave because they don't like this or that, are we teaching them it's ok to quit at the first signs of hardship, etc. Then we look at the other range of this situation. Were there circumstances that caused them to want to leave? For example, an overbearing Coach (or staff) once he/she arrived on campus, upper classmen who were not leaders but perpetuated misbehaviour and mischief. Or, things that are out of their control that was never expected like, missing home to the point that mild depression and anxiety sets in (research has shown that incoming freshmen do suffer but rarely tell or even know they are). This leads to missing class, getting behind, staying in their rooms and never leaving, missing required study halls, etc.

We just recently had discussions on here about helicopter parents. Heck, I even started the thread! But I like to think that along the way in life I learn to hear all sides and see how to be a better parent. During the recruiting process do we as parents really listen to what they want? Do they really know what they want at that young age? I think it was PG that just recently wrote about a young stud player that eventually signed and went on to MiLB. Before he signed and Showcases were coming up, PG would have to bend his arm to make him attend so coaches who were attending could watch him. After a year of struggling, quit ball altogether. Had anyone listened to him early they would have learned he was burned out and basically done. Are we guilty of the same thing? Notsomuch as our sons being burned out, but did we push them to a school or program because we thought it best for them? Heavenforbid that we did because of living vicariously through them.

Some kids never really had to applied themselves during highschool academically. Maybe they were in shock when they saw in college that they actually DO have to work, and work hard. To me this is where the rubber meets the road. Life is hard and never fair. If this kid in CA is leaving because he thinks the pasture is greener (academically) at another school then he will eventually flunk out or maybe move again. Bad precedent IMO is being set by allowing him to move. As I read what FOG's son is going through this year at his D1 after a year of JUCO ball I got to thinking if Youngson would have been prepared this sophomore year to face that. I don't think so. Thank goodness for the JUCO route. It is allowing him to get his legs up underneath him academically. He was one of those players who was able to skate through HS and wasnt challenged. Now he knows.

Even when they think they've made the right academic and/or athletic fit. What about the right social fit? Learning to be away from home and being on their on can be overwhelming to some. Are they prepared, if not, can we as parents prepare them? Hard to answer. My son has been playing JUCO ball 2yrs and both years has seen players kicked off the team for several reasons, fighting, drinking, drugs, failure to attend classes, disrepect to the coaches, etc.

I've said enough. Fingers are worn out.

.
Great posts in this thread important reading for for all prospectice college athletes...some great insights...every player should have to wrestle with the academic/athletic balance...because in the end you are likely going to have to rely in part on their academic achievement.

All that beign said...Not sure that we can compare that decison (in or out)to most of us. Apples and Oranges. Different sensibilities, different goals, different outlook.


44
.

Excellent posts.. I assume involving your guidance counselor early in your HS years (My son is currently a sophomore) would help in making a rational decision granted the student has the talent to play in college. Doing an analysis of a student's academic strengths/weaknesses , actual grades, time management skills during the season, blend in his academic goals in life would help in the decision making. We will actually have a Sophomore College Planning meeting early next year after we have results of the PSAT and I am planning to ask these questions. I will get back if any interesting info comes up.

YoungGunDad,

I think you are wise to look at your son and know he needed the time at a JC. I think it was beneficial for my own to go for a year as well.Lots of growing up time, and adjustments.They can do it, I am just trying to help people realize that it is a grind.And if the kid doesn't want to be there,and parents are pushing that, then I think there is potential for disaster.IMHO

quote:

I think you are wise to look at your son and know he needed the time at a JC. I think it was beneficial for my own to go for a year as well. Lots of growing up time, and adjustments.

JC can certainly provide an opportunity to mature. It seems to have been a great choice for FOG and YGG's kids. On the other hand, it may not be the best "fit" for:

quote:

players kicked off the team for several reasons, fighting, drinking, drugs, failure to attend classes, disrepect to the coaches, etc.

quote:

players kicked off the team for several reasons, fighting, drinking, drugs, failure to attend classes, disrepect to the coaches, etc.

I will say this.Yes there are those challenges at the JC level.There are many kids who go there that have no other choices, and it can be a huge distraction.

There are challenges at every level and getting kicked off the team for the above mentioned thing happens on every level. The reason you hear about it alot at the JUCO level is because you don't have players that have been recruited by the coach.

Besides academic and athletic fit, there are a lot of other things to consider, college is also for socialization and athletes have to learn to do that in moderation. That's why coaches work so hard to find the right players for their program, lots of temptations especially at those very large programs, big football weekends, big party weekends and lots of thinking that they are special, nothing can happen to them because they have been "asked" and received money to come to play, while many students get turned away from their first or second choices.

I think I am getting a headache!111

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
I think I am getting a headache!111!!!

Too much beer.