Balancing academics with athletics

My older brother, younger sister, and I were all fortunate enough to play soccer from a very early age. My parents both loved the game, and my father, a college soccer player himself, coached my youth teams into my high school years. All three of us went on to college soccer careers.

(Small note of pride in our family is that my mother, in the mid-1980's, despite not having played the game herself, started a middle and then high school GIRLS soccer program - previously the girls had to play on our boys teams - in advance of when my sister would enter the HS so that she had her own team to play on. It was one of the first programs in the state of NJ.) 

My parents also took our education very seriously, and we had wonderful role models and understood the primary importance of attending to our studies, both as a discipline and as an intellectual curiosity. 

As it so happens, I progressed as a soccer player to be, for that time, a very high level player on a state, regional and even national level. So, as I moved into my senior high school years, I was recruited to play at the collegiate level at a number of schools. Foremost in my mind, above finding the best soccer program, was finding the appropriate challenge and fit for me academically. Thankfully, I was able to parlay my playing ability into a commitment at a school that indeed provided both.

People ask me all the time if it's possible to balance academics with athletics, specially if you strive to play at an NCAA level. And, sometimes players will tell me they don't want to play at a college level because they think it would just be too much to balance. To which I usually reply with one of the following:  A) tell me how it goes to balance your academics with the carousing you might do instead, B) the discipline instilled by athletics will only help your time management with your studies, C) how come athletes are usually the highest GPAs on campus? or  D) personally, my worst academic quarters were when I was out of season, and I had plenty of time for the aforementioned carousing, or for sand volleyball, and weekend trips to the city, but not so much for actually studying.

I pretty much always got a 4.0 during season. I am sure I never got one in the off-season. Huh?

If you are done with soccer, or don't want to play your sport in college, or your heart is set on a college that you would be unable to play at, I 100% respect that. But, find something to do at that university or college that helps give you the discipline that your sport currently helps to provide.

Lecture finished.

And now allow me to segue...into offering my time and advice with meeting with you and your parents to discuss your options at the next level. There are so many different levels of play, so many different fits. And there are so many reasons to do so - health, friends, discipline, honing teamwork skills for your future career, and yes, better grades.

I know your clubs offer "college advisory programs" and this should be your best resource, but sometimes, those same clubs are too big to offer you personal advice, or you feel ignored by them. Let me know if you want to chat and I will make an appointment. I will offer honest and practical advice, and am thrilled when players tell me, "Hey Coach, I committed to play at ..."

Final note: perhaps you have stopped by my office at the school and seen the college and professional jerseys on the wall. Hidden in there is indeed my own college jersey. But I am way more proud and honored to hang the rest - jerseys of players who played at EHS. I would love to add your future jersey to my classroom beginning next year, which will feature a more expanded section than I currently have room for!