Why do parents....?

Please, this thread is not meant to be an indictment or a negative thread in any way.

I would just like to read some feedback about why parents invest 1,000's of dollars in seeking a partial athletic scholarship?

What has been your experience?

 

In the Hopes

that your kid will get to play at the next level.

I don't think that one starts out "seeking the scholarship". IMHO, I think that one starts out trying to get their kid "seen" in order to "be considered" as a "collegiate player". To do this, tons of $$$ has to be spent - showcase after showcase after showcase, camp after camp after camp - not to mention the "need" to be on an "elite" travel team - cuz, after all, if you're not a Dirtbag or Cub or "whatever", you might miss the boat. And, if your kid doesn't make it onto one of the "elite teams" then that's all the more reason that you have to go out and continue to do the showcase/camp/showcase/camp scenario (all of which costs tons of $$$$).

So, in my mind, it's not so much "spending $1000's on securing a partial athletic scholarship" as it is spending $1000's just trying to get your kid noticed so that he/she might have the opportunity of playing their sport beyond HS.

Seems like if you're fortunate enough to get any kind of athletic scholarship, it's just the icing on the cake (the cake, in this case, is the opportunity to play at the next level).

There are so many good, quality players out there (that can offer a great deal to a college program) who are often overlooked because of who they "play behind". These players, the "unknowns", have to put forth more effort just to catch an eye. They're not always the All-conf players or highly recognized names, therefore it's much harder for them to get their feet in the doors. Which cycles back around to more camps/showcases/camps/showcases and on and on and on.....and more $$$, more $$$, more $$$

 

flotg....I think we were of the same mind set. We never really thought about a "scholarship amount" but more of making sure we were playing in front of the right people and best talent to give our son the opportunity to be seen and have a chance to play at the next level where ever that might be.

Braves...now that I think about, going back to the early years with AAU through showcase....man I spent a lot of money....

 

how much $$ ??

Just for fun, anyone want to throw out any estimated figures of $$ spent on a typical "route" to a college baseball scholarship say just during the HS years?

 

who makes it?

How many kids that don't make all-conference actually end up on a college baseball team either with or w/o a scholarship?

 

If my son had never played an inning in college, I would not change the path we traveled. Of course after the 8th grade, Ty strictly played Legion & High School. 2 years at the State Games was his only showcase event.

So we did not spend thousands...intentionally. That was just our choice.

 

I don't know about all these dollars. We have 10 kids playing college baseball next year that I know for a fact never spent more than $400/yr there junior and senior years for extra baseball. That included about 40 summer games and about 20 fall games. But we do spend a lot of time and effort getting the coaches in the area to come out and see our kids play. And most are playing at local colleges. I guess if you want to travel half way across the state to play it might be necessary, but to just get an opportunity to play at the "next level" it is not. It may be that your HS coaches aren't doing a very good job of communicating with college guys. Ours does.

 

Not many but it does happen. We had one that has pitched considerably his 1st 3 years in college that didn't start for his HS team and has been very successful. It comes down to what Flotg said, it was who he was playing behind.

 

ummmmmm (I dont have any personal experience with this) but I think it might be because, the "Good" parents want to see his/her son be able to continue to play a game that the kid loves AND get an education. JMHO

 

A different perspective

I think we all would probably just "rather not know" the total $$$ amount spent from years of gas, hotels, meals, registration fees, uniforms, bats, gloves, cleats...etc.etc.etc. At least I hope my wife doesn't find out or I'm in deep do do. Heck, my sons only 15 and if I never spent another dime, I would never recoup the $'s spent on a measly partial scholly.

I'm sure, do to the economics of things, we have all incorporated a vacation or long weekend into our showcase events. However, I seriously believe that 10 years from now, when you look in the rear view mirror, the time spent with your family and your son/daughter, traveling, laughing, crying, sharing, hugging, competing and realizing you were an integral part of who your child has become is a value that all the scholly's in the world cannot buy. And also, simply put, competing and measuring your skills against the best talent in NC/SC and Va. is what we like to do...it's fun. Again to some degree there is a value there.

But this brings up another interesting point. How many kids can afford to not travel and spend money to get exposure for possible scholly's? Sure there are those few blue-chippers that are good enough to stay home and have scouts come see them. These are mostly pitchers, maybe a catcher or two and a position player that hammer balls out of anyone's park. But for the other 80%, the landscape today is such that showcase is where the exposure is. Thus, we must jump in the pool.