Success rate of the student-athlete vs non-student-athlete

I was speaking with a friend the other day, and he asked me some questions that I simply had no answers to, but have since been rattling around on my mind. After reading through some facebook pages of kids that began their freshman year recently, I was surprised by the number of young people already questioning whether they are "college material". So, I have decided to take the questions here and see if there are truly any answers.

Based on national average, 1-in-4 college freshman drop out of college. Given college athletes, with the right background, are taught early on the importance of focusing on studies, what is do you think the average drop out rate is for college athletes? Taking this a step further, how many student-athletes opt to remove the status athlete from their name and become simply students?

Would love to hear the thoughts of both parents whose girls have put in time already as a student-athlete and certainly from any college coaches out here

 

So does your question only focus on women's sports? Because men's sports are a whole different animal since they truly have a path beyond college for their talent.

 

Well our board focuses on softball, but let's focus on women's sports in general, as there could well be an impact due to lack of substantial professional opportunities post-collegiate level.

 

Interest in high level sports AND success in school REVEAL the type of person that is generally taking that path. In other words, forcing someone to achieve a level high enough to complete in college wont guarantee their success in academics. It is the high achiever that deserves the credit, not the activity.

 

This is a given. However, it does not answer the questions at hand.

About a year ago, one of our members made comment that his daughter was one of x number of incoming freshmen at y college, committed to playing NCAA softball. By her senior year she was the only remainder of x students still playing and/or in school.

Several of the girls my daughter has grown up playing with were actually dissuaded by coaches and/or guidance counselors from playing NCAA sports, based on their declared major alone (nursing) noting that junior and senior year studies would be prohibitive for participation, and they were encouraged, instead, to participate in intramural/club sports.

Which all leads to the questions at hand:

Given 25% of all incoming freshman drop out prior to the end of their freshman year, what is the impact of NCAA sport participation on this drop out rate? Do fewer student athletes drop out, perhaps because their involvement in said sport provides an impetus to overcome the sometimes overwhelming challenges to adjusting to college life? Meaning, is the drop out ratio for the student-athlete equal to the overall trend of all freshmen or more or less? Additionally, how many student athletes decide over the course of their college careers to walk away from the demands of being student-athlete and instead focus upon just student?

My friend brought up some very interesting questions, and I would like to share the opinions and/or experiences of the members of this board with him

 

Drop Out

What I have found out is that if you recruit the right kids to the RIGHT school those that stop playing usually stay in school. Rarely do you see a a large senior class but often see a big signing class each year. Some of the reason's may be injury, time commitment, playing time or we as coaches made a mistake in recruiting(yes this happens). I do like the fact our school still counts those kids we brought in who decided to quit but stayed in school. That shows me we at least got the school right. One last thing girls are more socially driven. They wont put in all the time effort it there isn't sometime of reward at the end. We all know boys will play baseball and basketball just to say they are playing and to hang out with the boys. I think if we do our homework as coaches and get kids that fit program and school then we have done our job.

 

I think the ones who played sports in high school learn commitment and the time it takes to play a sport. this helps when they get to college and I think a high percentage of them finish college than those who never played a sport. No facts to back it up but from what I've seen this is true.
Now as for those who go on to play in college. I know for a fact that most only play one year and very very few actually play all 4 years, I'm talking about girls now. I've talked with many girls who went on to play and nearly every one says it's just not nearly as much fun in college as it was in high school and travelball. I think too with girls they seem to mature faster than boys and by the time their 19 or 20 years old they are ready to get on with the rest of their life. Just my observation

 

Wow, this is a great subject, and I'll speak of personal knowledge. My DD is a collegiate freshman and just about to take first semester finals. From what she has told me, most girls on the team do not take the softball program as seriously as she did in HS and tavel ball. This has led to a lot of soul searching between us. She really wants to go out work hard and try to get better everyday, but many of the people including the coaching staff just don't have the commitment she is used too. I am not sure how far this reaches in the softball community. But I think this is where collegiate coaches make their biggest mistake when recruiting players. They seem to recruit strictly on the talent they see on the field, without actually getting to know or learn a little about the athlete, and things such as their work ethic might be like. Many players simply will not work hard enough to achieve their full potential.

 

Do your home work.....

From the Women's Talk Sports Network......

"College athletes are still setting records and dispelling myths — in the classroom.

The NCAA's latest graduation rates show nearly four out of five student-athletes earn their diplomas on time, an all-time high, and federal statistics show athletes are still more likely to graduate on time than other students.

“The misconception is that NCAA student-athletes are not good students,” interim NCAA President Jim Isch said in a conference call Wednesday. “The truth, as [late NCAA President] Myles reminded people, is that they could perform in the classroom and they outperformed the general student body in almost every measure.”

NCAA officials believe the improving numbers can be attributed to stronger eligibility standards for incoming freshmen and a greater emphasis on academics during Brand’s tenure as president.

No surprise to us that female athletes outperformed their male counterparts, 88 percent to 72 percent. The only women’s sport to score lower than 79 percent was bowling at 74 percent (better hit those books bowlers). Women’s basketball came in at 83 percent under NCAA guidelines.

The three biggest men’s sports — football, basketball and baseball — all failed to top 70 percent in the NCAA report (those players better hit the books as well).

Walter Harrison, chairman of the committee on academic performance, believes next year’s rate will show even more progress and he offers congratulations to all student-athletes for proving the critics wrong."



To look at it deeper.....if you are not happy or considering leaving, did the student athlete really make the right decision that was best for them..??
These are some of my thoughts...

There are many reasons why a kid does not continue to play from one year to the other.

These factors include:

Injuries: They happen...and you don't always come back from them.

Athletic: Wake up call in regards to the time, commitment and hard work required to be a member of the team and no guarantee of playing time.

Academic: Understanding requirements of the chosen institution.

Social: Peer pressures and social integration.

Organizational: Financial aide, following of rules and regulations, etc

Environmental: Parental support, opportunity to transfer. (very easy to do).

When a school, (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, Juco) awards an athlete financial benefits ( athletic, merit, grants etc), their intention is for the kid to attend 4-5 (red shirt) years. They are all about retention!

The amount of information that is online in today's world should provide incoming freshman the opportunity to make a good decision.... but many fail to do their homework....


Factors that will make you successful in your search.

1. Understand the ACADEMIC requirements of the school you are considering. They are not gonna change....

2. Go watch the Coach "actually coach".. Do you see yourself playing within their system.

3. Understanding your role as a freshman. Listen carefully..... If you are told you are gonna be the bullpen catcher, that what your gonna be....

4. Play for a coach that will make the recruit better, not one where the recruit makes the coach better. The latter ( I call them gatherers) usually bring in huge freshman classes, and let them fight it out. They churn out huge freshman classes every year. It is obviously something that is encouraged by the school, as it usually continues every year. Shame on you if you don't know.

Long story short....do the hard work now....make the visits, talk with current team members, do a proper assessment on your playing skills and the coach's softball IQ.

Understand it is gonna be the hardest thing you have ever done...but it will also be the most rewarding if you made the right decision.

It's all about YOU!