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High School Sports + Money for College = Family Stress

College Recruitment Stressing Families Everywhere
December 13, 2008

Add up 2 of the most competitive industries for adolescents in the United States and you get a mini explosion of stress for the families involved.

College Athletic Scholarships

I have become increasingly concerned with the professionalization of youth sports and when the financial pressures surrounding college are added to the mix it is quite easy to understand how some families are becoming overly stressed. The consequences of this stress can be long-term and may damage the relationship that parents have worked so diligently to protect with their aspiring athletic children.

I invited several guests who have unique insights to add to this conversation. Gerard Martinez is an analyst for USCFOOTBALL.COM. Several weeks ago, Gerard brought a website to my attention that shocked me, which is often difficult to do these days. The website was one family’s proclamation about their son’s undeniable dominance as the nation’s #1 recruited Quarterback in the 2009 class. It’s not the proclamation that concerns me it is the elaborate website that has resulted. Gerard discussed the role of the college recruitment analyst and the importance of getting information about the athletes to the college coaches.

This made me wonder, if you don’t get a phone call from Gerard, what should the family do? Coach Chris Berg, a former DI Quarterback himself and a current specialist in the college scholarship arena came onto the show to share a historical perspective on the college recruitment process. According to Coach Chris, there are over 300,000 graduating seniors in the sport of football every year, but there are only 2,000 and change scholarships awarded! Talk about a discrepancy! It is so important for families to learn about the college recruitment process early. However, Coach Chris and I discussed being realistic about it from the beginning. Look for the best long-term and overall fit for your adolescent, and this may not translate into the most prestigious University sports program or the most dollars in aid.

Finally, I spoke with a local family who is currently going through this process. The Devlin Family, Janet and her son Curen called into the show. Curen is a senior at Trabuco Hills High School and is currently deciding where he would like to play football in college. Thanks to the guidance the family received from Jennifer Noonan, another local who specializes in the recruitment process, Janet has been able to lobby tirelessly, sometimes 15 hours per week, to secure options for Curen. The advice for other families: Start Early (Freshman/Sophomore year), Be Informed (It is NOT the Coach’s Responsibility to Get your Child a Scholarship), and Work Together as a Family. Janet knows that keeping Curen involved throughout the process will serve him well while he makes the next big decision.

Take Home Messages for Me:

A family that is already balanced is most likely to get through the college scholarship process with a positive attitude and ultimately, results!

If you are a family system that tends to operate in the world of all or nothing attitudes, you will find yourselves fighting this process from start to finish and there’s nothing enjoyable about that!

This is Dr. Casey, and until we speak again, make all your performances their most excellent.