I love sitting in the stands at high school events and listening to the parents talk about the “road ahead” for their young athletes.  The kids are in their first year of high school and the parents already are placing them in different college divisions to compete for an athletic scholarship!  Hey parents, here’s a tip for you…..Let them play and have fun!

 Believe it or not, some kids in high school just want to play sports for the “fun” of it!  They like to compete and enjoy their friends and the comraderie, but that doesn’t mean they are automatically destined for collegiate greatness.  I have actually seen athletes quit sports because their parents and coaches put so much pressure on them to go after an athletic scholarship.  Its like, nobody bothered asking the athlete whether or not “they” wanted to do this!

I’m not saying that parents shouldn’t help guide their kids down the right path, but make sure that everyone is on the same page.  Communicate and “listen” to what your child likes about sports, as it could make a big difference on how they view playing at the collegiate level.  If playing in college is a shared goal between you and your child, then pursue it while still keeping it fun!  There is nothing worse than a high school athlete getting burned out because of an over-zealous parent trying to live vicariously through their experience, pushing like it is the only thing on earth!

Remember, sports at the collegiate level is not for everyone and just because someone might be a good athlete in high school, does not mean they will fit in at the college ranks.  There are a lot of other factors that can contribute to one’s success or failure……social placement, home sickness, grades, finances, etc.   All are things that a recruit has to deal with and if they can’t handle it, then sports may not be enough.  Playing at that level is very demanding, both physically and mentally and some athletes simply “peak” in high school.  If that is the case, no worries!  Like they say, “if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it”……….

Sports are initially designed for exercise and fun!  If you have a high school athlete that loves to participate in what the school offers, then they will get a lot out of it, regardless of whether or not they carry on into college.  Again, kids get into sports for a variety of reasons and none of those reasons could have anything to do with obtaining a college scholarship.  If you find that is the case with your child, please don’t spoil it by hammering your point of view into them.  It’s fine to discuss it with them, but ultimately, it is your child’s decision and you should support it fully, one way or another!

* For more high school athletics and college recruiting / scholarship assistance, visit:  http://www.viewmysport.com/