WAG Div I NCAA Walk-On Offer Info

[Muddlethru]

all great points.... If I knew she didn't have a shot at college gym, I guess I wouldn't necessarily pull her out of gymnastics, but perhaps tone down the intensity... spend extra year at level 9 rather than try to get multiple years of 10 before freshman year of highschool... be able to take those long vacations again without worrying whether she'll fall behind.

All valid above, except you really don't know that she won't get a college scholarship until you try. So with the numerous benefits of being a gymnast and then potentially a chance to get recognition as an NCAA athlete and all the "perks" that come with it, you just keep moving forward.

Here is an article about how playing a sport helps women.

http://fortune.com/2016/01/23/sport-women-c-suite/

 

[bookworm]

So with the numerous benefits of being a gymnast and then potentially a chance to get recognition as an NCAA athlete and all the "perks" that come with it, you just keep moving forward.

Here is an article about how playing a sport helps women.

http://fortune.com/2016/01/23/sport-women-c-suite/

We're still waiting to see what those are...

 

[Muddlethru]

We're still waiting to see what those are...

I am certain not all college sports experiences are like what your daughter is experiencing. That is certainly unfortunate. As a mother, I feel for you. It is always harder for a parent to see their children not happy. But in my family and my husband's family alone, our experiences with college sports and scholarships are very positive; and I still have faith in mankind (and coaches and athletes) that for every bad person/experience/situation, there are at least 100 times more positive situations and certainly good people.

 

[tomtnt]

on a slightly different note, is it worth it to invest in a personal college recruiting website or well organized youtube videos of your gymnast enough for the coaches?

 

[bookworm]

1. I am certain not all college sports experiences are like what your daughter is experiencing. That is certainly unfortunate. As a mother, I feel for you. It is always harder for a parent to see their children not happy. But in my family and my husband's family alone,2. our experiences with college sports and scholarships are very positive; and I still have faith in mankind (and coaches and athletes) that for every bad person/experience/situation, there are at least 100 times more positive situations and certainly good people.

1. I'm certain not all are like my daughter's but on the flip side, I don't think it's as rare as you would hope...we have heard about way more negative experiences with many NCAA sports ( football, crew, lacrosse to name a few) besides gymnastics since this started, so it isn't just a gymnastics thing. I think because we had never heard of a soul with anything negative to say about college sports (D1-3, club, intramural) , so the experience totally caught us off guard...I think people talk about it more and with texting and social media, more is out there about what goes on at schools. My son has had a great experience with a club baseball team at his university so I'm not anti-college sports, I just think parents need to be aware that it's not all hearts and flowers..

2. I 'm not sure I'd think the distribution is for every bad 1 there's 100 good...I think it's skewed more than you think. The issue with the bad apples is that the schools self police so even if , God forbid, a complaint is made, if the school decides "nothing happened", then "nothing happened", and it is dropped. There are some good people out there, and DD2 has had experience with them, but unfortunately for the athletes, not enough of them...

 

[bookworm]

on a slightly different note, is it worth it to invest in a personal college recruiting website or well organized youtube videos of your gymnast enough for the coaches?

The You Tube channel should be enough...but that of course depends on how she is being marketed by her JO coaches, her results etc. JO coaches that make schools aware of their kids are tremendous helps in getting kids onto NCAA teams...emails that she (you) send out to coaches/programs should include the You Tube channel link as well. We included a resume of her athletic and academic accomplishments with the emails...and in the title of the email, put your daughter's name and her highest accomplishment ...i.e "SUSIE SMITH: 2015 JO NATIONAL BAR CHAMPION"...or if she's never been to JOs, something like "SUSIE SMITH: 3 TIME LEVEL 10 REGIONAL QUALIFIER" ...you want something that makes them want to read your email because they get 100s of them...

 

[tomtnt]

anyone know, does Stanford play this crazy recruiting games that the other top schools are playing? recruiting and giving verbal offers to freshmans? It seems they don't offer and sign until senior year, much like the Ivy league schools but are still able to have very strong recruiting classes. (at least you don't see girls in their freshman/sophomore year declaring a verbal commitment to Stanford)...

 

[bogwoppit]

anyone know, does Stanford play this crazy recruiting games that the other top schools are playing? recruiting and giving verbal offers to freshmans? It seems they don't offer and sign until senior year, much like the Ivy league schools but are still able to have very strong recruiting classes. (at least you don't see girls in their freshman/sophomore year declaring a verbal commitment to Stanford)...

@LemonLime knows about Stanfords recruiting process.

 

[Muddlethru]

anyone know, does Stanford play this crazy recruiting games that the other top schools are playing? recruiting and giving verbal offers to freshmans? It seems they don't offer and sign until senior year, much like the Ivy league schools but are still able to have very strong recruiting classes. (at least you don't see girls in their freshman/sophomore year declaring a verbal commitment to Stanford)...

Definitely as bogwoppit states lemonlime is very familiar with the Stanford recruiting process. In addition, the admission process in Stanford (currently the most difficult college to get into in the U.S. at around 4-5% admission rate) and the Ivies is very stringent and extremely selective; and as such these schools like to wait until they see some test scores. Lemonlime will be able to give you more info but I think getting through the admission process is first and foremost.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Our gym had their NCAA Div 1 gymnasts back in the gym to talk to our girls about their experience and the commitment needed and the time it takes. One of the girls talked about the difference in commitment between her Div 1 experience and her best friends Div 2 experience. It really is an all consuming thing at Div 1. She is happy she did it and was quite honest about the sacrifice side, missed proms and trips, missed high school experience. A couple of the girls can see themselves doing that. And
I was surprised to hear a couple of the girls say, Mom I really just want to go to college and not worry about gym.

I think you can get the benefits of competing and doing a sport without it being all consuming. It's not like if you don't make it to Div 1 or the Olympics you get no benefit.

My kid is only 10, she already has gotten tons out gymnastics, in hard work, life lessons, patience, seeing things through. Don't know how far she'll go, unlikely Div1, she just doesn't want to live gym, but she will still get the benefits. Right now she has Ivy League dream.

 

[tomtnt]

That's all true but whether it not they are on the college gym track or not, they are still looking at spending 20+ hr in the gym as a level 9/10. If not interested in college gym, why not spend less hours by doing xcel and concentrating on school work? You'd still get all those life lessons...

Our gym had their NCAA Div 1 gymnasts back in the gym to talk to our girls about their experience and the commitment needed and the time it takes. One of the girls talked about the difference in commitment between her Div 1 experience and her best friends Div 2 experience. It really is an all consuming thing at Div 1. She is happy she did it and was quite honest about the sacrifice side, missed proms and trips, missed high school experience. A couple of the girls can see themselves doing that. And
I was surprised to hear a couple of the girls say, Mom I really just want to go to college and not worry about gym.

I think you can get the benefits of competing and doing a sport without it being all consuming. It's not like if you don't make it to Div 1 or the Olympics you get no benefit.

My kid is only 10, she already has gotten tons out gymnastics, in hard work, life lessons, patience, seeing things through. Don't know how far she'll go, unlikely Div1, she just doesn't want to live gym, but she will still get the benefits. Right now she has Ivy League dream.

 

[Sasha]

That's all true but whether it not they are on the college gym track or not, they are still looking at spending 20+ hr in the gym as a level 9/10. If not interested in college gym, why not spend less hours by doing xcel and concentrating on school work? You'd still get all those life lessons...

Are you asking "why would a kid want to spend 20+ hours a week training L9/10 when there is no hope or desire of some kind of 'payoff' in the form of college gym (any division)"?

To me, that's kind of like asking people who run marathons why they do marathons - why not just stick to 5Ks. 5Ks are fewer training hours - they could still get the benefits of running - but without so much wear and tear on the body, and they would have so much more time for other things...

Well I was a marathoner for years - it's the desire to push yourself to the furthest goals of which you're capable, to always challenge your limits. Had injuries not stopped me, I would have done ultras. For many gymnasts, the goal is to advance to their furthest potential, which is usually achieved through the higher hours and demands of JO vs. Xcel. Of course reaching your fullest personal potential in the sport need NOT be the goal - e.g., you might just like to run, or flip, for fun, which is also great - but it is certainly one valid goal that I believe many athletes share.

My 2c. Hope I understood your question right

 

[Deleted member 18037]

That's all true but whether it not they are on the college gym track or not, they are still looking at spending 20+ hr in the gym as a level 9/10. If not interested in college gym, why not spend less hours by doing xcel and concentrating on school work? You'd still get all those life lessons...

We currently have no Level 10s at the moment but our gym does not train 20 plus hours. Most train 12 hours per week during the school year.

NCAA girls did more intentionally.

 

[shelovestoflip]

I'm curious how you came to the conclusion that your level 10 daughter doesn't have a good shot a college gymnastics? I think it would be difficult for us to have our daughter continue in high level gymnastics once we reach that conclusion given the large amount of time commitment, risk of injuries, and school load as a sophomore/junior. I'd like to come to that conclusion sooner rather than later in order to give a chance to pursue other activities/concentrate on school in order to increase her chances of a good college admission rather than be dependent on a slim shot at gymnastics getting her foot in the door.

Everyone has answered quite eloquently already. In terms of how I came to the conclusion that my daughter has a slim chance, I guess it's because she is a HS junior and a first year 10. Other girls have been doing 10 for years at this point!
That being said, I woudl never in a million years consider pulling her from gymnastics to 'increase her chances of a good college admision' unless she told me she was ready to move on from the sport.

I think our girls have great chances at good college admissions because there is indeed a good college out there for everyone!

My daughter shows passion for gymnastics....26 hours a week certainly is passion!

Our girls fall. Daily. Probably hourly! And they keep getting up and doing the same thing. Again. And again.

They never give up!

I want to believe that some college admissions officer somewhere will recognize that the skills developed falling flat on their faces as gymnasts will transfer to a college student being willing to jump into a new class and try something without fear of failure.

When we started rec classes at 3, college was't' a thought. When she started team at 8, college wasn't a thought.

Maybe for some families/gyms, girls are on the Level 10/college track at 8.

But in my book, I wanted her to be happy and safe and learning.

So, as the years went by, I realized we were in it for the long haul.

And I'm happy that she's happy.

And if a college scholarship is in the cards, terrific!

But she's got great grades, great classes and certainly I believe that she will get money for merit.

And that's good too.

AS others have said, maybe Ivies....maybe walk on.

But what I know is she's had a great time on the journey.

 

[gymgal]

That's all true but whether it not they are on the college gym track or not, they are still looking at spending 20+ hr in the gym as a level 9/10. If not interested in college gym, why not spend less hours by doing xcel and concentrating on school work? You'd still get all those life lessons...

sasha did a good job explaining but I wanted to add that a lot of times it is just to say you have made it. You got to the highest level (jo at least). I know that is part of the reason for Dr but it is also that she wants to master certain skills. She can only do that if she keeps up the hours in training. Can't be doing single bar releases safely and well at 10hrs a week. maybe if bars was all you trained but if you are training 4 events, no way. Funny that maroney just roughed on that - not wanting to quit because she wanted to get a triple something or other. Lots of girls have these goals. Some are satisfied with getting a kip or bhs. Others have higher aspirations.

And as long as the family has the financial means and time to allow for gymnastics, then they should be allowing the gymnast dictate how far they want to go. We have had gymnasts in Dd's gym stay at a level for years (usually 7/8) because they wanted to stay in gymnastics but didn't want to learn certain skills needed for the upper levels. Should their parents have made them quit? They were coming g to the gym 15+ hours a week still, but not really learning anything new. I guess it is all in the parent's mindset. I figure my child is in a safe environment doing what she loves. She has friends and coaches who are her second family. She is not hanging at the mall or laying around the house. She doesn't have time to get stuck on boys or video games. She gets straight A's b/c gymnastics encourages perfection. She is healthy, active, well rounded kid. what more could I ask for?

 

[pt coach]

Our gym has a culture where many gymnasts stay with the sport through high school, even though they may not have any chance of doing any sort of college gymnastics. They train 20 hours a week because they love the sport, and they have set their own personal goals that they work to attain. And also because this is where their friends are. We graduated a level 7 last year. She graduated high school with a 4.0 and was accepted into many selective universities. She did gymnastics because it was challenging for her while so many other things came so easy. So I can't say that it would have been better for her to do xcel. Her goal was to make level 7 and she did.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

So I can't say that it would have been better for her to do xcel. Her goal was to make level 7 and she did.

Yes I don't understand where the thought that JO means you can't excel in school. Because you can.

And again, not all gyms train 20+ hours

 

[LemonLime]

Sorry, just saw the question.

Certain schools may only officially offer gymnasts a place on their team when they are able to offer "letters of support/LOS" (schools have slightly different names for this letter). LOS at Ivies are officially given October 1 or later of an athlete's senior year. Stanford gives them at the time the application is submitted which is individualized but after junior year. UNC also has a LOS process.

Even though the official LOS is not given until these later dates, academic schools work with athletes from approximately the same ages as other teams. In fact, sometimes they specifically need to work with kids freshman year and up to advise them on academic issues. At some of these schools, kids go into academic review often before senior year.

Please know a LOS (or even an athlete application) cannot be issued to any gymnast the coach wants. At all academic schools, gymnasts go through an informal academic pre-approval process with the Office of Admission which differs slightly at each academic school. If you are unlikely to be admitted, you are unlikely to receive a LOS or athlete application. Also, receiving a LOS does NOT mean you will be admitted. Some schools have a 50% admission rates in particular years even with LOS applicants.

Also, LOS are not infinite. Each school only has a certain number to give out. So, if school X has 4 LOS for a particular year, and 2 are not admitted, they may not be able to offer those 2 spots to other gymnasts.

I'm also speaking generally about academic schools and not about any particular school among the academic ones. Truly, every gymnast has their own path and no two situations are identical, even at the same school. As with every NCAA college, some gymnasts are recruited in 7th grade and others in 12th, but they all end up at the same place!

 

[SeaActually]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere...

Why I quit gymnastics after walking on to the team
http://thetab.com/us/pennstate/2016/03/16/quit-gynmnastics-walking-team-3760

 

[twocurlygirlz]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere...

Why I quit gymnastics after walking on to the team
http://thetab.com/us/pennstate/2016/03/16/quit-gynmnastics-walking-team-3760

just looked at her Penn State bio and saw the coach's comments...seems odd/off- "completely overwhelmed" "gnawed at her"- or am I being too picky...

Coach Thompson on DiFrancesco
"Alyssa is joining our team for the second time. Last year, as a freshman, she wasn't completely sure what to expect. She became completely overwhelmed right away and quit early in the semester. That decision gnawed at her throughout the year and, as she sat in the stands and watched every home meet, she made the decision to return as a specialist on vault and balance beam. We welcomed her with open arms and expect her to make an impact this season."