Lrd Sports Wire
William Lee Humphreys writes about what it takes to send a
son or daughter to the next level. At the moment Lee and
his wife Shawn Humphreys have a daughter and son at
Texas A&M and this is what they have gone through to get
them to next level. Both their son Sam Humphreys and
daughter Emalie Humphreys are in NCAA Regionals.
"So, You Are Being Recruited (or your child is).
What Should You Expect As a Parent?
What Should They Expect As An Athlete?"
By William Lee Humphreys for Lrd Sports Wire Sports News
You (your son / daughter ) have been blessed with the
athletic talent to draw the attention of a university or two.
They are coming to you to discuss scholarships!
Congratulations! But before you spend that college fund on
a new car, just what does this mean, first, as a parent, and
second as to the athlete?
son or daughter to the next level. At the moment Lee and
his wife Shawn Humphreys have a daughter and son at
Texas A&M and this is what they have gone through to get
them to next level. Both their son Sam Humphreys and
daughter Emalie Humphreys are in NCAA Regionals.
"So, You Are Being Recruited (or your child is).
What Should You Expect As a Parent?
What Should They Expect As An Athlete?"
By William Lee Humphreys for Lrd Sports Wire Sports News
You (your son / daughter ) have been blessed with the
athletic talent to draw the attention of a university or two.
They are coming to you to discuss scholarships!
Congratulations! But before you spend that college fund on
a new car, just what does this mean, first, as a parent, and
second as to the athlete?
What happens after signing on the dotted line? Is it as easy as everyone thinks?
Note: I will not discuss picking a college here. However, virtually every college athlete will earn
their living at something other than their sport. So pick a group of colleges that has the proper
education for the future, first. Then, perhaps the sport can be the deciding factor between
those options. This article is principally about after you have made that basic decision.
First, a little on scholarships (this part is mostly for parents)…
It has been estimated by several sources that only about 8-10% of high school athletes will
become college athletes. The odds of getting a scholarship are even less. “According to the
NCAA, only 2 percent of high school athletes, roughly 130,000 kids, bag a full or partial
scholarship.” You should understand there is no such thing as a four year, full ride scholarship.
All scholarships are awarded for one year only and must be renewed each year. (NCAA
15.3.3.1) Scholarships are also limited by the NCAA. Each sport only has so many to award.
For example, the following chart refers to available scholarships for NCAA Division 1 schools:
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball / Softball 11.7 12
Basketball 13 15
Track & Field 12.6 18
Football 85 0
These scholarships can range from “books and fees” up to full scholarships. Football tends to
have all full scholarships just because of the overwhelming number of scholarships they have to
award, but most others try to spread the money out and attracted as much talent as they can
get. In several sports, full rides are rare.
So how much will your child get? As you can see from the above table, your child’s sex has
some input in the non-football sports. Women have more scholarships available in most sports
due to the impact of the male only football numbers and Title IX. Secondly, often times the level
of competition is less just by the nature of fewer female athletes moving up from the high school
level to participate in collegiate sports. However, in either gender, how much money a
scholarship is depends on how many points they think your child will score for them.
The best way to have a realistic view of what your child may get is to compare their talent to
other high school athletes, not just from your area, but from the country as a whole. Why?
Because your child can be the biggest/fastest/best in Laredo, and still be only average (or
worse!) in the rest of the country.
You see, in college, the whole country is your child’s competition. Your child is not competing
against his or her district foes, but against the best of ALL the other high schools in the country
and sometimes international students. So find some national level ranking system to compare
their performance. In track and field, ‘DyeStat.com’ maintains a good database. The AAU
programs are another method. Most sports have some statewide or nationwide website to help
you get an idea on where your child ranks against this level of competition. Obviously, the
higher your child ranks, typically the higher the offers. Additionally, each school may value a
sport or a position in the sport more than another. This also impacts the value of the offers. So
know the school you are talking to and what they value of need in their sport program.
There are so many variables in scholarship offers, it is hard to give a guide on what to expect.
However, the most important thing is to keep a realistic view of what is your child’s true skill
level. Talk with other parents in the sports to see what kind of offer is common for your child’s
sport. Do your homework by using the internet and other resources to get a picture on just how
‘rare’ an athlete you have. Don’t be disappointed or angry if the only offer on the table is a
partial scholarship. Understand the system and where your child fits in the national sports
ranking. Return the calls coaches make to your family. Ask questions. Then take the money
on the table and have your son or daughter use it to get a good education.
Now a little for the athletes…
Many high school athletes (and their parents) seem to be under the impression that once they
get their scholarship and have a place on their college team, they “have it made.” After all, YOU
were your high school’s and most likely, district’s star. You may not have had to work very hard
at your sport because you are blessed with tremendous talent. For you, often times, your sport
was easy. Life was good. You went to class a little, practiced a little, played a lot. College will
be the same, right? But it will be even better now. No one follows up your attendance to class,
the coaches still love you (they came to give you your scholarship after all), and you get to go
on all those great team trips! You will live the good life as a college star! Fame and fortune will
follow!
Let me warn you, nothing could be further from the truth!
So, if that is not true, then what is the truth? Work! That’s what!
First, let’s address your “all-star” status. Just as you were the best in your school or even
district, the odds are that so was each of your teammates. Remember, they too are in that less
than 10% of high school kids that makes it to a college team. Many of them will be in that
illustrious 2% of college scholarship athletes. Some / many will likely be better than you. The
same is true for your competition. When you walk out on that field or court for the first time, do
not be surprised if you have suddenly become average. So don’t be expecting the same the
star treatment you have had in the past. You are now just one of many.
Note: I will not discuss picking a college here. However, virtually every college athlete will earn
their living at something other than their sport. So pick a group of colleges that has the proper
education for the future, first. Then, perhaps the sport can be the deciding factor between
those options. This article is principally about after you have made that basic decision.
First, a little on scholarships (this part is mostly for parents)…
It has been estimated by several sources that only about 8-10% of high school athletes will
become college athletes. The odds of getting a scholarship are even less. “According to the
NCAA, only 2 percent of high school athletes, roughly 130,000 kids, bag a full or partial
scholarship.” You should understand there is no such thing as a four year, full ride scholarship.
All scholarships are awarded for one year only and must be renewed each year. (NCAA
15.3.3.1) Scholarships are also limited by the NCAA. Each sport only has so many to award.
For example, the following chart refers to available scholarships for NCAA Division 1 schools:
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball / Softball 11.7 12
Basketball 13 15
Track & Field 12.6 18
Football 85 0
These scholarships can range from “books and fees” up to full scholarships. Football tends to
have all full scholarships just because of the overwhelming number of scholarships they have to
award, but most others try to spread the money out and attracted as much talent as they can
get. In several sports, full rides are rare.
So how much will your child get? As you can see from the above table, your child’s sex has
some input in the non-football sports. Women have more scholarships available in most sports
due to the impact of the male only football numbers and Title IX. Secondly, often times the level
of competition is less just by the nature of fewer female athletes moving up from the high school
level to participate in collegiate sports. However, in either gender, how much money a
scholarship is depends on how many points they think your child will score for them.
The best way to have a realistic view of what your child may get is to compare their talent to
other high school athletes, not just from your area, but from the country as a whole. Why?
Because your child can be the biggest/fastest/best in Laredo, and still be only average (or
worse!) in the rest of the country.
You see, in college, the whole country is your child’s competition. Your child is not competing
against his or her district foes, but against the best of ALL the other high schools in the country
and sometimes international students. So find some national level ranking system to compare
their performance. In track and field, ‘DyeStat.com’ maintains a good database. The AAU
programs are another method. Most sports have some statewide or nationwide website to help
you get an idea on where your child ranks against this level of competition. Obviously, the
higher your child ranks, typically the higher the offers. Additionally, each school may value a
sport or a position in the sport more than another. This also impacts the value of the offers. So
know the school you are talking to and what they value of need in their sport program.
There are so many variables in scholarship offers, it is hard to give a guide on what to expect.
However, the most important thing is to keep a realistic view of what is your child’s true skill
level. Talk with other parents in the sports to see what kind of offer is common for your child’s
sport. Do your homework by using the internet and other resources to get a picture on just how
‘rare’ an athlete you have. Don’t be disappointed or angry if the only offer on the table is a
partial scholarship. Understand the system and where your child fits in the national sports
ranking. Return the calls coaches make to your family. Ask questions. Then take the money
on the table and have your son or daughter use it to get a good education.
Now a little for the athletes…
Many high school athletes (and their parents) seem to be under the impression that once they
get their scholarship and have a place on their college team, they “have it made.” After all, YOU
were your high school’s and most likely, district’s star. You may not have had to work very hard
at your sport because you are blessed with tremendous talent. For you, often times, your sport
was easy. Life was good. You went to class a little, practiced a little, played a lot. College will
be the same, right? But it will be even better now. No one follows up your attendance to class,
the coaches still love you (they came to give you your scholarship after all), and you get to go
on all those great team trips! You will live the good life as a college star! Fame and fortune will
follow!
Let me warn you, nothing could be further from the truth!
So, if that is not true, then what is the truth? Work! That’s what!
First, let’s address your “all-star” status. Just as you were the best in your school or even
district, the odds are that so was each of your teammates. Remember, they too are in that less
than 10% of high school kids that makes it to a college team. Many of them will be in that
illustrious 2% of college scholarship athletes. Some / many will likely be better than you. The
same is true for your competition. When you walk out on that field or court for the first time, do
not be surprised if you have suddenly become average. So don’t be expecting the same the
star treatment you have had in the past. You are now just one of many.
Now, how about that work part? Your coaches are no
longer teachers pulling in a little extra money by coaching a
sport. This is their livelihood. They win, or they don’t work.
They are looking only for the best athletes and looking to
get the best out of those athletes. They will do what it takes
to get it! That means you will work hard to achieve it, or the
next new recruit who takes your place will.
While high school practice was a couple hours after school,
usually for the duration of whatever season you participated
in, it is different in college. You will probably report to your
school before most other students as practices often start
before the regular school year starts. Christmas break is
shortened as often are most breaks. College athletes often
don’t get a spring break, they practice. Practices are 6
days a week 2-4 hours a day. They are harder than your
longer teachers pulling in a little extra money by coaching a
sport. This is their livelihood. They win, or they don’t work.
They are looking only for the best athletes and looking to
get the best out of those athletes. They will do what it takes
to get it! That means you will work hard to achieve it, or the
next new recruit who takes your place will.
While high school practice was a couple hours after school,
usually for the duration of whatever season you participated
in, it is different in college. You will probably report to your
school before most other students as practices often start
before the regular school year starts. Christmas break is
shortened as often are most breaks. College athletes often
don’t get a spring break, they practice. Practices are 6
days a week 2-4 hours a day. They are harder than your
Shawn and William Humphreys at the
2010 Border Olympics Track & Field
2010 Border Olympics Track & Field
workouts in high school. You will work and you will get better, or you won’t be on scholarship
the following year. You may practice all year for your chosen sport and only that sport, as
many college coaches prefer their athletes to specialize in a single sport.
Off the field, it is no different. The NCAA makes it very clear. You are a student-athlete.
Student comes first. Just like high school, the NCAA has eligibility requirements for every
year of your participation. They have grade point average requirements and credit hour
requirements. You will have to pass so many classes and by a certain point of time or you will
not play. Your freshman year the GPA requirements are relatively lax. But each year the
requirement is raised.
For the most part, college classes are more difficult than your high school classes. What you
took a year to cover in high school; you will cover in about 4 months. Your attendance in
your classes will be important and will be tracked. Tests will most likely be harder and there
will generally be fewer of them so each one is more important. This makes keeping that
grade point average more difficult to maintain but as discussed just previously, it is just as
important as it was in high school.
Compounding the difficulty with classes is practice, games, and travel. Your daily practice will
eat up that free time you thought you would have after classes. So while the rest of your
classmates are out partying and playing around, you will be hard at work on the field, the
court, or the weight room. After that, you will have to do your homework. Likewise, you will
miss classes for team trips. That time will be excused, but the classroom work will not be.
You will have to make that up.
You will find yourself bringing your laptop and books along on your trips to write papers,
study, and basically try to keep up. It is sometimes amazing to see NCAA leading athletes,
still at their game or meet, with books open, studying because the next day they have a
critical test and they have little other time to prepare. In short, the free time the average
college student has to kick back and relax will be taken up with your practices, games and the
study time to keep up.
Is it worth it? Is giving up the social life for the sporting life worth it? Talking with a lot of the
athletes leads me to say. YES! Most athletes will list the joy of competing, the fun places they
travel to, the people they meet and most of all, the close friends that they make on the team
is worth all the blood, sweat and tears they will shed. But make no mistake, each of these
three will be shed during the college sports experience. So be prepared and understand
what you are getting into. It will make the future far easier to accept. Enjoy your college
experience! It can be one of the best of your life if you know what to expect and prepare to
handle the responsibilities.
the following year. You may practice all year for your chosen sport and only that sport, as
many college coaches prefer their athletes to specialize in a single sport.
Off the field, it is no different. The NCAA makes it very clear. You are a student-athlete.
Student comes first. Just like high school, the NCAA has eligibility requirements for every
year of your participation. They have grade point average requirements and credit hour
requirements. You will have to pass so many classes and by a certain point of time or you will
not play. Your freshman year the GPA requirements are relatively lax. But each year the
requirement is raised.
For the most part, college classes are more difficult than your high school classes. What you
took a year to cover in high school; you will cover in about 4 months. Your attendance in
your classes will be important and will be tracked. Tests will most likely be harder and there
will generally be fewer of them so each one is more important. This makes keeping that
grade point average more difficult to maintain but as discussed just previously, it is just as
important as it was in high school.
Compounding the difficulty with classes is practice, games, and travel. Your daily practice will
eat up that free time you thought you would have after classes. So while the rest of your
classmates are out partying and playing around, you will be hard at work on the field, the
court, or the weight room. After that, you will have to do your homework. Likewise, you will
miss classes for team trips. That time will be excused, but the classroom work will not be.
You will have to make that up.
You will find yourself bringing your laptop and books along on your trips to write papers,
study, and basically try to keep up. It is sometimes amazing to see NCAA leading athletes,
still at their game or meet, with books open, studying because the next day they have a
critical test and they have little other time to prepare. In short, the free time the average
college student has to kick back and relax will be taken up with your practices, games and the
study time to keep up.
Is it worth it? Is giving up the social life for the sporting life worth it? Talking with a lot of the
athletes leads me to say. YES! Most athletes will list the joy of competing, the fun places they
travel to, the people they meet and most of all, the close friends that they make on the team
is worth all the blood, sweat and tears they will shed. But make no mistake, each of these
three will be shed during the college sports experience. So be prepared and understand
what you are getting into. It will make the future far easier to accept. Enjoy your college
experience! It can be one of the best of your life if you know what to expect and prepare to
handle the responsibilities.
William Lee Humphreys