The reality is that very few high school athletes ultimately receive Division I athletic scholarships. With such a small percentage reaching that level, I believe it is important for families to keep the college scholarship conversation in perspective. A scholarship should be viewed as a possible outcome of development and opportunity—not the sole reason a young athlete plays a sport.
There is tremendous value in being a multi-sport athlete. Playing different sports allows young athletes to develop different skills, movement patterns, decision-making abilities, competitiveness, confidence, and leadership qualities. Just as importantly, participating in multiple sports can help athletes maintain their enjoyment of competition and avoid the physical and mental burnout that can come with playing one sport year-round.
Some athletes will eventually reach a point where specializing makes sense, and that decision should be based on the individual athlete, their goals, their development, and guidance from knowledgeable coaches. But I would encourage families not to believe that early specialization is a requirement for playing college athletics.
I would also encourage parents to look beyond the scholarship itself. Colleges are looking for much more than athletic ability. Character, academics, work ethic, leadership, coachability, resilience, and the ability to be a great teammate all matter. The athlete who spends their high school years becoming a well-rounded person may ultimately be better prepared for college—and for life—than the athlete who focuses exclusively on one sport.
As coaches and parents, our responsibility is to help young people develop a love for competition, learn how to work through adversity, become dependable teammates, and understand the value of commitment and hard work. If a college athletic opportunity comes from that development, it is something to celebrate.
But the goal should never be to chase a scholarship at the expense of the athlete.
Develop the person. Develop the athlete. Let the opportunities follow.
Mike Cooper- Ottawa (Girls Basketball, Athletic Director)
Parents who push their kids to specialize in a specific sport are missing the purpose of high school sports! I can't tell you how many kids get to be juniors and seniors in high school and they have lost their desire to play just one sport. Very few athletes have the commitment level to only play one sport 12 months of the year despite what their parents think.
If you are traveling for practice and tournaments you are probably missing fun activities at your school with your friends. Most players have major regrets when they finish high school and look back on their playing days. A good number of the players tell themselves I wish I would have played some other sports. If you're good enough to specialize you are probably a very good athlete that would excel at other sports.
When you specialize it is usually very expensive to play on a travel team. The cost to join the team, travel to practice and tournaments, hotel rooms and entry fees to go to the games for parents is very costly and can be very stressful for a family. When you travel for tournaments you are probably missing school which can be an issue for those who struggle with grades.
Almost all college coaches look for players who play multiple sports and participate in different activities. They are looking for well-rounded athletes. You only have one chance to be a high school athlete before going to college or entering work world, don't miss out on school activities with your friends!
Greg Bennett- Lewistown (Track, Football, Girls Basketball, Athletic Director)
It definitely is sad that many high school athletes, and even more often their parents, have a belief that specialization and year around sport specific activity will lead them to the “promised land” of a “full-ride” Division 1 scholarship.
Such scholarships are actually quite rare, as fewer than 1% of all high school athletes ever receive full-ride athletic scholarships for college. In fact, out of the roughly 8 million high school student-athletes in the U.S., only about 2% earn ANY athletic scholarship money whatsoever.
The true purpose of high school sports is to build character in individuals, by developing attributes such as teamwork, perseverance, mental toughness, responsibility, and leadership. As this is the case, I would advise students and their parents to focus on the positive benefits of athletic competition in general, instead of obsessing over potential scholarships and professional careers.
Specializing in one sport, in hopes of getting a scholarship, actually tends to hamper overall athletic development. It also puts unnecessary pressure on students to fulfill unrealistic expectations, and often leads to problems such as overuse injuries and mental burnout. Furthermore, it tends to breakdown the team concept of sport, as individuals focus on their own statistics instead of the overall execution and success of the team.
Many parents also fall into the trap of “AAU type programs,” that lure them in by hyping scholarship opportunities, but, more often than not, simply cause them to spend large amounts money on entry fees, private coaching, travel expenses, etc. In fact, I have seen numerous instances where parents spent so much money pursuing scholarships, that never materialized, than they would have actually spent paying for their child’s college tuition.
For another view on the topic…
HOF Insights: Thom Sigel: Shares the Values & Joy of HS Sports
Past articles in the HOF Insights series….
HOF Insights- Coaching Panel
Bob Anderson- Williamsfield (Boys Basketball)
Bob is retired as boys basketball coach at Williamsfield. At a school of only 89 students, in 45 years, his teams won 732 games along with numerous tourney and conference championships. His 1997 team made it to the Elite 8.
Kimberly Barth- Washington (Girls Basketball)
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