Parents Ask: When should athletic kids establish collegiate goals?

Setting Sites on Collegiate Sports

Saturday’s Big Sky win by my Alma Mater, the Sac State Hornets, is extraordinary! 

When I look to the future of what this means to my kids, little athletes, still in elementary and middle school, I see a strategic win for the Greater Sacramento Region when it comes to athletic player development. 

Having been a Cross Country and Track & Field scholarship athlete at Sac State, myself, and having coached and held board positions of our kids' local leagues, we know that this location is a hub for leagues (of all sports & sizes), players, and has the infrastructure in place to excel strategically. As the years grow, Sacramento region’s collegiate sports are news breaking, and winning BIG!

A question I often get from parents: “When do you start looking into college level sports?”

Here is what I have seen in my industry, happening amongst players.  

• By early middle school your young athlete will most likely show interest and a strong desire towards a single sport. At that time, conversations generally begin about commitment, desire, opportunity and cost. Being an elite athlete is a family commitment. 
• By 8th grade year, minimum, your athlete will need to start considering college interest, and training towards it. Sports performance training should  be incorporated into an athletes regime, in addition to their team coaching staff and skill specific training coaching. Every coach has their scope of service. Competitive elite athletes include additional sports performance trainers like me to support the longevity of their sport, reduce injury risks, and excel at their present game.
• By Freshman year of high school, 
  • sports performance training should  be incorporated into an athletes regime, in addition to their coaching staff and skill specific training coaching. Training with a sports performance coach, in addition to sports specific coaching is most competitive.
  • athletes must maintain minimum NCAA eligibility requirements. Athletes should review these and set their plan forward with parental guidance and partnership. 
  • athletes must maintain minimum school athlete requirements during high school, and understand the requirements of each of the schools being considered in their collegiate line-up.  Athletes should review these and set their plan forward with parental guidance and partnership. 
• Play!
  • Get your play time in, where it makes an impact. 
  • A player, parent, coaching team is imperative. The player brings passion, motivation, desire, and responsibility (and so much more) to play at the most elite levels of their sport. The parent is in the driver seat. The coaches offer personalized and unique subject matter coaching, guidance and support. 

This outline is just that, an outline. Every athlete and family is unique. When you are ready to begin the conversation within your family, about collegiate sports, the Smooth Moto Team is here to chat. 

Do you want to be a college athlete? 
Here are some additional resources for inspiration and goal setting from Sac State Hornets Athletics Department: 
SacState Student Resources
https://www.csus.edu/student-affairs/centers-programs/student-athlete-resource-center/

Eligibility to Play as a Student Athlete at SacState
https://www.csus.edu/student-affairs/centers-programs/student-athlete-resource-center/_internal/_documents/what-it-takes-to-be-a-hornet-pdf.pdf

Eligibility to Play in the NCAA
https://www.csus.edu/student-affairs/centers-programs/student-athlete-resource-center/_internal/_documents/ncaa-initial-eligibility-for-the-college-bound-sa-pdf.pdf

Sports Summer Camps at SacState
https://info.abcsportscamps.com/csusfb
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Going to Games- Hornet Tickets and Youth Tickets
https://hornetsports.com/tickets/index

Hornets Sports
https://www.hornetsports.com/landing/index

*Note: Sac State Hornet's Athletic Department has done a fantastic job on their website and resources for the prospective and present student athletes, alike, offering an abundance of inspiration.