I am wondering, which year in someone’s high school career should they choose which sport they would like to pursue in college, if they want to play in college?
They don’t get to choose.
The sport and coaches “choose” them.
I’m assuming you’re talking D2/D3 (because “interest” from D1 sports starts if the kid shows exceptional promise in middle school).
Basically, if you can put together a video and an academic+athletic resume, send it to the D3 coaches at colleges you’re interested in, asking if they’d be interested in your skills for their team. They’ll get back to you if they are.
If you’re not recruitable, sport is just another EC like being president of SAAD or a technician for the scholarship musical. However it can keep you healthy and help you make friends, so that JV and no cut sports are valuable even without any idea of winning or being recruited.
OP, this recent thread may be of interest to you:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/athletic-recruits/2108158-does-playing-more-than-one-sport-at-a-college-varsity-level-help-incrementally-in-admissions.html#latest
@MYOS1634: While I see what you’re getting at, I think the OP was asking more about what the recruit can do to affect his/her chance of being recruitable. That’s really all any family can control, right?
@I.love.sports: My answer to the question in the thread’s title would be “as early as possible”. Sure, there are examples of kids taking up a sport their freshman year of HS and going on to get recruited in college, but that is very rare. Pretty much every kid in my daughter’s recruiting class for her niche sport started when they were 10 or 11, and were doing well on the national stage by 12.
Know that the likelihood of the average solid high school athlete getting recruited for sports — especially in the most popular team sports — is very low. I would not use the possibility of a college scholarship or LL as the motivation to pursue a sport.
Back in the stone age when I was in high school, quite a few kids were multisport athletes and did all at a high level. When it came time to go to college, most had to pick a sport but had played several all through high school. This same school has become a state basketball powerhouse and in the last few years has sent 5-6 kids to D1 programs, mostly in the same state. It also has a top wrestling program, but since wrestling and basketball are the same season, those students had to choose a long time ago.
I disagree that you should only consider d2/d3. There are D1 programs at all levels of competitiveness in most sports, and D1 schools at any academic fit. My daughter was recruited by schools in all divisions, but admittedly at a lower athletic tier for D1 (but still competitive).
Discuss it with your coaches, with any older kids on your teams who are going to play in college. Ask their opinions on whether you have the skills to play in college.
Also ca really depend on your high school (public or private) , your coaches and the high school guidance department, known sports programs etc
While true, like college admissions in general, athletic recruiting is much different than it was back in the stone age. A generation ago, it was not uncommon for an athlete to be a 3-sport varsity. These day, for athletes trying to be recruited to top programs, it is rare for them to do more than one sport, and even when there are outliers, the second sport is often XCTF.
Now, for the OP, the answer is - it depends.It depends, among other factors, the college and the sport.
If you are asking about specialization the answer is it depends. S has a couple friends who are seniors who are comparing football and wrestling offers. One at the D1 level. So for some it’s pretty late. Depends on the kid and sport. For bigger guys especially football and wrestling compliment pretty well up to the end. Many other combos not so much. Genetics choose for my kid, he loved football but he’s jacked and weighs 130 so football was out after middle School.
I do disagree that most D1 level talent is getting looks in middle School. S and many kids I know who were off the radar of any D1 program until mid high school are high recruits at top 10 programs. I know some sports especially girls recruit earlier, but in every sport there are plenty of kids who develop later and still end up starting for top programs.
Take a look at the recruiting schedule and criteria for the sports that interest you. There are some, generally based on objective measures such as times, where coaches may remain interested into fall of senior year. There are others, based on schedule, need to evaluate style of play and fit with team, that if you aren’t on their radar by junior year, the window has shut. Often, they will have wanted to see you at a major tournament.
I do like that the original question asks which year in HIGH SCHOOL an athlete should choose. I’ve seen so many of my D’s friends who specialized in middle school or younger and burned out or had sports end from overuse injuries. Meanwhile D has had club coaches tell her the only secondary sport she should consider is swimming, but she refuses to give up basketball to swim even though she has no future in basketball. Early recruiting results suggest she’ll be just fine having chosen not to specialize early.
My experience has been that lots of kids do 2 or 3 sports but have one that they enjoy more or have better skills, and end up playing that one in college. Lax and hockey is a common combo. Most of the kids on my daughter’s lax team had varsity letters on another sport in high school, including basketball, swimming, soccer, track. Most of the boys I know had another sport they were really good in, but lax was the first love.
I hope the OP has a few sports he enjoys and will have a lot of options.
@twoinanddone I agree with you. Often we see football players who are also on the track team, wrestling, team, or baseball team. Even at the collegiate level.
Michigan State starting quarterback was an Iowa State wrestling champion his senior year of HS. So for him spring of senior year is when he dropped his second sport!