Help! My Kids Want to Play Sports in College

Vintage Homeschool Moms | Episode 92
Hosted by: Felice Gerwitz

🎧 Listen to the episode: Click here to listen
📍 Show Notes & Resources: Available below
🏫 Sponsored by Judson College – equipping students for the cause of Christ

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Where Is God Calling Your Student?

At Judson College, students are equipped to give their lives for the cause of Christ—whether that’s on the mission field, in the workplace, or in the local church. With more than 25 majors and innovative bachelor’s-to-master’s tracks, Judson prepares young adults with both biblical grounding and professional skills. Learn more at JudsonCollege.com.

What This Episode Covers

Are you wondering what it takes for your child to play college-level sports as a homeschooler? You’re not alone. In this episode, I dive into the nitty-gritty details of what it really looks like when your student wants to take their love of sports to the next level—and how you, as a parent, can help make it happen.

This is part two of my two-part series on homeschoolers and sports. If you haven’t already, catch part one where we discussed early involvement and local leagues.

Today, we tackle:

• 🧑‍⚖️ Being Your Child’s Advocate

• 🎯 Clarifying Your Family’s Goals

• 🎓 Navigating the College Recruiting Process

1. Be Your Child’s Advocate

Let’s be honest—no one cares about your child’s future like you do.

While coaches may care deeply about their team, they likely won’t have the time or resources to guide your child into college-level athletics. That job? It falls on you.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Letting coaches know early if your child has college sports aspirations

• Researching local travel and showcase teams

• Understanding the politics that can influence team selection and playing time

• Choosing teams that prioritize player development and visibility

⚠️ Pro Tip: Showcase teams often have scouts and recruiters present. Travel teams provide great competition, but not all offer exposure opportunities. Choose wisely based on your child’s goals.

2. Set Clear Goals—For You and Your Student

What’s the endgame?

If your child wants to play sports in college:

• Start exploring options around 9th grade

• Make sure your student is academically prepared, not just athletically

• Understand your state’s homeschool athletic regulations (e.g., FHSAA in Florida)

• Consider the long-term goals: Is college athletics a stepping stone to coaching, or simply a college scholarship path?

🏋️ Conditioning and preparation can be done at home on a budget. Many families create their own fitness routines before paying for camps or trainers.

🎓 Also—grades and SAT/ACT scores matter. A lot. Listen to my interview with Jean Burk from College Prep Genius to learn how test scores can lead to major scholarship money (linked in the episode notes).

3. Understanding the College Recruiting Process

Recruiting is a process—and it can be overwhelming without a game plan. Here’s what I recommend:

✅ Do This:

• Help your student set up a personal sports website or profile (check out NCSA or create your own via WordPress)

• Create a skills video (not just game highlights)

• Collect verified stats from coaches or training facilities

• Have your student email and call coaches directly

• Encourage college visits that consider both sports programs and intended majors

❌ Avoid This:

• Assuming coaches will “find” your student without intentional effort

• Focusing only on the athletic fit without considering academics

• Starting the process too late (senior year is pushing it)

📬 True Story: A friend’s daughter landed a college scholarship simply because she followed up with a phone call after her email went unnoticed.

Resources Mentioned

You’ll find all of these (and more) linked at VintageHomeschoolMoms.com – Episode 92:

• State Athletic Association Links (e.g., FHSAA)

• Baseball & Softball Factory (Skills Evaluation Programs)

• NCSA (Next College Student Athlete)

• MaxPreps (for stat tracking)

• College Prep Genius podcast episodes

Final Thoughts

If your child wants to pursue college sports, be proactive, prayerful, and persistent. Your support and research can open doors that otherwise may remain closed. And most of all—remember that this is a season. Whether or not it leads to scholarships or college play, the character built along the way is priceless.

Have questions? Email me at felice@mediaangels.com—I’d love to hear from you!

💬 If this episode helped you, share it with a friend and don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes!

Until next time,
Felice Gerwitz

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