SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP Education vs Playing College Soccer

All things being equal a college athlete has a much better chance of landing a job than a non athlete. Certain companies always seem to have job openings for local college athletes. I make this statement due to the fact that people always mention how important a good education is, which I totally agree with. So in todays tough economic situation it makes sense to use college athletics as a way to land a good job upon graduation.

Car dealerships?

Actually, I did a research project a couple of years ago analyzing the cost vs. benefits of Title IX, which has made a major difference in providing opportunities for girls and young women to play sports at the high school and college level. Turns out there is a significant amount of research that shows a correlation between playing organized sports and success in the world of employment, especially for women. Two particular items of note that I dug up:

A University of Virginia survey found that 80% of female leaders in Fortune 500 companies played school sports.

A 2004 Oppenheimer Funds survey of 401 "highly successful" women showed that 82% of those surveyed played sports in junior high, high school, and/or college. They cited team activities as part of what helped prepare them to succeed in a highly competitive work environment.

Now, does any of this say that playing sports is what made these people successful? Not really. It does tend to show, though, that there are common traits shared between successful athletes and successful leaders in business and other employment areas, and that's a correlation that employers often recognize when doing the hiring.

Coach Chass, very interesting information. I believe it. I work at a national lab with some very successful female scientists and engineers. I have been pleasantly surprised how many of them played college sports as undergraduates, probably 40-50%. I believe a few even continue to play adult league sports and think a couple coach youth/club teams. I also believe most of them would contribute a large part of their success to the mental discipline, and even stress relief, they got from sports. Thanks!

Sweet, was your first statement your opinion, or are you getting that information from somewhere in particular that you don't mention?

When you said "I make this statement due to the fact..." are you referring to your first statement or your second?

You seem to be suggesting that a student should play a sport in college, and that will make them more successful in the future.

Not saying I specifically disagree with that, but I am thinking that what makes a student play a sport in college is what makes them more successful in the future, versus the actual playing of the sport. Just my opinion, FWIW...

I'll take my chances with a degree from Yale or Dartmouth and no sports. Thanks.