i'll be 17 playing against 22 year olds so idk what to expect

I'm pretty excited. I'm playing D3, but after going on my overnight it all hit me how special the experience would be. Since I' not on scholarship (because it is D3), my only concern is making the team. Even though I'm a recruit, not all recruits make it. But I still play competitively with my club team, run a lot on the side, and go to the gym onday-friday to try to match the strength of these kids (or men) that will be 4 years older than me.

BOTN Industries cannot underscore fitness and your collegiate preseason workout packets with any more import than right now. With only three to four weeks remaining before collegiate preseason camps open, now is the time to get very serious so that you show up to school in condition and ready to compete. Good luck to all of our readers and their families in preparing for their high school-to-college years transition.

I understand how important fitness is but how is everyone keeping their soccer touch? Are there summer teams to play on? I've just been playing with my friends but its not the same as a real trasining session or games.

College sports are all about fitness and soccer is no different. You can play summer league soccer. LILSL has a summer session that runs though July. info@liladiessoccer.com

What’s going on at Dowling? Just heard they fired all the GA’s. GA’s are the students that work at the school time keepers, ticket collectors, office work and so on. All asst. coaches are out. Teams will have no transportation to games. Guess they will have no sports program soon. Anyone with details?

I have a question of concern as my child enters the college search - how is it to play soccer in the southern states with the heat? Does anyone know ??

Excellent question and one that those of us in the Northeast United States tend to take for granted. BOTN Industries is familiar with several women's players who last season were in the mid-Atlantic region (Delaware to Virginia) for their first collegiate camps. If you recall the beginning of August last year, temperatures in this region were 100 degrees for the first ten days of camp (similar to what our region is experiencing right now). Each player lost between seven and twelve pounds during those first two weeks. Now, if you are starting with 110-130 pound players, start thinking about losing up to 10% of body mass and trying to play at the same level and more with older players.

The first rule of thumb is to get on top of your athletic packet and make sure that you get into training camp ready to play. BOTN Industries does not believe that freshman players really understand the import of this. (Sophomore players always seem to be better aware of the need to beat the requirements.)

Second rule of thumb is nutrition and hydration. Staying healthy, including nine to ten hours of sleep in the early days away from home, cannot be sufficiently emphasized. A sick freshman student during training camp is a one way ticket to the bench.

Third rule of thumb is communication and ultimately common sense. Coaches will press players but players also need to constantly communicate to their coach about their bodies and what they are feeling. We often talk on the college board about communicating with your coach and being comfortable. Complaining about being tired is one thing. Complaining about nausea is a secondary point. Calling out light headedness or a dizzy spell takes this to a third level. Hopefully, you see the point. A good coaching staff recognizes the weather impact on their players and will adjust accordingly.

This all said, you should expect your son or daughter to be drilling 90 minutes in 90+ degree weather during August training camps. It comes with the territory. Temperatures in the 70s in October (while it is 50s in the North) comes with its price.

Thanks very much for the question.

Apologies as we are not familiar with changes in the Dowling program. Are there members of the community which can help address this question?

regarding the playing in the south - 1 your welcome since my daughter is very concerned she will not be able be to do it. I think she fears things like here where the coaches are like drill sergents - running the kids untill they drop.
When are games in the south played? When they go down ahead of the rest of the school for training do they train all day or in the am and pm?
I know they practice for 2 hrs in the am and 2 hrs in the pm around class schedules and Iam sure the temps as well.
Thanks for all the info