NJCAA restricts foreign players

[ATLTriggerman]

I've been reading this forum for about a year, but just recently signed up so i could post.

I've read many of these arguments. My question is, how do college coaches know that a given foreign player is indeed better than a "home grown" recruit? They have never competed head to head, so how is that assessment made? Video footage, international tournament results, what?

If there is in fact a measurable difference, what is it due to? Superior junior development system overseas, age differences, more competitive tournament experience, etc.?

Golf is a much easier sport to objectively measure - everyone plays on the same course, from the same tees, etc. and posts an objective score that is then public record. It would be easy to tell if foreign born players are better at the same age as Americans.

I just don't see how such a determination can be made with tennis. I get how perception can become reality, but not sure how someone can KNOW that an 17 or 18 year old Brazilian is better than a 17 or 18 year old American when they've never played against each other (or even have any common opponents).

Somebody help me out here. What am I missing or am I completely off base?

[andfor]

Originally Posted by ATLTriggerman

....My question is, how do college coaches know that a given foreign player is indeed better than a "home grown" recruit? They have never competed head to head, so how is that assessment made? Video footage, international tournament results, what?

If there is in fact a measurable difference, what is it due to? Superior junior development system overseas, age differences (not a factor now as it was before more restrictions have been put in place), more competitive tournament experience, etc.?

Somebody help me out here. What am I missing or am I completely off base?

You've pretty much nailed how college coaches evaluate overseas talent. The one missing piece is referrals. Most coaches who recruit overseas have coaches in countries where they find players that can act as a reference for the talent they are interested in recruiting.

Ranking systems for ITF and within most countries that have established junior tennis systems can easily be figured out to measure a players playing level. Combine all that with video and the process is not to difficult. Signing the best players is of course a different story. Competition is fierce.

I also know a coach who used to go to Junior Wimbledon every other year and also attended U.S. ITF tournaments for recruiting purposes.

Some mistakes are made, but most experienced coaches get it right. They are very cautious with giving out scholarships and usually get what they pay for, or at least get close. Not much different than recruiting American talent.

I'm not a college coach nor have I been one. I'm going off what I know from talking with them. There may be more. It would be nice if a real college coach jumped in. However, I can't say I've ever seen a DI coach post here. Maybe they have but remained anonymous.

[cmb]

Originally Posted by andfor

For clarity, cmb is talking about playing Italian Club sponsored Team Tennis, not Italian Federation Tournaments.

Exactly ^^^ Italian Fedation Club League matches do have passport restrictions. Tournaments are open to anyone. Italy has a great circuit of tournaments I hope to play some one day!

[ripero]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Colleges compete to have the best academics and best athletics. The blend of top foreign students and professors and athletes push all kids, Americans included, to do better.

Seems to me they should keep a close eye on the age and amateur status of the foreign players and then let the best players of equal age range and status make the teams. The college coaches I know will give the nod to the American player if he is close in ability to the foreign player.

#1

Hi, my first message here. First of all, as I am foreigner, I hope you will understand my below average English.

My son is still young, but is great student and very good tennis player and my hope is someday he will become a member of a quality american college with full scholarship. Why? Not just to take money, we really NEED it because my family income is about or slightly below average in Croatia and I can't afford even public college prices.

Why american college? Because it's the only place I know (correct me if I'm wrong) you can do academic and athletic development all together without sacrificing from one or other thing.

It's understandable that I would like him to go to the best college possible (academic and athletic) but the prime condition is full ( or very close to that) scholarship.

To you who think about foreigners as someone who are just taking the place and the money that should be invested in local kids - have you ever think about so many professors who are not born in USA, who payed for their studying in their countries and now having nothing of it?

You see, students and professors are going abroad to find something they can be happy about. Some restrictions are maybe needed and I think that TennisCoachFLA (quoted above) was very close to ideal thinking.

[mikej]

Originally Posted by ripero

It's understandable that I would like him to go to the best college possible (academic and athletic) but the prime condition is full ( or very close to that) scholarship.

Well then I think you have little reason to worry. I highly doubt this rule will spread to real colleges anytime in the near future.

Sorry if anyone takes offense at the term "real colleges" - but there's a reason the adjective "junior" is there.

Originally Posted by cmb

Exactly ^^^ Italian Fedation Club League matches do have passport restrictions. Tournaments are open to anyone. Italy has a great circuit of tournaments I hope to play some one day!

OK I am a lawyer, but sports is not my field (it could be that I will become a tennis lawyer down the line). According to the experience of my own family members, American born, no special requirements have ever been requested to them. Club wise or tourney wise. The only case (done for other reasons!!!) known is an american player, born with ONE italian parent, who re-acquired the Italian citizenship, therefore the Italian passport, and is actually "representing"Italy abroad.......
If you know otherwise, I would appreciate your exact quote of the law/regulation.

If you a light packer, and are happy with spartan accommodation, I am going to Italy and would be happy to help you find a place with my club.....

[coach10s]

Kudos to NJCAA. question for those who think it is a bad idea... How many of these foreign athletes has ever given anything back to the ol' USA? or to the university? They come over here, play for a school, get a degree and go back home. As a high school coach, it really bothers me when American universities would rather have foreign players than help develop and support American players and programs. It is a slap in the face of many a high school player

[ripero]

Originally Posted by coach10s

Kudos to NJCAA. question for those who think it is a bad idea... How many of these foreign athletes has ever given anything back to the ol' USA? or to the university? They come over here, play for a school, get a degree and go back home. As a high school coach, it really bothers me when American universities would rather have foreign players than help develop and support American players and programs. It is a slap in the face of many a high school player

There is some truth in your words... but look at the big picture. How many Nobel prizes came to US college professors which origin isn't American? And they went to schools in their native countries, maybe even finished colleges and then went to USA because of great conditions for work. What have they gave back to their native countries? All benefits go to students on their colleges. Of course, they don't have to win Nobel prizes to be great teacher.

Many of my friends live now in USA where they found job after finishing studying. And they are contributing now.

About sports. Why did American colleges even start giving scholarships to students for sports? They wanted all the fame they can have. If you thinking only about sport, it will happened as it is now in professional clubs in any sports - lot of foreign sportsman and very little place for local kids.

When college have great achievement in any field (sport included) it became famous and then it could raise scholarships. More money, right? As I see it, all DIV 1 teams want fame. There can not be place and there is not time for development of players which are not on top. They need complete sportsman instantly. Development you're thinking of could be made at Div 2 or Div3 teams. Even here, in Croatia, premier teams grabs best sportsman from other teams and from abroad. Very little place for development youngsters there.