Participating in Multiple Activites?

[Ejay]

Although perhaps officially permitted, are today's D3 players "discouraged" from playing multiple sports or participating in study-abroad semesters? When I played in the early 90s, we had a handful of players who played soccer/lax or soccer/baseball. And I spent the entire spring semester Jr year abroad. Do toady's kids have those same opportunities or is it frowned upon?  Can a kid play soccer in the fall and then club hockey in the winter, or is he expected to prioritize off-season soccer activities? Would a spring semester away put him in the doghouse?

[Madared]

I can only comment on the study abroad part of the question.  My son spoke with several D3 coaches who all indicated that he could participate in soccer and study abroad.  While they preferred for him to get in the spring training, they were supportive of his pursuit of other opportunities.  I imagine that most coaches would support athletes' desire to study abroad, although clearly some might not. 

[midwest]

Same answer on study abroad for my kid -- all the coaches he talked to said study abroad was the norm and most of the juniors at his school take advantage of the spring semester abroad.  My kid's coach supports it, I've not heard reports of any negative comments or snarkiness. It does seem like a challenge -- being away spring of junior year and then in the summer, often doing the important "summer before senior year" internships/programs that may lead to full time employment. 

As for multiple sport athletes, we know one guy who did soccer and lacrosse for a few years before deciding to drop the lacrosse piece for senior year. 

[Clotpoll]

One of the biggest reasons my daughter (lacrosse) and son (soccer) chose D3 schools was to be able to do a semester abroad in a situation where it was supported by coaches.

[truenorth]

I concur with the previous observations.  My son graduated from Bowdoin five years ago.  He studied in Rome during the spring semester of his junior year...where he met and became friends with a Williams player. 

They would go for runs together and sometimes trained informally with a local club in Rome.  They then became friendly rivals during their senior season and are now lifelong friends.  In my view, this is one of many examples of what the college experience is all about.

My son had college soccer teammates who also played lacrosse and baseball, and it never seemed to be an issue with any of the coaches.

[stlawus]

The best player to ever come out of SLU's program (in my opinion) was a multi sport athlete.  Greg Sutton was quite the hoops player.

[Saint of Old]

As for the semester abroad, I think one of the best things a player can do is a Semester in London/France(almost anywhere in the world) program.

A dedicated player will find a good way to keep up with the game as well.

Some of the best soccer I played during college was done overseas, and a great way to prep for the season.