Age for college freshman

[Sweden]

Just wondering twhat he percentages of "true" freshman in women's college hockey age . By this I mean age 18. There are 20 yr old freshman in the men's game, does this hold true for the women?

[coolsports]

Good question. It looks like it is getting older with post grads and the such. I don't think it will reach the men's age only because there are no juniors for the women.

[dogskate]

"Most" (I would guess 60%-80% depending on the school) of girls going to New England prep school now repeat when they go in. My guess is that within a few year most US College freshmen players will be at least 19.

[toots]

"Most" (I would guess 60%-80% depending on the school) of girls going to New England prep school now repeat when they go in.

dogskate, please back this up with some data. I have a daughter at a New England Prep school and I analyze opposing teams' rosters. In my experience at looking at those rosters, one or two girls on any given team might have repeated. For many that do, it is driven by the upgraded academics at a prep school. At my daughter's school, it is exactly two on a roster of 20 and academics were the reason (not that these girls are sub-par academically, but why not get the benefit of more in-depth academic preparation on which to build.)

Most girls mature (i.e., gain their height) at the 12-13 year-old age bracket. They are not going to grow substantially between the ages of 14 and 18, unlike boys when their testotersone kicks in. Sure, some girls might gain an inch or two and they of course can develop into better athletes with an additional year under their belt, but to say that "Most" or even quantifying it with "60-80%" is speculation at best until you can provide some data.

In looking at boys' rosters, I will often find a senior or two that will turn 20 during their senior year. I have yet to see that on a girls prep school team.

[Crazy Otto]

Since girls' hockey in the U.S. is structured around 19U and 16U teams, many HS seniors do have that option of doing a PG year and as one of the previous posts mentioned, many girls entering New England prep schools do repeat when coming in.

My own daughter is a HS senior and will graduate in June 06, but she is only 17 and her birthday is in May, so she could do a PG year; however her coach is not really encouraging her to do it, unless she can't find a scholarship with a D1 school.

[dogskate]

Toots is right that my estimate is highly speculative. The quotation marks were meant to indicate that my view is based on anecdotal data. Not that it would be any more scientific, but I guess I was thinking mostly of the clear D-I players that I see most of whom are on the better club teams. Also mostly thinking of the New England D-I Colleges. I took a quick look at the Lake Placid 18 year old group (1987's) and found the following:

Total 62 players of whom 23 were Juniors (ie repeats/old for their class) 37 %
Total 30 players in NE Preps of whom 13 were Juniors, 43%

I have not studied Prep rosters beyond the girls I know from the club circuit, but it seems (and a couple of prep coaches have told me) that more of the younger girls are looking to repeat than has historically been the case and that more Hockey players from out of region are applying than has historically been the case. Again, all anecdotal. I would guess that most girls who seek to repeat do so for academic/social reasons to make the adjustment to being away from home etc. I doubt the PG dynamic will ever be as strong for girls as for boys.

I agree that girls mature earlier than boys but would guess that as the College world gets more competitive the coaches will be looking for more of the strength that continues to develop after growth has stopped.

Anyway, all interesting to contemplate. My instinct is still telling me that freshmen (at least in NE D-I) will trend older in the next few years.

[daffee]

[QUOTE=toots] For many that do, it is driven by the upgraded academics at a prep school. At my daughter's school, it is exactly two on a roster of 20 and academics were the reason

Ditto -- in my daughter's NE prep school exactly 1 out of 18 repeated as was advised by admissions for academic -- not athletic reasons. Had this player gone to another NE prep, I heard she would not have repeated, so this practice of repeating an academic year is variable from school to school, player to player.

[hockeyyfan]

Ditto -- in my daughter's NE prep school exactly 1 out of 18 repeated as was advised by admissions for academic -- not athletic reasons. Had this player gone to another NE prep, I heard she would not have repeated, so this practice of repeating an academic year is variable from school to school, player to player.

One reason is before you get the degree from one of the preps they want you to have at least completed two years there. PG is a different concept but many of the girls will come in as 'repeat juniors'...then if you decide to do a PG after those two years you get your Masters Degree in High School education......a lot of it is financial as well, the schools don't want to spend a lot of admin money to qualify someone for one year only...for PG it's usually full tuition and if space is left.

[Wildcat Alumni]

WITH MOST SCHOOLS HAVING EVER INCREASING STANDARDS FOR ADMISSION IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING FOR MORE FEMALES TO TAKE A YEAR AND UPGRADE THEIR MARKS. ON THE HOCKEY SIDE, WITH THE N.W.H.L. AND NOW THE NEW W.W.H.L. THERE ARE AVENUES FOR SOME LATE BLOOMERS TO TRY AND UPGRADE THEIR SKILLS AS WELL BEFORE ENTERING COLLEGE. I DON'T THINK THE NUMBERS ARE ANYWHERE WHAT THEY ARE ON THE MEN'S SIDE, I JUST WON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE WOMEN'S NUMBERS DO INCREASE SOME.

[terrierchica]

I'm playing with the Boston University team this fall, and I can tell you that almost everyone is 18. I think there may be one or two players that are 19, and I'm the youngest at 17.

I also know that girls that have been playing with national teams or U19 teams will wait to go to college until they aren't eligible with their old teams, which can be why there are plenty of freshman that are 19-20.

[vote for pedro]

If a player does not feel they are "ready" to attend college or play college hockey, why would they play in the NWHL with older, post-collegiate, and in some cases National Team players? I would think that if they're ready for this league, they're ready for college.

I don't think its as necessary for females to do post-grad years in the same way males do. I've seen many players adjust just fine at 17 and 18 years of age...in fact, sometimes its the older teammates, who hit 24, 25 years of age who feel somewhat out-of-place...I mean, you're hitting 5-6 years older than everyone else...

[hockeysb11]

My daughter was a freshman last year at RIT she was the youngest player on the team at 17. She did just fine played in all 27 games had good stats and most importent did great in her classes. I think each girl is different, but i do not see why one would want to wait and just delay there life. Lets face it college hockey will be the last place most girls will play and if they delay going to college they will get a later start on the real world after college.