Top 10 Tips for Playing College Athletics
Playing athletics in college can be one of the most rewarding yet demanding experiences. As a former college athlete who played at an NAIA school, I know what it takes to compete successfully at the college level. Regardless of what level you play, many of these tips will apply. Also, keep in mind that only a small percentage of high school athletes go on to play college sports, so if you make it to this point, you are part of a select group. Hey, if it was easy, everybody would do it.
-
Remember You're Still a Student
It's easy to overlook the academic side of things when so much of your time is consumed by athletic activities. But remember that you are still a student, and you are expected to take care of business in the classroom. Keep in mind that you will be responsible for completing the same amount of work as your peers. Professors are generally lenient with student-athletes, but still stay on top of your assignments and projects. If they give you an extension, get it done by that time, no questions asked.
You aren't expected to get a 4.0 GPA, but at least make sure you're passing your classes and that you are eligible to play. The last thing you want is to sit out a semester because your grades are too low. Your coach doesn't want to risk a roster spot on you if you're going to be an academic liability and they don't know if you're eligible in the first place. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it. There's no shame in getting help to make sure you are academically eligible.
-
Learn to Manage Your Time Accordingly
Time management is a necessity in college athletics. Between workouts, practices, classes, and travel, there are a lot of priorities to take care of. Being a student athlete is really a full-time job, so be prepared to treat it as such.
Days will be very long, from early morning workouts to classes to practices to study halls, not to mention time for meals. There's not much downtime to be found. Again, it's a grind, and it's definitely not easy, but then again, it's not supposed to be. Organizing your schedule and assignment deadlines on a calendar or planner is a must.
-
Be a Good Teammate
Goes without saying, but don't be a jerk to your own teammates. Nobody likes that one guy who treats it as a one-man show. You don't necessarily have to be best friends with your teammates, but your teammates are going to be your natural friend group already, so embrace them as your support system on and off the field.
Just be humble and accountable. Just being friendly with them is a huge part of building a positive team culture, which honestly helps lead to better performances in the game.
-
Take Care of Yourself
This applies to anyone, but especially college athletes. You'll burn a lot of calories, so make sure you're eating properly to replenish your energy. Make sure you drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen if you'll be outside for long periods of time. The last thing you want is to be sidelined by something like dehydration or sunburn, something that you can easily avoid.
If you are injured, see the athletic trainer right away and make sure you follow their instructions. It's their job to help you recover. They know how to get you back out there the fastest. Don't rush it. Just stick with them.
-
Don't Do Anything Stupid
This goes for any college student, really, but especially athletes. Remember that you're representing your school both in person and online. Remember to be respectful and show good sportsmanship at games. Don't yell at refs or taunt the other team, stuff like that.
Also, don't get into trouble, like going to a party and getting caught drinking underage, or getting arrested for a DUI or something like that. And don't post anything on social media that could get you in trouble. You're not just affecting your own brand, but the team's reputation and the school's reputation. I'm not saying don't have fun, but be careful about what you're doing because actions speak louder than words, and getting in trouble is a serious matter and could lead to you getting kicked off the team.
-
Be Prepared for a Lot Better Competition
Goes without saying, but the competition is miles better than in high school. You will find that out real quickly, so if you're not prepared to show up, then you're gonna get humbled really quick. It doesn't matter if it's D1 or NAIA. You'll find there's a lot of great competition at any level, so don't automatically turn down opportunities at small schools for that reason.
On top of that, just getting playing time is a difficult challenge, especially as a freshman. You're used to being the top player at your high school for the last few years. News flash. So is everyone else in college. These are the players that really care, so be ready to be challenged. You shouldn't expect anything different. If it was easy, everybody would do it.
-
Be Self-Motivated
If you really want to play at the college level, you're going to have to work at it, and that means getting on the grind and having that motivation and determination to want to get better. It's the intangibles that coaches talk a lot about. You have to have that "GRIT" factor that really can't be taught. You either have it or you don't.
That might mean putting in extra work outside of regular practice sessions. You should want to be the first one to show up to practice and the last to leave. Show that inner drive to want to get better.
-
Use Your Resources
This applies to any student, regardless of whether you play a sport or not, but use your campus resources. There are plenty of people who are willing to help you, like academic tutors, career services, athletic trainers, sports psychologists, nutritionists, strength coaches, your coach, and your professors.
I mean, there are so many people available to you if you do need help with anything. It's literally their job to help you out however they can, so don't be afraid to reach out because they can only help if you ask them for it.
-
Have Fun
Being a student-athlete in college is definitely not easy. With a demanding schedule and trying to keep up with academics and athletics simultaneously, it can get stressful and exhausting quickly, which leads to burnout.
It's something easy to overlook, but remember to have fun at the end of the day. You gotta love the game and just enjoy every second you get to play because one day you'll play for the final time and there's no going back. So remember to enjoy yourself and enjoy any amount of playing time you have because it's a privilege to get to play at the college level, so live it up while you can.
-
Be Proactive in Reaching Out to Coaches
If you're even considering playing at the next level, then you should be proactive and email coaches. Most coaches would rather you be the one communicating with them, NOT your parents. Show some initiative and communicate with them, but also keep it short and simple. They don't want to read a whole essay. Just a few sentences explaining your accomplishments and stats, why you think their program is a good fit for you, and that you're interested in discussing the next steps. Also, attach any highlight reels or profiles you have.
Also, keep it professional-sounding, and for the love of all that is holy, use spell-check and grammar-check. Trust me, they notice the small things. Also, like a job, they get tons of emails, so be patient and politely follow up in 2 to 3 weeks if they don't respond. If you follow up no more than two times, then move on.