College Sports: Meeting a Student-Athlete

When it comes to playing sports in college, no matter if it's football, baseball, soccer, track, or whatever, students realize that their athletic training will add stress to an already busy and unfamiliar schedule. Make sure the school offers the sport. Many smaller schools will not offer clubs such as lacrosse or ice-hockey. This is especially true with women's sports. Few freshmen make varsity level teams. A red shirt freshman is eligible to play for five years and not just four. For this reason, he just practices and gets to know the team for his first year. A red shirt freshman is not a freshman who made the roster but has to wait a year. This is how a fifth year senior happens on the collegiate sports level. Walk-on freshman to a well unified and arranged college sports team can be a difficult transition. Walk-on freshman play for the team without a scholarship. A scholarship to play college level guarantees your spot on the team.
College football brings in a lot of revenue for schools. Often students will be able to receive scholarships to attend the university if their performance is impressive enough. There are many different athletic divisions including the NCAA, WAC, and Ivy League. These divisions are based on region as well as school size and ability. Division one is the most competitive and expects a high level of performance and athletic talent from their players.
Baseball in college is nothing compared to football or basketball. This is obvious when college basketball goes through March Madness or when college football teams compete in the various bowl games. Collegiate sports are based on three divisions. There are also collegiate teams that compete outside these divisions and NCAA, and are usually more laid back and can even be taught by an instructor so it is a learning experience just as much as it is a competitive or training routine. Syracuse is a great football school.
We spoke with a college athlete who was attending a state school on a scholarship. He played varsity basketball and explained the differences between junior varsity and varsity. From what he said, it was obvious there was a large difference in the amount of athletic talent and contrast in the level of competition. The athlete told us that he was offered a larger scholarship to play football elsewhere, but he wanted to make sure that if he didn't make the big leagues, that at least he had his education to fall back on. He said sports were on his top three priorities in life. As we finished the interview with this gentleman, a few co-eds came up and started talking with Mr. Big Shot. The social advantages to performing well on a college team were obvious. Competition is very tight to get on the roster, but the training relaxes him when it comes time to study. Many athletes cannot handle the work load of strengthening their mind and bodies and end up having to make a decision between the two. This is why student athletes who maintain a high grade point average are well respected.
It is understood by most athletes that there is always a chance that their dreams of playing professionally won't happen. This is why they must make sure that their grades stay above a 3.0. If their academics fall below that, they run the risk of missing career opportunities, as well as ruining their education. Experience playing in high level sports, such as basketball, swimming, or track and field, demonstrates a student's ability to be above average by setting their minds to something and succeeding at a difficult task.
For readers who are more interested in the actual sport, rather than the extreme training and competition that comes with varsity level sports, an intramural division or club is recommended.
Student athletes often have difficulty managing their time. It is important to get enough rest to allow the body to heal itself. Playing sports in college, however, is the best and most common way of being able of making it to the professional stage of the sport. Online colleges do not offer their students chances that other colleges offer to get seen by prospective recruiters and drafters.
Many students are devastated when they realize they won't be able to play their favorite sport in college. Maybe it wasn't their favorite sport, but was a sport they thought they were the best in. Being cut from the team or being told that you aren't a good enough player for them to use can be crushing. The NCAA keeps sports rosters online and they can be found for decades in the past.
Athletes also run the risk of injury. If improper techniques or mechanics are used in sport a horrible accident could occur that would handicap a young person early on in life. Red shirts have the ability to come back and play for a fifth year if they take the entire season out. This is another great way to catch up and stay ahead academically. Fifth year senior athletes usually have a low-intensity academic schedule so they can train and practice longer and harder. Also, just like those who focus excelling in school, an athlete must get plenty of rest and take care of their body. This means no late night parties or shindigs. Student athletes, especially popular ones, are often like celebrities at their college. Their social life shines with other students who want to meet them.
College sports can be a great addition to a job resume especially if the interviewer also played that sport or was a fan of your team. College sports also help if the student is interested in working at a sporting goods store selling items and trading stories. Few freshmen make college teams.