The time has come. Every gruesome fitness program, hours in the classroom and all the time spent refining your skills and focus and you are about to take on what will be one of the most rewarding and challenging journeys of your life. The transition from high school sports to college athletics may be the highest leap you will ever take on your sports journey, but with the proper preparation, the transition can be a smooth sail.
If you have put yourself in the position to play college sports, you have made sacrifices unknown by many of your high school peers. You probably didn't go out on weekends you had competition, you were constantly putting your training over time spent with close friends, you actually cared about your grades and you kept up a social media persona that allowed you to pass the background check college coaches will put every player through. Congratulations, but I have news for you, and that is: none of it ends.
Five points on what to expect.
1. You will be frustrated with your professors who do not understand what it's like to complete homework and go to class after burning a couple hundred calories at practice.
It is undeniable that there are professors who see athletes as unnecessary excess to the campus community. How do you show your professor that you're not just some "dumb jock?" It's simple, go to class, participate, do your homework and take advantage of office hours. It becomes very easy to convince yourself that one or two classes or assignments missed will not hurt you in the long run. This is not the case. You will miss class for games and the accumulation of missed lectures will come back to get you come test time and this is where athletes get a bad rap. If you show up, communicate and engage, you will find success in the classroom and have the opportunity to build strong relationships with your professors.
2. As a student-athlete, you are in every way a professional student as you are a professional athlete.
When you walk around campus or surrounding community in your team gear, you are a representation of your team and school. In this way you are a professional. You have been given the opportunity to represent something greater than yourself, and you should take it very seriously. Not many people get paid to do what they love and you have this privilege, but with this privilege comes serious responsibility. Make the most of it.
3. Your team will become your family. Cultivate this asset.
There are some athletes who do not fully immerse themselves in their team's social life off the field, but you go to battle with them every day on the field and in the classroom, and they know exactly what you are going through. From the blood, sweat and tears, to the endless amounts of assigned reading, they get it. Being there for your teammates unconditionally allows for each and every person on team to feel as if they have a purpose, and that they mean something to one another. The value this gives to your team's ability to compete and thrive within their school and competitive environment is limitless.
4. Get in a routine.
Your life will be more hectic than it has ever been. Between weights, class, practice, seeing the trainer, meeting with professors, feeding yourself, doing homework and finding time to be social, there is little time to relax. If you find a routine, every day will begin to become second nature to you. You won't have to spend time planning all that you need to accomplish in the day, because your routine will guide you through the tasks.
5. Find time for yourself.
It becomes difficult to get alone time when you live in a residence hall with 100 other students who are all just as enthusiastic about being there as you are, and it becomes easy to get wrapped up in everything social without making time for yourself. Do not let go of your hobbies. Whether it be reading, exploring nature, art, cooking or gaming, you need to set aside time to be alone so that you are able to be at peace with yourself outside of all the hustle and bustle that you experience in this new environment.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors as a student-athlete! Good luck!
