Dearest student-athletes,

We've all been there. Those first few calls from college recruiters interested in the way we play the game, grind on the mat, and so on. The interest they have in us instills a deeper interest for us in the sports we love.

Then comes deciding where we want to go to pursue our majors and athletic dreams. The anticipation is almost too much to bare. Before we know it, we're in a whole new environment on our respective move in days, meeting our new teammates, coaches, and future friends for life.

The realization sets in that this is indeed a whole new experience and that the life of a collegiate student-athlete is a challenge unlike any other for a plethora of reasons. As excited as we are to embark on a successful college career, we start to understand it is just that...a big challenge right off the bat.

Here are some tips to remember to survive your first "Hell Week" of collegiate athletics.

1. Remember to research results and rosters of previous seasons.

Knowing your program is just as important as being a part of it. Each collegiate athletic program has its own traditions and cultures. Whether or not the program has been winning over the years is not relevant here because it is a dog-eat-dog world at the collegiate level. Everyone is hungry for success and you have to have and sustain that mindset going forward. You have to know what competition you will be competing with for spots in the starting lineup and so forth. Who plays the same position as you? Who else is at the same weight class? Which teammates will help you improve the most? Mental preparation in some ways, is more beneficial than physical. Plus, doing your research may give you some impressive conversation starters with your new teammates...your new family.

2. Hopefully you have been getting to know your teammates at this point.

Team bonding activities, preseason meetings, pep rallies, and the captains' practices all matter. Opportunities are at the palm of your hand to be comfortable with who you will be training with for your college career. The more you are willing to put yourself out there with your teammates, the more you will be accepted, welcomed, and feel like you made the best decision of your life by continuing your student-athletic career at this level. Sounds pretty similar to what you hear in your orientation clubs, doesn't it?

3. Hopefully you have been attending captains' practices too.

Optional, but mandatory. "Mandatorally optional" has become commonplace for captains' practices. You can skip them. However, not only will you be missing out on opportunities to get to know your new teammates, but you will also miss opportunities to get a head start for yourself in adjusting to the collegiate level and getting in shape. Sure, you can do all the preparation you want in the summer, but once you get to school and are dealing with classes and newfound stress, getting in competition shape becomes a whole different animal. So, take advantage of your chance to get better.

4. Double check your credit load immediately!

A full-time NCAA student athlete is required to take 12 credits per semester while competing. There are cases where student-athletes forget to check how many credits they have or even accidentally schedule classes during practice times. Meet with your professors and advisers before official practices start. Check how many classes you're taking. Do you have enough credits to compete at the collegiate level? Are you taking on too many credits to be successful? Make sure all areas are good or else you may be forced to sit out of practices and even competitions.

5. Get your sleep habits in check.

Sacrifices have to be made for a successful college athletic career. Getting as much sleep as you can is one that is often disregarded. We've all had the mindset that we're invincible and don't need sleep. The problem with this is that we're only human and this will catch up to us eventually. Like preparing for finals week, sleep is especially important for the student-athlete in advance of practices starting. A lot of energy is about to be sucked out of you and if your body isn't trained to make it through the day, then it will be tough to sustain any desire to want to go to classes, let alone practices.

6. Expect the worst, but hope for the best.

We have all gotten our hopes up for something before and have been let down, sucking loads of motivation out of us. But, this doesn't have to be the case. Try the opposite approach. Hear me out. You've already heard how big of a step it is competing at this level, and it will likely be a rough go of it for a while trying to stake your place on the team. You may have to expect getting bested for the first time in practices by those with a touch more seasoning than you. Therefore, if you go into this level to have fun and improve through it without expecting to become the next Michael Phelps overnight, you will likely exceed your expectations.

7. Morning practice doesn't have to be your friend, but it better be your acquaintance.

We all despise having to get up super early in the morning. Even more so, we all despise having to do so with the anticipation of busting our half-asleep butts in a mere instant. Let's face it, you're among the best of the best and sacrifices have to be made to improve. More repetitions means more chances to get better. Morning practice is what this is for. It sucks having to grind it out when you're not in beast mode, but you're gonna have to live with the fact that morning practices are a thing. As crucial as they are, that won't change any time soon.

8. First year athlete, may I introduce you to the training room?

Tape jobs, ice bags, and rehab, oh my! Whether it is a severe injury or a minor bump, the athletic training room will soon become one of your best friends. Kind of sad, isn't it? Jokes aside, for athletes, it isn't sad. College athletics can humble even the best athletes to some degree. You must take advantage of everything the athletic trainers have to offer because they know how to do the job right. Plus, you'll get to know some friendly folks who will likely be traveling with your team for competitions. Trust in them to repair you even in the smallest of ways because in turn, you'll be able to sustain your motivation to compete.

9. There is a difference between being HURT and INJURED.

When the chips are down, it is easy to give up and take the easy way out. Most of the time this happens due to being hurt, a sensation of physical or mental pain not serious enough to be an injury, known as any kind of harm whether it be a sprain or tear, and so on. The old saying goes, "ninety percent of it is mental." Often times, athletes are scared when they are hurt to get back into the routine of practice. Eventually, it gets to them enough that they find a way to not come back to the team or even miss out on other important tasks in college. The bottom line is this, as a college athlete, you will have to learn very fast to toughen up and push forward to get better in some way. Use your resources (the training room, for instance). Get active rest. That's right. Just because you may be hurt and not be able to practice for a short time, don't quit on the team. Get your active rest and adapt to the team workout to the best of your ability with the coach's discretion.

10. Always analyze your positives before your negatives.

The job of the coaches should be to point out the positives of what their team or individuals do, then touch on what to improve on for even better results. As new college athletes, you need to learn how to coach yourself as well. Every day is a new day at practice, let alone competition day. To maintain your motivation and passion for your sport, you need to step back in your down time to realize what you did well each day. Then, touch on what you can work on while reflecting on your good points. It gives you at least one goal each day you can work on in practices. No one becomes a five-tool individual overnight. So, if you want to do so, focus on one weaker point at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and resentment of the sport that you loved in the first place.

11. Before you step away for "personal reasons," remember who you want to make proud.

Let's make it clear right now. At times, you will feel discouraged, frustrated, and in your own rut. Some athletes find ways to thrive in those moments and others stop trying. You need to find something that drives you to press onward. It may be remembering the important people in your life. Family and friends are usually those people. Sure, you want to do this for yourself, but don't you want to impress them too? Don't you want to earn and maintain the respect of those around you? Never forget where your bread is buttered. Never forget who else besides yourself, brought you to the dance, those who supported you through the years to get you here.

12. Find any encouragement that you can.

Using your resources has already been said before, but it is especially important here. A simple call to Mom or Dad, a talk with your significant other, planning your own intervention with a group of friends, reaching out to a counselor or campus minister, reaching out to your RA, and most importantly, reaching out to your coaches and teammates can do wonders. Words can mean so much. Being reminded of who you are, what you have done, and why you were seen as a piece of your team's future will be great for you to maintain your drive to participate whenever the times are rough.

13. Prepare to develop a deep, DEEP passion for your craft.

There's no question about it, your first week of college practices will be an awakening from what high school was. Remember this. There is a reason why you decided to pursue the next level in the first place. Deep down, you chose it because you love it. Being issued your own locker and team gear is a big initial part of the love and excitement, but it's only the beginning. Showing your team spirit on the outside is awesome, but not as much as having it throughout your well-being. The time and effort you will be putting in along with what the coaches will be investing in you will ultimately force you, in a sense, to truly love your sport once and for all. At the very least, you will be humbled enough to gain more of a respect for it because the realization will set in soon enough that college passes by way too fast. So, get through that first week. Get through any barriers that may be blocking you now. Prepare to define yourself in ways you never thought imaginable.

"Insert your name here" --STRONG!