FAQs on Playing Sports in College

Grades matter in the recruitment process, even with the admissions boost that can come from being recruited. To maintain college athletics eligibility, you must meet the academic standards set by the NCAA and your institution. Good grades tell coaches that you can manage the demands of academic and athletic schedules. While you are more likely to get into your reach schools through recruitment, you need to meet at least the minimum standards of the school. Talk with the college coach at the schools you are interested in. Some schools can give athletes an early read, and coaches in general should be able to give a good idea of the likelihood you will get into the school. 

Send a follow-up email about 7-10 days after your initial email if you haven't received a response- reintroduce yourself, briefly reiterate your interest in their program, and mention any updates, such as new stats, tournament schedules, or recent highlights. Keep coaches you make contact with informed about your progress by sending periodic updates every few months, especially after major events or accomplishments. If the coach's program hosts camps or events, try to attend them. Afterward, send a thank-you email referencing specific moments during the event you felt you connected or impressed. Follow the team's social media accounts and engage (professionally) with their posts. Always thank the coach for their time and interest in you. A simple thank-you after a phone call or meeting can leave a positive impression. 

Be consistent, but avoid contacting coaches too frequently. Always tailor your follow-ups to the specific coach and program; you want to make sure the coach knows you are interested in their program. 

Building a relationship with a coach takes time and effort. Ask the coach in the beginning what their recruitment process is like, what they expect from you, and what you can expect from them. Keep your schools and programs organized on a spreadsheet to make sure you don't forget to check in with anyone, and as soon as you can, narrow down your programs so you can spend more time on your top choices. 

Yes, demanding majors like biology, chemistry, engineering, and pre-med often require significant study time, lab work, internships, or clinical hours, which can conflict with practices, games, and travel. 

It is even more important to find a program that fits for you when pursuing a rigorous academic schedule. Ask your coaches if they have any athletes in the major you want to declare and if you can talk with them about their experience. Ask your coach what academic support is available for your team. Talk with an academic advisor about if and how you can balance your major requirements with athletics. 

In general, in-season athletes tend to have a higher GPA than out-of-season athletes because they need to be meticulous and motivated about their athletic and academic schedules. While it may be harder, it is not impossible to pursue demanding majors as an athlete. 

Evaluate your skills and performance. How good are you at fundamental skills in your sport? How do your physical attributes, such as speed, strength, agility, and endurance, compare to other athletes in your sport? Are your performances consistent? Are you able to handle pressure and contribute to your team's success?

Compare yourself to current college athletes. Watch games at various levels to see how your skills match up with players on those teams. Look at the heights, weights, positions, and accolades of current players to understand what coaches look for at each level. Attend camps and showcases, evaluate how you fit in with the other athletes there, and ask coaches for their feedback. 

Get feedback from your high school coach, club or travel team coach, and your prospective college coaches. College coaches will be quick to tell you if you don't meet the athletic ability necessary to make their team, as much as they want to find athletes that fit for them, they want you to find a team that you will excel on. 

Remember that just because an athlete plays for a DI team, that does not mean they are better than all DII or DIII players. It means they were looking for a different atmosphere. Consider what type of sport experience you want to have. Your level of play isn't fixed- it can improve with hard work and focus and if you want to play college sports you will need a lot of that.  

Playing a college sport at any level will impact your schedule. Remember, once you sign up to play in college, you are allowed to change your mind if it isn't a good fit for you. 

In any program, you will have a pre-season period. For fall sports, this usually means coming to campus a couple of weeks early to dedicate a significant amount of time to training and bonding. If you are a winter sport athlete, you will likely have to balance pre-season with active classes. Spring sport athletes often either come early before the spring semester to train, or balance pre-season activities with courses as well. These pre-season schedules typically include two-a-day practices, lifting, team meetings, and bonding activities. Ask your coach what gear/equipment they provide, and what gear/equipment you need to bring to pre-season. 

In season, you will likely be active 6 days per week with 1 off-day, no matter the level of play you are at. Typically, team sports will have 2-3 games per week. Softball and baseball athletes have double the amount of games, doing double-headers 2-3 times per week. D3 athletes typically don't travel more than 1.5 hours to games, D2 athletes can travel far for games because the schools are so spread out, and D1 athletes typically will have a few games they need to fly to. This is something to ask your coach before committing. Think about how often you are willing to be off-campus. In season, you will also have lift, typically twice per week, team meetings, and team bondings. Ask your coach what they provide for food while traveling in season. 

Post-season, you typically get a few weeks of a break. Some schools will continue lifting through the immediate post-season, while some will give you a few weeks off. If you are a dual sport athlete, you are provided a 2-week period completely off with no penalties, if you want it. Some more rigorous programs will start captains practices and post-season activities immediately after the end of the season. This is something to ask your coach. 

During the off-season, teams will typically continue lifting together, and some teams do captains' practices. The length of your season and off-season depends on the sport, level, and program you are playing in. 

Fall sport athletes will have a spring season, and spring sport athletes will have a fall season, where you will have structured practices led by your coaches and lift. D1 program schedules are a bit more intense and often require more frequent practices, cardio, fitness, and lifting. Some D1 programs travel in their off-season to games. D3 programs typically will practice 2-3 times per week, with 3 lifts as well. 

 Be sure to ask your coaches what they require both in, and out of season.