Committing to play at the college level is a big decision for student-athletes—it goes way beyond just loving the sport. Here’s a breakdown of what that commitment really means:

* Time Commitment

Practice often requires 20+ hours per week during the season, plus workouts, meetings, and film sessions. Travel to games and tournaments may take up entire weekends or require time away from classes. And “off season” does not mean you are off! You still have conditioning, training, and sometimes unofficial practices.

*Academic Responsibility

Student-athletes must meet academic standards to stay eligible (GPA, credits, progress toward degree). Balancing training, games, recovery, and coursework is intense—strong time management is essential. And don’t forget, travel can lead to missed classes, so staying organized and communicating with professors is key.

*Mental & Emotional Demands

The pressure to perform is real! Athletes often feel pressure from coaches, teammates, family, and even themselves. You have less downtime, which means limited time for socializing, relaxing, or participating in other campus activities. Resilience is key. Injuries, performance slumps, coaching changes, and all of the above can all take a toll.

* Physical Expectations

High-level fitness: College sports demand elite conditioning, recovery, and injury prevention. There is a higher level of fitness that is expected from you. Because college sports is a year-round commitment, nutrition, sleep, and wellness become even more important to avoid burnout and injury.

*Financial Factors

Scholarships vary! Not all athletes receive full scholarships, some may be partial or none at all, depending on the sport and division. Even with scholarships, costs can add up. There may be costs for gear, travel, or personal expenses, so keep that in mind when determining where you want to go.

* Lifestyle Impact

You don’t have the flexibility that you might be used too! Choices about major, internships, or studying abroad may be influenced by athletic schedules. Your days are very structured. Daily life is often scheduled down to the hour—meals, classes, practice, treatment, study hall. Athletes must balance being a student, an athlete, and a young adult finding their way.

*Rewards of the Journey

Team bonds, strong friendships and shared goals create lasting relationships.

Personal growth, discipline, time management, leadership, and resilience are life skills gained through the experience. College sports can open doors to future careers, networks, and in some cases, pro sports.

Keep these in mind when working towards a scholarship to play at the college level. The commitment is a lot of sacrifice, hard work, and yes, giving up a lot! Is it worth it? I have two college athletes who would say yes!

Resource

https://www.ncsasports.org/recruiting/how-to-get-recruited/good-enough-to-play