There are some components of college sports that you
never really know about until you’re there playing. Some are great, while
others aren’t what you would call a pleasant surprise. But I’ll be the first to
tell you that the good outweigh the bad when it comes to these extras, I
promise! I’ll start with the one major “unpleasant surprise” that comes playing
a college sport.
Spring season/Fall ball: These will most likely become
your two least favorite set of words for a span of two to three months,
whenever your sport has its off season. “Spring season” or “fall ball” is a shortened
period of time, when coaches are allowed to hold practice only for a specified
amount of days. Depending on your college and division level, there may be a
tournament or two to finish off a spring season, but otherwise it’s all
practice. For most college athletes this can bring only a few words to mind:
running, conditioning, and fitness. It depends on your coaches and what route
they chose to take, but oftentimes this is their chance to work on your fitness
and basic development. Not exactly the most appealing parts of a sport, but they
tend to come with the territory of college sports! No one ever said it would be
easy! On the positive side, it gives you a chance to catch up with your
teammates, stay physically fit, and continue to play a sport that you love!
Now, as promised, here are some positive extras that you
may not have known come along with playing a college sport.
Traveling: You get to travel! Sometimes this may only
mean going to another college two hours away that is surrounded only by fields,
farms, and a pungent smell. However, other times you may get to travel to some
really exciting places. Again this will all be dependent on your team and the
league that you play in. Fun trips aren’t just restricted to division one teams
either. I’ve had the opportunity at the division three level to take on NYC
with my team each year, as we play a team located just outside the city. Most
college teams also take fun trips to play games during pre-season or for season
openers on the road. You also get to bond with your teammates more when these
trips require long bus rides and overnight stays in hotels together! This can prove
to be really helpful to a freshman who is new to the team.
Meals: If those trips to fun, exciting places are
starting to sound like large dollar signs to you, no need to worry! Coaches
have a budget given to them by the athletic department each year. Therefore
your meals on these trips are all paid for. Your coach will begin to feel like
mom or dad bringing you out to lunch or dinner before and after your games.
Pretty cool!
Gear: This one can vary depending on the division level
that you play at. Division one and two teams tend to get a lot of free gear,
such as sneakers and sweatshirts, because the NCAA allows it. Unfortunately there
are rules in place that don’t allow division three teams the same luxury.
However, no matter what division, your team will still be likely to order some
really cool athletic gear each year sporting your team’s logo. It’s nice to be
able to proudly wear your team gear around campus!
These unexpected, added bonuses that come along with
college sports are often not largely covered during recruitment trips. So next
time you’re visiting a college campus to speak with sports coaches, ask them
about these extras. It may give you a better idea of some other things that you
may be doing while playing for the team, and it could definitely help in your
decision-making process!
- Krista Pilla
Next Step U
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