National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
If you are ready to take your recruiting to the next level, click the Get Scouted button below to be evaluated by an NSR College Scout.
Get Scouted Scouting CareersCollege freshman athletes face the daunting task of preparing for the leap from high school to the next level. It is neither a simple nor easy jump.
Unquestionably there are high school prospects that have been pushed hard by their prep and club coaches. But in truth the rigors they survived then cannot measure up to the challenges of becoming a college freshman student-athlete. There are unexpected differences which frequently take the newcomers by complete surprise. Here we offer a list of four hurdles to expect.
Organization and Discipline
Gone are parents who have your back 24/7. Sure, they are still there for you, but they are not in the next room, for sure. That means it is up to you to get yourself up every day, show up for early morning pre-season practice, grab a bite for breakfast, go to class, eat lunch, practice again, have dinner, study hall, then get enough sleep to get up the next morning and do it all over again. To say the least, it is a grind. And it’s one most other freshmen couldn’t handle.
All this takes organization and discipline. There is no learning curve. You have to do it, day in and day out. Those free athletic dollars the school has put up to have you on the team? Well, as it turns out, they aren’t so free after all. You pay back the school every day. It’s your sole obligation and responsibility.
Early Morning Workouts
Pre-season workouts in the wee hours of the day are hard on the body and the mind. You have never experienced this kind of stress. Coaches love it. Athletes hate it. But it’s a time-honored tradition which signals to coaches which athletes are all in, which ones are willing to dig deep. Making a positive impression is extremely important. Arriving out of shape can pigeon-hole you as lazy, and that the last thing you want your coaches to think.
The NCAA allows only a certain number of out-of-season hours of practice each week. College coaches take advantage of each minute permitted. Days off are rare. It is an aspect of becoming a college student-athlete that is a right of passage you must overcome.
Academic Demands
Because the NCAA requires you to make steady progress toward earning a degree, there are few classes you can slide through. Needless to say, most classes are considerably harder than high school. Your coaches not only expect you to attend and be on time but to do well. Any absences or poor reports can bring uncomfortable punishments like extra study hall or bed checks.
Class sizes are usually larger than those in high school, so interacting with professors is more difficult. With your busy schedule, squeezing in an appointment to speak with a professor can be tough. However, do it right from the start, that is, don’t miss classes and do the work expected of you and those annoying meetings never happen. That said, most coaches have tutors at the ready for you to access. Don’t hesitate to tap into those available resources whenever you feel your grades might be in jeopardy of slipping. At one time or another, nearly all college freshman athletes do this.
Back to Square One
You are coming out of a situation where you were highly regarded. Honors may have come your way for several years, placing you in the position to build an impressive resume. None of that matters when you land on campus. It is back to square one. Remember what it felt like when you were promoted to the varsity in high school? Well, welcome back.
That is really hard for a lot of college freshman athletes. Being treated like a rookie again is not appealing. Many struggle mightily with it. But if you want to get where you want to go, know this – you have to earn it all over again, so grit your teeth and get to work.
There are no alternatives but to quit. To avoid that terrible outcome, put your head down, work hard, be on time, get along with your teammates, follow the leaders advice, and wait for your turn. It will come and you will be glad you did what you had to do.
Note: Author Alan Parham is a 14-year veteran high school scout for National Scouting Report. He currently serves as the company’s NCAA Compliance Officer.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.