Dedication in College

Many athletes have hopes of playing a sport in college. This is a dream tons of athletes around the world share. Some have higher aspirations of going professional and earning a living off their talent and hard work. While going to college for sports is great, you must know the dedication it takes. There are many things you need to take into consideration before you jump right into the whole college athlete thing.

High school sports are very different than college sports. The coaches in college take sports much more seriously, most of the time. These coaches are payed the big bucks to train you for your years in college. Playing a sport in college is a year-long dedication. As long as you are a part of the team, you will always have some responsibilities. this includes working out in the off season, going to open gyms, and practicing daily for long periods of time when in-season. The responsibilities of playing in college are much higher and something athletes need to take very seriously, especially if you have a scholarship. 

Knowing I am a high school athlete shows that I have not learned and experienced these things for myself. I imagine the amount of commitment to your sport depends on the school you go to and the division your sport is in. Division 1 sports seem to be the biggest commitment, while maybe a division 3 school is still very committed, but a lot less stressful. When it comes to choosing a college to go to there are a lot of things to take into consideration. The NCAA website shows sample questions to ask yourself when debating colleges. Not only is stress, commitment, and responsibility of playing a sport important, but going to a school that suits your hopes for your future.

Playing sports in college takes a lot of dedication, no matter the school, if you hope to be successful. The amount of effort you put in will ultimately determine how far you go in the sport. Each school has different levels of commitment to their sport. When choosing a college it is extremely important to think about your life later on. Don't choose a school simply for athletics. Make sure it fits the subject you want to go into and make smart decisions. College is supposed to be the first step towards adulthood, so don't screw it up.