07.04.2021 - So you want to join the college team? Even when playing for fun, sports in college are exciting. In fact, it is considered one of the ways to improve your academic, social, and personal life. However, college sport is not open for all. You have to beat a lot of odds to be enlisted into any of your college sporting teams.
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The challenge with joining a college sporting team is mainly the competition for the few slots available. Colleges attract students from different high schools, resulting in intense competition. The fortunes that come with college sport combined with the opportunity to break into professional leagues also mean that only the best students have a chance.
Still, it is possible to play sports in college if you heed to the following tips.
1. Practice Intensely
College sports require the most disciplined and passionate player. Develop a practice schedule to help you maintain your competitiveness. You must be the best in the squad. Enhance your strengths while you also work on your weaknesses.
Intense training should also involve progress tracking. Determine your current level of performance and the desired rate for the college team players. Through practice, you increase your chances of getting a slot in the ever competitive college team. Always challenge yourself to improve and your chances will keep increasing.
2. Compete
You do not wake up one day and you are in the main team. The reality is that you must first capture the attention of the coach, beat a few opponents, and earn a place in the team. As such, you must attend audition and recruitment sessions.
Recruitment camps form part of the vetting process. Other avenues for joining the college sport team include playing in lower leagues and persistently beating your opponents on the field. In the end, it is the player who competes and wins that gets the chance to play in the college team.
3. Remain Consistent
Consistency shines light on your talent and efforts. As you will realize, coaches do not select college team players based on performance during one game. Unknown to you, scouts and coaches will be watching you for a while before any call-up. You must maintain excellent performance for a while to be signed into the team.
Consistency is maintained through regular practice and monitoring. Spot the areas that require improvement. Work towards them every day and you will soon join the college team.
4. Watch Your Grades
The core mandate of a student is to perform well in school. In fact, the qualification for joining a college team is good academic performance. It is your grades that will earn you a place in college, and consequently in the sporting team. The secret is to spare time for academic work regardless of the demands on the pitch.
5. Be Unique
What unique talent are you bringing to the team? Can you outrun everyone else or deliver the strongest punch? College teams are always looking for unique talents. If you have one, then, the chances of earning a slot are high.
6. Adjust Your Strategy
There is no guarantee that you will get a slot in the team because you are passionate or are talented. As such, you must understand the recruitment process and work your way around. If one strategy does not work, find a creative way to capture the attention of scouts and coaches. Such adjustments increase the chances of being called into the college team.
Joining the college sporting teams is never by luck. It requires hard work, consistency, and strategy. At the end of the day, it is your effort in balancing academic work and sports that will earn you a chance and open the doors for a professional career.
