What’s the next step for student athletes entering their freshman year of college?
I believe the answer to that question is, to work harder than you’ve ever did in your entire life because the competition level is greater than it’s ever been. There always will be consistent adjustments to new student athletes entering college. I would think being away from home for the first time and for a long extended period of time will be a huge adjustment.
Other adjustments for brand new college freshmen are the athletic and academic expectations. The bottom line is you’re there to get a college education and to help that college program win games no matter what.
At the high school level it doesn’t really matter as much if your team won a lot of games, won a few games or that your team was just average. The high school athlete would still be on the team, would still be a student at that high school and would still go home to their parents every night.
Once in college, student athletes should still study every single day to make a long-lasting impression; student athletes should be the first to class, be the last one to leave class and should always sit in the front row. Student athletes should always consult with their college instructors for help on any assignments or projects. I’m sure many college athletic programs have study halls and various programs where freshman student athletes can receive extra attention towards their education.
For some strange reason, parents and high school athletes have this impression that once they’re in college they don’t have to do any work and everything is done for them when it comes to the academic side. Also for some reasons, parents and student athletes are misled into believing that all they have to do is show up for class and they’ll be given good grades even though they’ve done no class work. Of course all of that is not true and it is a ridiculous misconception. Believe me when I tell you, if you do not do well academically they will get rid of you in a heart beat and replace you with another more deserving student athlete.
On the athletic side of things, practices are longer, the workout sessions are long and the attention to athletic detail is extremely structured. Many college programs practice 20 hours per week which is within the guidelines of the NCAA, but some programs may extend those practice hours by calling it an unofficial workout or practice session. It can be an extremely exhausting period of time for new college freshman having to adjust to the disciplines of college athletic life.
I think the role of the parents, in this situation, should be supportive and encouraging with weekly phone calls and visits during the season. Help keep the student athlete focused on their objective to be a superior student athlete.
College athletics is a once in a lifetime experience and student athletes should give it everything they’ve got because the memories will last forever.
If you like this blog post, then please sign up for my weekly newsletter. It’s free! We also offer college recruiting tips and information along with reviews on sports athletic products and gear.
Are Black College Student Athletes Being Neglected Academically In Favor Of Sports? Some scholars believe that college sports programs in the United States are intentionally encouraging Black student athletes to focus on sports while encouraging them to neglect their studies.
But no college could afford the trade-offs such an arrangement would require… ….The call for college athletes to be paid is an inevitable sign of spring as certain an indication as orange-breasted robins and commercials for The Masters..Former Michigan superstar and current ESPN analyst in between insulting athletes at Duke and getting charged with DUI advocated in that each ..Rose says college athletes are indentured servants and this stipend would help them avoid the temptation of unscrupulous boosters and other pitfalls. Most college students are familiar with the concept of an unpaid internship indeed many are hoping to land one and it seems insulting and wrong-headed to suggest a free education is not worth anything..Some will argue that schools are not actually interested in educating their athletes.
Being a former college student athlete it would’ve been nice to receive something other than the $5.00 we got for meal money for road games. Some of these college programs bring in millions of dollars and it’s only because of the student athletes. We’re not gonna buy a ticket to watch some kid take a history exam are we?