College is a new and exciting time for your child. There are new people, more challenging classes, and a brand-new sense of independence that they will have to adjust to. If your child is looking to pursue athletics in college, they will also have a team of fellow athletes, coaches, and a demanding schedule to have to adjust to as well.
College athletics can be a rewarding experience for many young athletes who love their sport and thrive on competition. Moreover, it can be a great way to help alleviate the cost of sending your child to college if they are in a position to be able to earn a scholarship for playing their sport.
In order to help your child adjust to the challenges of participating in college athletics, here are a few tips to consider.
Get in Touch with the Right Schools
Not all schools are created equal. Similarly, not all university athletic programs are going to be the same, either. Some programs, particularly those in major conferences, might be more demanding than those on a smaller scale. It is important that your child is comfortable with the environment in which they are going to be playing their sport if they are going to be successful.
Take the time to research schools and get to know coaches. Make sure that the athletic program you go for is one that also places the proper emphasis on academics for its student-athletes. Ultimately, you want your child to be able to thrive in college, so you want to ensure that the coaches and athletic staff they will be working with have a positive and uplifting philosophy when it comes to their approach to sports and school. You can get in touch with more schools in order to find the right fit by utilizing resources like asmscholarships.com.
Help Them Understand the Responsibility
When a student-athlete joins a collegiate athletic program, they assume a particular responsibility that other students who aren’t involved in athletics do not. Even if your child feels prepared for such responsibility, they will have to face the fact that many of their friends at school will have the freedom to live different lifestyles.
As a student-athlete, you owe it to your coaches and teammates to act responsibly. Stepping out of line and getting into trouble can result in being sidelined from competition either by the university or the NCAA. Moreover, student-athletes must uphold a certain GPA in order to compete. If your child is on an athletic scholarship, the stakes might be even higher. Make sure that your child knows what they are getting into and that they must hold themselves to a higher standard.
Teach Them Time Management
One of the biggest struggles that new student-athletes face is that of tie management. With balancing classes, homework, social life, and athletics, things can become overwhelming quickly. While schools have advisors in place to help athletes navigate this area, it is important that you teach your child time management skills before entering the world of college athletics.
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