Attending College as a Student Athlete

Making the Best Decisions as a Student Athlete

Leaving home and adjusting to campus life often poses a challenge. College students must learn to manage their time well and make healthy decisions. Items to consider include diet, exercise, sleep, and study time. The loss of structure and prior support networks can damage student mental and physical health. Playing on a team helps learners overcome these challenges by making new friends and forming a community.

Sports also provide a natural structure that grounds and disciplines student athletes. Student athletes benefit from college athletics departments that monitor athletes' academic performance and ensure targeted academic support as needed. Many schools offer scholarships to Division I athletes. So, attending college as a student athlete can save learners thousands of dollars. This page surveys college athletics, including eligibility rules, financing, rights, and insurance needs for college athletes.

Balancing School and College Sports

College athletes need advanced time management skills to balance a demanding training and travel schedule with classes, work, and social life. Learners often benefit from taking some time up front to analyze and prioritize their activities' importance. Athletes can free up time by identifying and eliminating less valuable activities.

Learning good study habits can help students reduce procrastination, stress, and last-minute cramming. Using apps and calendars can help athletes plan in advance by keeping track of deadlines and sports schedules.

• Varsity

  Talented varsity athletes often benefit from scholarships. Many colleges recruit varsity athletes, but students can also use personal recruitive services. Non-recruited athletes can engage in walk-on tryouts for college sports. Aspiring college athletes should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, play on club or Amateur Athletic Union teams, fill out recruiting questionnaires, and reach out to coaches.

• Club

  Students often run club sports, and the NCAA does not regulate these college athletics. Club sports teams play against other college club teams but do not require the time commitment that NCAA varsity collegiate sports do. Schools sometimes recruit club athletes, but most of these students join club sports through tryouts and do not receive scholarships.

• Intramural

  Less competitive than collegiate and club sports, college intramural sports prioritize participation and recreation. These organized sports and athletic activities invite staff, faculty, and students to play. Intramural athletes can participate without prior sports experience. Intramural sports may offer competitive and recreational divisions to fit athletes of differing levels.

• Extracurricular

  Some athletes participate in extracurricular sports activities in their community. Many geographical areas offer community club sports teams unaffiliated with educational institutions. These teams typically accept athletes based on available spots, although some teams may choose players based on talent or experience.

Benefits of Being a Student Athlete

Student athletic participation yields many benefits. Playing sports often helps students stay in shape, enjoy themselves, and join a tight-knit community. College athletics participation also cultivates valuable skills and discipline. It can also provide structure and increase graduation rates. Top athletes may receive sizable athletics scholarships, which help prevent student debt. Learn more about these benefits below.

Eligibility

Aspiring athletes need to register for eligibility through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Division I-eligible student athletes need a high school diploma and a minimum 2.3 GPA in 16 foundational high school courses. These course requirements include four years of English, three years of mathematics, and two years each of natural science and social science.

Division I athletes also need acceptable standardized test scores. Students' SAT or ACT scores need to match core-course GPAs on a sliding scale. The NCAA also insists that student athletes maintain amateur status. Amateurism means that student athletes do not accept pay, prize money, or gifts for athletic performance. Transfer students must undergo an amateurism review to compete at their new school.

Money

Some college athletes receive full scholarships, which can amount to six figures over four years. However, even "full" athletic scholarships sometimes leave students with substantial expenses. Full scholarships typically only cover education-related costs, such as tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Other potential indirect, out-of-pocket expenses may include insurance, transportation, and personal expenses.

According to Forbes, top NCAA Division I schools make over 8 billion dollars annually from collegiate athletics. Less than 7% of that money goes into athletics scholarships and stipends. Many athletes and organizations currently advocate for better compensation for college athletes.

Unionization

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) resists student athlete unionization because the NCAA refuses to recognize student athletes as university employees. However, special associations, such as the College Athete's Players Association (CAPA), currently advocate for student athletes' rights.

CAPA is petitioning the National Labor Relations Board and hoping to create a national player's association that would change NCAA rules that many athletes find unjust. CAPA seeks to protect student athletes from unfair medical expenses and lost or inadequate sports scholarships.

Injuries and Medical Insurance

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires all division-level student athletes to hold health insurance. Student athletes need a medical insurance policy that covers at least as much as the NCAA's Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program deductible. Students who play football, basketball, soccer, and gymnastics tend to incur particularly serious and frequent injuries. These students should invest in robust insurance plans.

Athletes can often choose between university health insurance plans, private student plans, employer-provided health insurance, and their parents' insurance plans. University plans often cost less than private plans. Athletes should know what their insurance covers for both on-the-field and off-the-field injuries.

State, City, and College Bills of Rights

Student athletes' rights often vary by state and city. The congressional Student Right-to-Know Act requires Title IV funding-eligible schools to disclose full-time students' graduation rates, including specific graduation rates for athletic scholarship recipients. State governments increasingly allow athletes to receive endorsements, sponsorships, or compensation for their image in marketing.

In December, 2020, Senator Cory A. Booker of the U.S. Congress proposed a federal College Athletes Bill of Rights that seeks further protection of student athletes' rights. If passed, the bill would protect athletes' rights to market themselves, receive compensation for relevant expenses, and access agent representation. It would also allow athletes to transfer schools, enter professional sports drafts, and fully participate in intercollegiate athletics competitions.

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