The way that college sports works in the U.S. is not replicated around the world. Some of the best football and basketball players at that level are known across the globe and have as many fans as professional sports athletes in other countries. In many sports, playing at college level is regarded as a way into the professional game.
But even if a student is not playing at a level where fans will regularly check the college football betting tips to get an insight on the latest games, there can be no doubt that being involved with sports at a collegiate level can be hugely rewarding.
Not all student athletes make it to the pro leagues, of course. But that experience can benefit a student’s future in a variety of ways. Here are just some of the ways that college sports can change your life.
The Potential of a Career in Sports
Whether you are the star quarterback of your college football team or simply help the scorer at your school’s basketball games, you could be sowing the seeds for a career in the sports industry in the future. Every student athlete goes to college with the dream of playing professionally but there are so many more related opportunities.
By showing commitment, in whatever capacity you like, with a college sports program, you are laying the foundation for future employment. You will be able to learn skills and continually update your innate knowledge and love of your chosen sport in a way that might be very beneficial once your university education ends.
Obtaining a Degree
Student athletes have to be very realistic about their future goals and achievements. Unfortunately, one of those reality checks might be in the form of a sports career ending without the chance to earn a professional salary. But, by spending four years at a college, the degree or qualification you obtain could send you in the right direction.
For many student athletes, a sports scholarship opens doors to opportunities that would never have been possible otherwise. By taking this chance of further education seriously, students can really widen their horizons. Enjoy your time on the field, by all means, but use your classroom time wisely too.
Transferable Skills
Even if you never do earn that pro league contract, the skills and knowledge that you pick up as part of a college sports roster can set you up for a successful and fulfilling life. Even if you excel in a sport that requires you to play alone, rather than as part of a team, the teamwork skills that you will learn from those around you can be invaluable.
You may not be a captain or leader of your college sports team but leadership qualities can be observed and picked up to help you in later life. It is these kinds of transferable skills that can be absorbed almost without realizing it that really highlight the benefits of having the opportunity to be part of an athletic program while at university.
Discipline
This could have been included as part of the “transferable skills” section. But a good sense of discipline is so important in the wider world outside of college that we thought it deserved to be highlighted. Knowing when to control emotions and be disciplined in high-pressure situations will always be a strength.
For those on the sideline or in the stadium looking on, there might be a degree of anxiety watching a big game. But student athletes need to know how to compartmentalize and use the adrenaline and anxiety they are experiencing in a positive manner. Learning these kinds of skills can be very useful when it comes to entering the workplace after studies have ended.
Keeping Fit and Healthy
It may seem like an obvious benefit of playing college sports but the regime and routine of a student athlete perfectly sets them up for a life of being fit and healthy. If you have made it to the level of competing at a collegiate level in your chosen sport, a history of knowing how to take care of yourself is a given.
Even those students who are just part of the sports program – and maybe not necessarily an athlete – are shown how looking after your health is a positive move. Everything that is learned while at university can then be used in later life and ensure that a healthy and long life is enjoyed even long after a student athlete takes to the field of play.
Growing Your Friend Group
There is a popular misconception, perhaps perpetuated by countless TV shows and movies, that everyone involved with college sports is the same. The stereotypical “jock” has been a staple of pop culture for decades and it is a character that is not always portrayed in the most positive of lights.
But anyone actually involved in college sports will tell you that rosters, coaching departments, and even fan groups are nowhere near as homogenous as Hollywood makes out. Being part of a program provides the opportunity to meet a wide range of people and personalities – from all kinds of backgrounds. This is invaluable for dealing with life outside of college and can provide a student with a friend group they can rely on for the rest of their life.
Sports Can Be Just the Beginning
Hopefully, the main point that can be taken from this article is that being involved in college sports in any way is just the beginning. There are so many skills and talents that can be taken from an athletic program into the wider world that every student athlete has the chance to shine once they obtain their degree.
College sports should not be viewed within the prism of the FBS championship game, however exhilarating that is. Everything learned at college can be invaluable outside of college – and that includes sports.
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