4 Tips for Getting Into a College Varsity Team

College opens you up to a wide world of opportunities, many of which could help support your career or discover your true passion in life. The sports-minded get to grab a chance to prove their skills as well as their potential to become successful athletes once they enter the real world. It’s only a matter of joining the right group and showing your potential for athletic greatness which starts with joining a varsity team.

Other than the prestige it gives, being a college varsity athlete provides you with everything you need to make college life all the more fruitful. Scholarships for university athletes often offer substantial savings from tuition as well as allowances for rent, transportation, books, and food. Considering these benefits, you will be facing considerable competition in getting into a varsity sports team. Fortunately, the tips below should help you attain some measure of success in your journey.

1. Know your skill level and set goals

If you’re enrolled in a university that’s known for winning championships left and right, expect that the selection standards are higher than anywhere else. These are institutions that pick only the best of the best in every sport they enter, so it’s important to know whether your current skill level exceeds (or at least matches) the proficiencies of their most valuable players.

Do a self-assessment of your performance in the sport you pick. From there, determine what you still lack through match fitness and learn about the average performance statistics of current athletes. You can then use that to set specific goals that you will need to meet to match the varsity team’s expectations.

2. Come up with a training plan

After learning about your current skill level and the goals you need to reach to qualify as a team member, take as much time as you need to build your endurance and improve your performance. If you’ve been part of your high school’s varsity team before, don’t be confident with the records you set there. Aim to exceed your performance since you will be competing with other skilled athletes coming from different high schools.

If you’re planning to sign up for your university’s rowing team, develop a training plan that surpasses your 2k ERG time. The same goes for when you sign up for the college basketball team. You can prepare yourself by adding advanced drills and skill-focused activities to your training.

3. Find a mentor or trainer

Throughout your preparation, you need someone who can help you measure your performance and provide valuable advice. A mentor doesn’t have to be your former high school coach. It can be a friend you’ve recently made on campus who also has plans to enter the varsity team. Opt to train together and provide each other with guidance.

You can also find a mentor in a senior athlete who’s willing to help you build your skills and offer tips on how you can stand out during tryouts. It also helps if you can attend workshops and clubs where you can form a network of freshmen athletes willing to help each other out.

4. Stay academically eligible

Entering a college varsity team is not always a matter of having the best skills and experience. More than that, you need to maintain a decent academic record to qualify. After all, you’re still in college. You’re expected to do well in attaining your degree, so it’s important to check the grade you will need to reach as part of the qualifying requirements.

If you struggle with balancing your training with your studies, get a support group to help you manage. Stay organized with the way you utilize your time, making sure you spare some for training.

Endnote

Getting into a college varsity team prepares you for better opportunities that only athletes get to enjoy. Reach that end goal by applying the tips above.