Oh yeah … and I got these other gems, too!
Being a collegiate athlete is one of the most rewarding experiences one can have in a lifetime. There is more to being a collegiate athlete than the free t-shirt, travel, & workout facilities. We walk away with skill sets that will last in every facet of our lives. For that, we will be forever grateful we said “yes” to one of the greatest adventures in our lives.
Team Work
- At practice and on game days
- As a team you are ALL working toward the same goal; play your part!
- Communication is key when playing on a team (focus, awareness, encouragement, feedback)
- Effective teammates provide backup and support (blocking, getting open, recovering turn overs, marking each other’s players, etc.)
- Off the field
- Players attend study groups and make Starbucks runs
- Teammates double as bus buddies and ROOMIES while traveling and make passing the time more enjoyable!
- Older athletes give advice when younger athletes are registering for classes (i.e. finding the “right” teachers)
- We also keep each other out of trouble … to the best of our abilities
*Real World Application: Job recruiters are desperate to find applicants that meet job requirements and sometimes more importantly people that can work in a group setting. Having the ability to be a productive team player is a valuable skill to have at work and at home with your significant other.
Work Ethic
- In order to compete on the field and do well in school, collegiate athletes must have a strong work ethic.
- Your determination is stretched and developed every year that you participate in your sport. There are higher expectations put on you, younger classmen are challenging you for playing time, and your course work becomes more demanding.
*Real World Application: I believe athletes are constantly hungry to better themselves and their team. This passionate work ethic spills over into their professional and personal lives in positive ways. Communicate the goal or objective, and athletes will find a way to get the job done!
Constructive Criticism
- Collegiate athletes learn to be coachable and improve their performance by accepting constructive criticism appropriately (practice, games, team meetings, end of season meetings, etc.)
- Players learn how to give and receive constructive criticism from each other. This is a very important skill to have when going into the workforce.
- There is also not-so-constructive, yet memorable criticism that just sorta comes out in the heat of the moment (i.e. Put your purse away! You big fairy! Nothing good happens when balls drop!)
*Real World Application: I don’t believe that athletes LOVE to hear criticism. However, I think great athletes do well at taking constructive criticism and applying it to improve their performance. Whether it’s helping out with chores around the house or being better about managing their job responsibilities, give an athlete feedback in a positive way and they will rise to the occasion.
Self-Discipline
- Players must get themselves to the right place, at right time, and wear the right attire.
- Athletes are responsible for managing their equipment as well as helping with the team’s (For the love of sprints, DON’T forget the ball bag!)
- It takes self-discipline to stay in shape during the off season and over Summer break.
- You also have to make the “right” choices at social gatherings and the night before a game.
- As a student-athlete, it is important to stay on top of your course work and grades.
- Great athletes show self-discipline and composure within the unique demands of their sport. For example, a football player must be disciplined by tackling properly and a soccer player must show discipline by marking their player on set pieces.
*Real World Application: Being self-disciplined helps in accomplishing tasks at work and at home. It has helped moved me from one stepping stone to another when pursuing my personal and professional goals.
Adaptability
- There are several situations that develop an athlete’s ability to be adaptable. Winners win by adapting to their circumstances.
- Playing at home; playing away
- The toll traveling takes on one’s mind, body, and soul
- Weather (hot, cold, raining, lightning delays, etc.)
- Injuries (yours or a teammate’s)
- Different position or different plan of attack depending on the opponent
- Starting vs. coming off the bench
- Changes in coaching staff
*Real World Application: Parenthood challenges your adaptability. Diaper explosions, meltdowns in the grocery store, and lost toys challenge you to problem solve on the fly! Likewise, tasks in a work environment aren’t always accomplished as originally planned. Employers value team members that can quickly and effectively adapt to any given situation.
Time management skills
- If you are early, then you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. And if you’re late, you’re in trouble (we’ll keep it PG … you get the point).
- Just know that the bus WILL leave without you, and sometimes you have to run from the security checkpoint to your gate barefoot in order to make your flight.
- Student-athletes must manage their course work and study time. Due to practice and game schedule, students must communicate with professors regarding assignment due dates and making up tests.
*Real World Application: Being punctual is crucial in any job setting. It is also useful in the home when hosting parties, cooking a non-frozen dinner, or establishing a bedtime routine for your children so that you can stay up late enough to watch trashy reality TV shows.
Physical Health
- Your fitness is measured and tracked during the pre-season, season, offseason, and year-to-year.
- You set and pursue challenging fitness goals to improve your performance on the field.
- For most college athletes, it’s the most “in shape” they’ll ever be in their whole lives.
*Real World Application: At an age where you wake up with an injury from sleeping in an odd position, sneeze too hard, or bend down to tie your shoe, I’m realizing just how important it is to stay physically active on a regular basis. You must take care of your body, so that it will take care of you!
Travel skills
- You get really good at navigating airports, finding hotel rooms, and knowing which gas stations have the best snacks and cleanest restrooms.
- There are perks and entertainment found in telling flight attendants and restaurant hosts that it’s a player or coach’s birthday.
- By the end of the season, collegiate athletes have packing down to a science.
- Game day essentials (warm-up gear, jerseys, equipment, etc.)
- Toiletries and plenty of underwear
- School work and electronics
- Good snacks and gum
- 1 pair of jeans and two t-shirts
- They learn travel etiquette.
- Be punctual
- Choose movies that aren’t awkward to watch with your coaching staff
- Pick up after yourself, or we’ll all have to run
- No #2 on the bus
- Side note: Although traveling for a sport can be draining, it is a wonderful opportunity to visit different parts of our beautiful country.
*Real World Application: Several jobs require their employees to travel regularly. These skills have helped me as stay organized when packing for family trips or when shipping the kiddos off to stay with grandparents.
Speed showering
- Reasons college athletes are great at taking fast showers:
- Getting out of practice late and trying to get to the cafeteria before it closes
- Running late to catch a flight back to campus
- Racing, no, hobbling to the ice baths
- Possibly not enough hot water for everyone
- Jumping in front of an upper-classman and hoping they don’t notice
*Real World Application: This talent comes in handy when you oversleep or hit snooze too many times. It is also helpful when you have children. I often find myself trying to squeeze in a quick shower while the baby is napping or rushing to shower before we run out of hot water!
Building Friendships
- Athletes naturally make friends with their teammates! But they also make friends with:
- Athletes that play other sports
- The training staff
- Our fans (the dedicated hecklers)
- Students that play intermural sports
- Cafeteria staff (especially before other students arrive for start of the semester)
*Real World Application: When you start a new job, move to a new city, or find yourself in a new phase of life you end up going through the process of making new friends. Establishing and building helps make these situations more enjoyable!
Memories
- For example, telling flight attendants and restaurant hosts that is was a player or coach’s birthday.
- Winning games as a united team.
- Pushing yourself and others past limitations that have been placed on you.
- Scoring buzzer beaters, helicoptering a defender, shutting down a stud attacker (the list goes on)
- The memories that collegiate athletes have are priceless and something that they will treasure forever. I look forward to sharing these stories with my children and grandchildren someday.
*Real World Application: You only get one life to live. As you look back on your life, I hope you’re able to reflect on your greatest accomplishments. I believe that being a collegiate athlete will be one of many!
If you’re a person who hires people, it’s clear that you want collegiate athletes on your team. They are naturally competitive, driven, & relentless. You want these guys on your side, not with a competitor.
Check out our Listener’s Choice episode & show notes on How to Survive Fall Camp to hear more about what collegiate athletes do! You can also listen to episode 9 here.
Be sure to grab your copy of our: How to Survive Fall Camp Checklist here!
