College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

ByJacob Rimmer

3 min read

College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College is an exciting transition to go through for any student, athlete or not. And there is no more thrilling time than the first few weeks of your freshmen year.

There is even more excitement as an athlete coming to college because they are going to be apart of a college team which is what most highschool athletes dream of. This dream can be quickly met with the reality of college football. There are many long days and nights with early wake-ups that come with being a collegiate athlete that can become tiring.


Fall Camp

If you are familiar with college football, you have heard about fall camp. This is the period right before the season where the whole football team practices and prepares for the upcoming season. This is the worst part of the year for most players because the amount of hours that are put in each day. Fall camp usually lasts about a month and you spend everyday at the football facility. You can expect to wake up very early, have a few hours of film, a few hours of workouts, and a practice. The time during these activities are filled with mandatory meals, meetings with medical staff, and sleep. Since you are so busy throughout the day, most players sleep in the locker room because you want to spend every second that you aren't doing something sleeping.

There are 2 reasons why fall camp is dreaded by many players. The physical exhaustion that you will go through is like no other. You workout and practice almost everyday for a month straight. The mental aspect of fall camp to me is the worse of the 2. You spend almost all of your time in the fooball facility for about a month with no contact with other people from outside of the team. This paired with physical exhaustion is what makes it so dreaded. I am not trying to scare anyone, I am just trying to prepare you.


Hero to Zero

If you are a collegiate football player, you are good at football. You may be used to being one of the best players on your highschool team. This will change once you get on campus because everyone was the best on their team or else they wouldn't be on your college team. This is hard for some athletes to overcome because they aren't used to that kind of adversity. This is completely normal, you just have to stick to what got you there and continue to work hard.


Time Management

Time management is one of the hardest obstacles to overcome as a freshman. There is a huge transition from a simple highschool schedule to a complicated college schedule. As an athlete, you are have to plan for your school obligations but also have to plan for your football obligations as well. This can become complicated if you do not have the structure behind your schedule. You have to look at your days in advance and plan to do certain things at certain times. It is easy to become overwhelmed with a schedule like that, but as long as you write things down and plan for your obligations, then you will be fine.


Network

As a freshman, it is very important to meet people that are outside of the team. It is a good thing to have great friends inside of the team, but also a good thing to find friends that aren't apart of the team. At the end of the day, you are a college student and you should take the advantages that come with it. Network with people early on and establish friendships with them and your college experience will be much better. You never know who is going to do what in the future.


College is a fun time and should be enjoyed by anyone who is able to make it there. You will meet some of your best friends at college, but don't let this get in the way of why you're there. You are there to play football and to get an education. You will need to make sacrafices along the way, but if you manage yourself correctly and stick to what's important, you will be successful.

Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
College Eligibility Requirements

College Eligibility Requirements

Academic eligibility is the most important aspect of the college recruiting process. If you are not...

ByMathias Torp | Fri Nov 03 2023
Can Canadians play college sports in America? NCAA Eligibility guide for international athletes

Can Canadians play college sports in America? NCAA Eligibility guide for international athletes

Are you a high school volleyball player dreaming of playing college volleyball in the United...

ByOVA Team Ontario | Wed Apr 12 2023
College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

While the games from November through February certainly count in the standings, the tilts that...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Mar 15 2023
Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

For college basketball fans around the country, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Mar 07 2023
What new sports could be coming to your high school in the future?

What new sports could be coming to your high school in the future?

Sports is a vital part of high schools throughout the country. They help students interact with...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Mar 06 2023
When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt Jr's injury during an amateur football game resulted in...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Mar 02 2023
How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

It's time to start applying for schools and begin your recruiting process. You have been working...

ByJohnathan Wright | Tue Feb 21 2023
Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

It’s what you have dreamed of, worked for, and waited on your whole life - a coveted college...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Feb 13 2023
Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Injuries are a major part of athletics, and a high percentage of student-athletes competing in NCAA...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Feb 07 2023
Name, Image, Likeness: Do high school athletes have NIL rights in your state?

Name, Image, Likeness: Do high school athletes have NIL rights in your state?

We are well over a year into a new era of college sports. Back in the summer of 2021, the Supreme...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Jan 26 2023
New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

In just under a month, the XFL will be taking yet another crack at creating a competing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Jan 20 2023
Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

What is the thing that has driven the $90 billion Sports industry? Talent Without talent, Sports...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Jan 19 2023
How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a great platform that is beneficial to student-athletes. It allows...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Dec 02 2022
College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

Playing volleyball at the collegiate level is almost every single player's dream as a young...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Nov 24 2022
Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

They’re one of the most crucial aspects to a college sports viewing experience. The players?...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Nov 21 2022
Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

It may come as no surprise to hear parents want what is best for their children. If parents have...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 15 2022
How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

It is no secret that it is often a young football athlete's dream to play their favorite sport at...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Nov 14 2022
Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Being a Division II collegiate athlete was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Having...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 08 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

The first step in getting recruited by a college volleyball team is to take advantage of the...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Oct 23 2022
Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

On the 15th of October, 2018 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) introduced a...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 19 2022
Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

There’s an interesting dichotomy between sports and gambling. They’re natural partners, and...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 18 2022
Three NFL Players Drafted From Division-II College Football Teams

Three NFL Players Drafted From Division-II College Football Teams

Every year the NFL draft is filled with a lot of hype and news coverage around a small class of...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 16 2022
Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Plenty of high school athletes think they have what it takes to play sports in college. However,...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Oct 13 2022
How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

It is no secret that college is expensive, and as time goes on, the price continues to increase....

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Oct 11 2022
Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Some of college football’s most daunting homefield advantages come to mind pretty quickly. The Big...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 11 2022
How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

Generally speaking playing at a mid-major Division I school means not having to worry about seeing...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 09 2022
Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

By now we are all familiar with the Alston case that shifted the dynamics of college sports, as...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Playing college football is a dream for many high schoolers but the recruiting process can be...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

In order to be successful in track, athletes should devote a considerable amount of time to lifting...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 05 2022
College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

Picking the right college can be a tough task for any high school senior, but it can be a unique...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Fri Sep 23 2022
What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

Any athlete with a love for competition hates sitting on the sideline, but once he or she gets to...

ByCorey Roepken | Mon Sep 19 2022
What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

The shift from high school to college is a big one. Throw playing a collegiate sport in and it can...

ByLily Ford | Sun Sep 18 2022
College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

With the ever-changing NCAA and college athletics scene, transfer athletes have become more and...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Sep 15 2022
The Positives of Playing Club Volleyball For College Recruits

The Positives of Playing Club Volleyball For College Recruits

Do you aspire to step into your next level as a collegiate volleyball player? Are you unsure if...

ByGrace White | Thu Sep 08 2022
2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

It's not the flashiest conference, nor is it the most talented, but Big Ten football offers...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Sep 05 2022
College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College is an exciting transition to go through for any student, athlete or not. And there is no...

ByJacob Rimmer | Thu Sep 01 2022
Five Benefits Of Playing Sports At A Division-III College

Five Benefits Of Playing Sports At A Division-III College

With limited exposure to most casual sports fans and stadiums that are smaller than some Texas high...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Aug 25 2022
'Am I Good Enough To Play College Sports?': Here's A Few Ways To Find Out

'Am I Good Enough To Play College Sports?': Here's A Few Ways To Find Out

Do you ever struggle with feeling good enough to play a collegiate sport? Sitting there just...

ByGrace White | Thu Aug 25 2022
How To Participate In USA Team Handball’s Collegiate Athlete Network

How To Participate In USA Team Handball’s Collegiate Athlete Network

The handballers that represent the United States in international competition come from a variety...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Aug 24 2022
A Few Reasons Why Americans Are So Obsessed With College Sports

A Few Reasons Why Americans Are So Obsessed With College Sports

Of all the interesting traditions Americans have, few are more difficult for a foreign audience to...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Aug 23 2022
Recruiting: How Division-III Recruitment Differs From Division-I

Recruiting: How Division-III Recruitment Differs From Division-I

College sports range across a wide spectrum, from Baseball and Basketball, all the way to Bass...

ByAria Modirmassihai | Tue Aug 23 2022
College Football: Four Of The Best College Towns In Division-I

College Football: Four Of The Best College Towns In Division-I

What makes a college sports town great? It certainly helps to eat, live and breathe the experience...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Aug 22 2022
Can Group NIL Deals Help Create Earning Potential Balance?

Can Group NIL Deals Help Create Earning Potential Balance?

The landmark decision to allow student athletes in college to profit off of their name, image and...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Aug 22 2022
With Oklahoma and Texas to SEC, what happens to the Big 12?

With Oklahoma and Texas to SEC, what happens to the Big 12?

Conference realignments are a part of college sports. As different schools gain and lose...

ByAria Modirmassihai | Sat Aug 20 2022
Step-By-Step Guide to the College Sports Recruiting Process

Step-By-Step Guide to the College Sports Recruiting Process

Young athletes all over the world dream of playing their sport at the college level....

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Aug 18 2022
NCAA Eligibility Center: Five Things Every High School Athlete Should Know

NCAA Eligibility Center: Five Things Every High School Athlete Should Know

First things first, here's a couple vocabulary lessons The NCAA Clearinghouse is a not-for-profit...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Aug 18 2022
How College Athletics Work At A Liberal Arts School

How College Athletics Work At A Liberal Arts School

Athletes have unique abilities that go well beyond the classroom and their respective playing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Aug 16 2022
Division-II Sports: How do D2 athletics compare to NCAA Division-I?

Division-II Sports: How do D2 athletics compare to NCAA Division-I?

NCAA Division-II sports are at the intermediate level of competition in the National Collegiate...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Aug 11 2022