Many high school athletes dream of getting the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, but do others truly understand the dedication it takes to even be considered? Many assume they know what a potential collegiate athlete goes through, but do they really? High school athletes have set expectations mentally and physically. These attributes affect many high school athletes today, for better and for worse.
High school athletics is no joke here in the United States. Although sports seem good and fun, an athlete’s mental health could be at risk. According to the National Library of Medicine, nearly 91% of student-athletes experience some level of stress due to playing a sport. 64% of high school athletes feel stressed due to their fear of failure and 66.5% concluded that self-pressure was causing stress.
This information may look very unappealing, but there is also good stress. Good stress is short-term and focuses on your energy and performance. For example, when a basketball player has a chance to win the game with one shot, they are going to feel stress, but in the best way. Being in the right mental state is truly important for a high school athlete wanting to play in college.
Leta Ricart takes notes from her basketball coach. (2020)
Leta Ricart, former high school and collegiate basketball player, said “ I found the dynamic between high school and college sports are drastically different.”
“For example, most high school practices were after school, whereas at college, I had practice before classes around 6 A.M..”
“Mentally, I was drained because it was like I was living the same day over and over. This made me feel super unmotivated and very alone” Ricart said.
To make this transition easier, high school athletes could learn about their mental health and ways to cope with stress. Being more educated about mental health will help the athletes current and future mentality towards the sport they love. This will influence them to become more aware of how their mentality affects their athletic capability.
Numerous studies show that physical activity reduces anxiety, depression, and negative moods. Playing on a high school team also gives you that special family bond. Being with the coaches and other teammates creates a sense of belonging.
Mental health is not the only thing that can be affected by playing high school sports. Physical health and overall well-being is also a big factor for high school athletes. Sports can help many reach fitness goals and keep a healthy weight. Physical activity can lower the risk of disease, improve your brain health, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.
There are some difficulties for athletes wanting to play in college. According to Scholarship Stats, The average height of a division-level men’s basketball player is just under 6 ‘5″ and the most common listed height was 6’ 7″. With this being said, it would be more challenging for a 5 ‘5″ men’s basketball player to have the same opportunities in college basketball. One’s height is a difficult topic because this is something that cannot be changed.
When an athlete receives an offer letter, the coach expects the player to be healthy. This means, little to no physical injuries. Most high school sports teams practice around three hours. All of these hours dedicated to the sport they love can be exhausting which creates more room for injury.
Haley Kelley, a current college soccer player, expressed how her physical health has been affected due to high school sports, and what she felt was expected of her.
There are many things we can learn from her experience. We can use this story to grasp a better judgment on the true physical expectations of a high school athlete wanting to play in college.
Overall, high school athletes work as hard as they can to get to the collegiate level. Some grow physically while others may become weaker mentally. It is important to find a healthy balance not only for one’s well being, but for their athletic performance. Having a positive mindset and having a sense of belonging can lead to greater performances. In the end, there are many expectations of high school athletes wanting to play in college. Stay motivated and one will reach success.