Tips for Rookies!

3 Tips for Playing a College Sport as a Freshman

By Andrea Leitner|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on August 17, 2022)

Many athletes in their first year of college believe that the chances of playing and/or starting on their college team will be slim to none. While that may be the case at some schools, it is rare that you will not be playing solely because you are a freshman. The truth is that coaches want their best athletes to be competing at all times. If you don't find yourself in that range, there is likely a reason outside of your class status as to why you're not getting time. Here are some tips to help you get some playing time as a college freshman.

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Come in Prepared

Train hard over summer, pass your fitness tests and find a way to play or train at a high level over the offseason. The college level is a lot quicker and more physical (depending on your sport) than high school and club, so getting used to the intensity of next level competition will set you apart and make you more prepared.

Watch Your Sport

Turn on your TV! You can learn so much about the speed, technique, and strategy of your sport just by watching the pros. Taking a breather and observing can give you the knowledge to understand what your coach is asking and make the learning curve that much smaller.

Have the Right Mindset

Having the mindset that you may not play a lot is a lot better than being overconfident that you will play in every game. Be humble and work hard and the rest is out of your hands.

I had many teammates, including myself, who played a lot of minutes our freshman season. You just have to be willing to put in the work on and off the field to have the best chance to play. The truth of playing as a freshman is that you have the opportunity to play. A coach needs their best athletes to compete, so if you're a quality player who puts in the work and will help the team win…you will play.