Mathias Nevin just finished his freshman year at the University of Hartford. He ran both cross country and track and field. In high school, Mathias also played soccer. But as he came closer to committing to a school, he knew he had to decide between soccer and track.
Sure, for many people, it is possible to play multiple sports in college. However, in Mathias' case, the challenge went beyond time commitment. There's a season conflict.
Soccer is a fall sport. Being a distance runner, he would have to run cross country in the fall as well. This means Mathias had to make a choice. This can be a hard decision to make. So Mathias gave us some insight as to how to make this decision easier.
1. What sports did you participate in during high school?
I played soccer in the fall, ran indoor track in the winter, and outdoor track in the fall all four years of high school.
2. What was your time commitment like for each sport?
I was on a club soccer team, so I basically played soccer year-round. I played with my high school team in the fall. I would play indoor soccer with my club in the winter. And with my club team in the spring and summer.
I only did track with my high school team. I did indoor track in the winter and outdoor in the spring, and I would run workouts with the cross country team during the summer.
3. When did you make your decision about which sport you wanted to continue with in college?
During the summer going into my senior year, I knew I had to decide very soon. A lot of people were trying to push me one way or another, and I had not committed to a school yet. I made my decision pretty last minute, which I wouldn't recommend to everyone.
4. What aspects went into making your decision?
I had played soccer basically my entire life, and I only started running track in middle school. However, I found that in high school, I started to enjoy track more than soccer. I looked forward to going to track practices and meets more than I did to soccer practice and games. I wouldn't say that it was ever an explicit decision for me. When I started the recruiting process, I just found myself contacting track coaches instead of soccer coaches.
5. If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is struggling with deciding which sport to play in college, what would it be?
Trust your gut. When deciding between each sport, picture yourself at practices and competitions and see which one makes you happier. The competition will be way more intense in college, so make sure it is a sport you are doing because you enjoy it, and not only because you are good at it.
* Originally published on June 29, 2023, by Bella Nevin
