Achieving success on the local, state, or national level is often the case for many high school athletes committed to play in college. Everyone was a big fish in their respective small ponds. However, collegiate athletics can be an ocean full of talented athletes. Year after year, incoming college athletes are faced with the prospect of not starting or not playing at all as freshman. However, there are ways to get through the learning curve and get playing time from the start.
Related: Will DI Freshmen Get Playing time?
Choose the Right School
The first thing an athlete can do is to choose a school where playing early is attainable. Unless you're a projected NFL star, it is unlikely that someone will get playing time as a freshman at a huge power five football program like Alabama. However, if the same athlete recruited by Alabama chooses a “group of five school,” it is more likely they will see some playing time their freshman year.
Related: How to Deal with Not Getting Playing Time
Be Willing to Learn
Playing as a freshman is also largely dependent on maturity, adaptability, and ability to learn. Oftentimes, age is only a number in college athletics as many college freshmen perform better than seniors. Just because it's not the norm doesn't mean it's impossible. Although talent level does play a factor, being able to adjust to a new level of competition and being open to learning in a new environment can take a young athlete a long way.
Related: Tips on Being a “Coachable” Player
These qualities are not in most freshmen who are used to competing at the high school level, so it often seems unrealistic for freshmen to get playing time at the DI level. However, an athlete with the right mindset can most definitely achieve this amazing feat.
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* Originally published on February 25, 2022, by Paramveer Chohan
