Planning For Success: Helping Student Athletes Transition to College
Entering college is an exciting time in a student’s life. It is an opportunity to strengthen independence, develop new friendships, and build skills and knowledge. College often invites a great deal of change, which can be both appealing and nerve-wracking to many students. Starting something unfamiliar can feel unsettling at times, often because there are many unknowns and we are typically more comfortable when things are predictable.
Student athletes face unique adjustments as they enter a new level of competition in their sport. In addition to adapting to school, athletes are getting to know new coaches, staff, teammates, and participation expectations. This can be a lot to balance at once, but athletes can set themselves up for success in their transition to college sports. The following tips can help athletes prepare for the changes.
Manage Pressure – Athletes commonly face pressure to perform in their sport. It can manifest physically by increasing heart rate and tension, mentally, by increasing thoughts about performing well, and emotionally, by increasing feelings related to one’s performance. It can also be linked to expectations of wanting to make oneself and others proud, or to prevent failure. Performing well under pressure can take time and practice. Learning to focus when distracted, using technical cues to redirect attention, and using self-talk can help athletes perform well even when the stakes are high.
Adopt a Growth Mindset – Making errors is part of sports and mastering a skill. Being willing to take a shot is more useful than waiting until the right time or questioning if the skill is achievable. When an athlete makes an error, adjusting immediately after can help athletes stay focused on completing the next step successfully. Dwelling on the mistake will interfere with focus and create more distractions. Accepting that athletes can’t be perfect or precise every time will help to enter this new level of participation. Making small edits help to get stronger, faster and more technical.
Set Realistic Expectations – Some athletes may worry that they cannot disappoint coaches or that they must perform perfectly. Perfectionism can lead to overtraining, burnout, self-doubt and distraction. When athletes use a flexible approach to their performance, they can focus more on enhancing their skills and maintain a sense of self-efficacy.
Time management and Accountability – College will require the ability to stick to a class schedule, complete assignments, and prepare for exams. Athletes also balance schoolwork with their social lives, practice / training, and competition. It is important to know when to rest, recover, prioritize, and sometimes plan ahead.
Social and Communication Skills – Whether an athlete is playing on a team or is in an individual sport, they will be interacting with people. Getting to know teammates and staff, and learning how to work together as a team and support one another develops over time. Athletes can use different types of communication from non-verbal cues to assertive skills to address their needs, provide feedback, and bond with others.
Mental Health Needs – Some athletes may be prescribed medications or have been under the care of a therapist. Sometimes students remain in therapy or on medications during college and may need to establish with a local provider to continue their care. A gap in treatment can sometimes lead to setbacks, so planning ahead is something to consider. Athletes may need other supports, including peer or group support, academic accommodations, or a space to safely reflect and cope with changes.
Each student may have unique needs to be addressed, so recognizing, exploring and accessing supports can make a big impact on athlete success.