If you are a teenager and heading off to college or university for the first time, you will undoubtedly be filled with a number of emotions. There will be excitement, as you’ll finally be able to live independently, to stay up as late as you like, to eat whatever you want, and do anything your parents have previously told you not to. There will also likely be a bit of fear too, as you’ll be stepping into the world of the unknown. Will you like the course you’re studying? Will you make new friends easily? Will you miss being home? It is a lot to think about, but there are certain ways to help those first few weeks go smoothly.
One thing that many new students look into is signing up for and participating in college sports. Of course, many 18 or 19-year-olds heading to US colleges are doing so because they want to make it in the NFL, NBA, or MLB. If you are an American football player, you will want to go to a top college, where fans will be choosing your team to win when searching for college football picks on their sports betting apps.
However, signing up for a sports team doesn’t necessarily have to be because you are looking to become a professional athlete. You might want to sign up to a sport that wasn’t available to you at high school, or one that you always wanted to try out, but never had the courage to back at home. There are many different reasons to take part in sport whilst at college, so let’s look at some of the many benefits that it can bring.
Building relationships
The most likely scenario for most of us when we go to college is that we’re moving away from our home towns, possibly to somewhere we’ve only ever fleetingly visited before, that could well be hundreds of miles away from where we grew up, without any of our high school friends. That means that building relationships with fellow students is absolutely vital to enhance the college experience.
Many people form friendships through the people in their dorm, or possibly who are studying the same subjects. You might even meet through a society of a shared interest. All are great ways to build relationships, but participating in sports is another sure-fire way to make friends.
You will instantly have something to talk about, as everyone on the team will have a shared interest. As soon as you are out on the pitch/field/court, you will begin to bond, first in training sessions, then through the highs of the victories you achieve together, and also equally importantly through the lows of the losses you go through. Strangers quickly become friends in these scenarios.
Not only that, but sports teams will often arrange events and nights out with each other, which also work as great team bonding exercises.
Fun way to stay fit
Even though you are young when you’re at college, getting into bad habits can quickly mean your fitness levels will drop from what you were used to. Staying up late, waking up at midday, not eating healthily, drinking too much, and being lazy are just some of the common trends seen amongst students.
Of course, all of these things in moderation are ok, but it is always a good idea to have something like an afternoon of sport two or three times a week to look forward to, to keep those fitness levels up. By doing it with other people, it makes fitness something to look forward to, instead of a chore that needs to be done. That is why many people prefer playing sports in a team rather than going to the gym on their own, as by being surrounded by others you’re more likely to keep motivated and enjoy yourself at the same time.
Will look great to future employers
The old adage is true; it is never too early to start planning for your future. College doesn’t last forever, and before too long you will be heading off into the world of working professionals, competing against potentially thousands of other newly graduated students.
Now, more than ever, the job market doesn’t have enough positions available for people with degrees, so unfortunately many people will miss out. Therefore, to make sure you are not one of those unlucky people, you’ll need to stand out from the crowd.
Having participated in a college sport can do just that, as it shows you are able to balance your time effectively and are a team player, something that all employers will be looking for. In addition, sport can help people learn leadership skills, which is incredibly important the further you go in your profession.
These are just a number of the benefits that can come from playing a college sport. Do sign up for a team, to make sure you’re not missing out on all the cool rewards that will help you out down the line.
