- Consider The Team Culture & Coaches – Coaches and team culture can make or break any sport experience. It is important to think critically about what you value, what you tolerate, and what you know is right when it comes to coaching and culture and to pursue collegiate teams that are marked with those criteria. When you go on a recruiting trip, intentionally learn about their culture and coaching to see if it’s a good fit for you.
- Consider Life After College – Unless you are in the top 1% of Division 1 college athletes, you won’t be making your sport a lifelong career. That said, this reality introduces important implications in the decision-making process. These include: is the program culture, the character of your coach, the academic program, the geographical location, and the opportunity to grow personally and professionally beyond the sport itself.
- Consider Competition – Too often in the sport of track and field, high school athletes overcommit to schools that seem great but might just be a little too competitive for them. I’ve seen time after time great runners go Division 1 and never see a championship race, never travel, or hold up conference titles in their life because of how competitive Division 1 Track and Field is. If they decided to run at a great Division 2 program, they would have likely traveled the country year-round, competed in the most competitive Division 2 races, won conference titles, competed to win regional races and get the perks of racing in national championships every season. This would have likely led to a more fulfilling college career
- Consider Location – Location matters. Why? Well, first of all, you will be living here and training here for upwards of 4 years. If you are a Southern California born and raised, you might find it difficult to live in the Midwest or East Coast if you don’t tolerate freezing tempatures. If you are a distance runner it isn’t ideal to commit to a university that is in the middle of a city where stop lights, crime, and population density inhibit optimal training. If you are a soccer player, it isn’t ideal to attend a university where it snows and rains half the year. If you are big on consistently seeing your family it isn’t ideal to attend a university that is across the country. If you are considering you career after college and the market isn’t ripe of opportunity, then it isn’t ideal. Regardless of situation, you will have to weigh the sacrifices you will need to make.
