You’ve got a lot on your plate as a college student. Going to classes and studying for important exams take a lot of time, but going to college isn’t always all about academics.
There are many other opportunities that are waiting for you in your early 20’s, which includes playing sports.
There are a lot of things you have to do to play sports in college, but the payoff is well-worth it. Even if you aren’t good enough to play for the school’s team you can still play intramural sports!
Either way, there are at least a few benefits you’ll enjoy.
Better Finances
One of the most convincing reasons to give sports a try in college is the fact that it can help your finances in the long run.
If you’re a good player, you have the potential to receive a scholarship that enables you to play for the team without incurring mountains of student debt.
You have the potential to save in other ways too. For example, you may have access to a gym for free that you would otherwise have to pay for.
Some programs also feed their athletes, so you may not have to worry about paying for lunch and dinner on a regular basis.
Although it’s not the case at the moment, it may be that in the future athletes are paid for their participation in sports.
Even if you don’t get paid in college, playing in college increases your chances of getting paid to play after you graduate.
Access to Top-Of-The-Line Training Equipment
As mentioned above, playing a sport in college can provide you with free access to a gym that you would otherwise have to pay for, but it’s also possible that you may have access to top-of-the-line training equipment.
Depending on where you go to school and the sport you play, you may have access to the very best equipment, as well as other perks, like free massages and Jacuzzis.
You’ll also have the ability to work with knowledgeable trainers who can help you improve your physique and skills. That kind of training is out of reach for the average college student.
Staying Fit
It can be hard to stay fit when you go to college.
Between going to classes, studying, and staying out late—not to mention many schools offer buffet lunches and dinners—it’s easy for college students to gain weight and lose muscle mass. Playing a sport can help.
Playing sports in college enables you to build exercise habits that are likely to stick. When you have to go to practice or play in a game, you’re forced to make time to take care of your physical health.
Doing this throughout college makes you more likely to stick with an exercise routine after you graduate.
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy this benefit either! Even those who play in intramural sports can avoid the dreaded freshman 15.
Meeting New People
Meeting new friends in college isn’t always easy. When you spend so much of your time listening to professors lecture, you have very little time to truly get to know the students around you. Playing a sport can help.
Whether you play for the school or you join a team to play for fun, playing sports together can build strong friendships. You automatically have something in common, and because you spend a lot of time together, it’s easy to get to know each other quickly.
If you travel for games, you have the ability to meet even more people in other cities, states, and even countries!
Traveling
Speaking of traveling, it can be a huge perk for those who play sports in college. That’s because traveling isn’t easy. Just some of the things that keep people from traveling include:
- Not having enough money
- Difficulty of planning a trip on your own
- Trouble finding time
- Not knowing where to go
- Fear of being on your own
Playing a sport can help with all of these things! Student athletes travel for free, someone else does all the planning, and traveling with the entire team means you never have to worry about being alone.
It’s true that playing sports in college can take up a lot of time, but it’s time well-spent.
From getting out of college without a lot of debt to making friends, staying fit, and traveling, there are many reasons why you might want to consider joining a team when you get on campus!
