How to Become a College Athlete

Diana Taurasi, Stephen Curry, Walter Payton: All three are famous athletes, all three are former college athletes.

College sports create opportunities for athletes that can’t be found elsewhere.

If you’re in high school, it’s time to begin preparing for your college athletic career. We’ve created a list of the best tips for aspiring college athletes, so get out your pen and take notes.

Your time is now.

What to Know as a High School Athlete

As a high school athlete, there’s no better position to be in when preparing for college athletics. You have the time, the freedom, and the capabilities available to begin promoting your skills and setting yourself apart from your peers.

College athletics, like the professional industry, is extremely competitive. Having pure talent is no longer the only way to become an athlete, so it’s imperative that you not only prepare yourself physically but also professionally. For instance, utilizing features from a professional social media platform can help set you apart from your competition and gain attention from scouts and coaches.

Below, we’ll look at the differences between high school and college sports to best prepare you. After that, you can read through our steps to becoming a college athlete.

High School Sports vs. College Sports

Transitioning from high school to college is a major adjustment that every student should be prepared for. Both academics and athletics become a lot more intense, so to combat this, here are a few differences between high school and college that students should know before attending.

• Longer Training Hours
• Increased Competition
• Time Management Adjustment
• More Involved Coaching
• Early Registration for Classes
• Tighter Bonds with Team
• Access to State-of-the-Art Facilities
• Free/Discounted Sports Gear & Apparel

Steps to Becoming a College Athlete

Having a strong work ethic and passion for your sport are the first crucial steps in becoming a college athlete. From here on, you’ll need to prepare for your success.

Follow these steps to become a college athlete.

Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

First, if you’re planning on enrolling in a Division I or Division II school, you’ll need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This will ensure you’ve met the standards and are prepared academically for your university’s coursework.

Play In a Club or AAU Team

If you’re looking to get noticed by college coaches, the best thing you can do is play in a club or AAU team. The NCAA’s, “Live Periods” are specific days during the year when coaches can watch out for prospective student athletes. These dates are pre-determined by the NCAA, so check out the recruiting calendar for help.

Attend College Elite Camps

College elite camps are a great way to network and check out the facilities! If you’re invited, be sure to go.

Reach Out to Coaches and Athletes

It can often be intimidating to reach out to coaches and current colleges athletes, but it’s an important part of networking and getting your name out there!

If they ask for resumes, references, or training videos, send them over! They’re more likely to want you on their team if they know your experience and your name. This brings us to our next point…

Use a Professional Social Media Platform

Making sure that coaches know your experience is a must. Using a professional social media platform, like Klybourne, is a fantastic, way to show off your talent. Klybourne enables you to bring your experience to life, in a way a traditional resume can’t.

Klybourne isn’t like your typical social media platform. Prospective athletes can utilize its features to share videos, pictures, grades, certificates, and more, and connect with peers, mentors, and college admissions staff. Klybourne helps you learn from those in your field, and get in front of college decision-makers.

Choose a College

Arguably the most exciting part of working towards becoming a college athlete is deciding what college you want to attend.

We always recommend seeing colleges in person, if you can. Meet the coaches, the team, and see what a day in the life would be like if you were to attend that college.

When thinking of college, you might wonder, “what can I do for them?” when in reality, college is there for you. Start considering, “what can this college do for me?”

Check in with your Mental Health

Last, but certainly not least, check in with your mental health during this process. Preparing for, applying, and attending college is an incredibly stressful transition for everyone and should be taken seriously.

Make sure you’re actively communicating with your high school counselor, parents, family, friends, etc. While you’re an individual athlete, it means nothing without a great team on your side.

Join Klybourne and Stand Out

If you’re ready to set yourself apart and become the college athlete of your dreams, you need a place to start!

Klybourne is here to change the game for athletes. Our professional platform empowers you to showcase your experience and successes to coaches, mentors, and college admissions staff.

Join Klybourne today and bring your athletic experience to life!