From high school to college sports

Uneven Fields, Unheard Voices

Yasmine O, New York City

Since entering college in New York City as a high school athlete and befriending college athletes, one thing has struck my mind. The differences between being a college athlete and a high school one are huge. Getting into college is a huge accomplishment, and many see their sport as a creative outlet. It would only make sense for them to continue their journey at a college level. But what is often under-discussed is the gender bias, funding issues, and location of the college that factor into college athletes’ experience.

I spoke with Brianna, a tennis player at a college in New York City. I asked Brianna what she would consider the biggest difference from being a high school athlete to a college athlete who has to balance work, school, and sport commitments.

“I would say the biggest difference is how replaceable we athletes can be,” Brianna says. “In high school our teams are built on support and protection. Our consequences are lighter and more forgiving. Coaches guide us instead of expecting independence. Our roles are adjusted to fit us. Meanwhile in college it is built around performance and accountability. We athletes compete with our teammates and not just our opponents. Our roles are earned and not adjusted to fit us. There is no safety net, we are treated like adults and are evaluated daily. We stop being protected and start being trusted.”

She explains to me that college sports start to feel like some sort of an obligation to do well, as you are due to the school. She goes on to tell me that the location of the school can make it harder for training, having to commute from school to the training facility, which due to one subway delay can turn from a 30 minute commute to a 2 hour one.

To get some more insight on her day-to-day life balancing her commitments, I then asked Brianna what a typical day during the season looks like for her. “I would say it looks like very hard work with practise to get better and better. Improving our skills and mindsets as individuals, and as a team to strive to achieve our very best,” she says, allowing us to understand that it’s not just about what they do, but how they do it that changes the course of their four years.

I followed up by asking her what support she wishes was extended to college athletes at the competitive level. “I would say more mental health resources. There should be more support beyond just performance in general. It gets difficult trying to balance injuries, academics, and it all weighing on our scholarships. This heightens the pressure to perform well. This can all take a toll on athletes, and the topic of mental health is not always openly talked about, but rather taboo. I would hope for some more comfortable, shame-free conversations around asking for help on our mental health,” Brianna explained.

Now understanding the student perspective of being a college athlete, I wanted to get the perspective of a coach, hearing from the side that normally gets told they are too tough or demanding. I asked a coach what they think about the idea of being too tough on students who play at the competitive level, considering they have a lot on their plate.

“Being tough is exactly what they need. I know that it seems rough, or too demanding, but that is what they need to succeed in a field like this where other schools have more funding, more space to work,” said the coach, who chose to be interviewed off the record. “Because we are a school in the city, it’s harder for our students to compete with other athletes who come from Upstate or other states. I push them hard so they will know how it feels to be at the top. However, I always let them know that I’m here for each and every one of them.”

After interviewing Brianna and the coach, it gave me a deeper insight as to what needs to be done. More support, more respect, and more advocating needs to be done for our college athletes. And this needs to start now.

Yasmine is a New York City based participant in Youth Media Forward: meet the New York New Jersey participants here