NAPS Football

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I noticed that football is one of the first trimester sports at NAPS. Since a large majority of the class will be recruited athletes (many of whom are probably football recruits), how would one go about trying out as a walk-on? Or is it like academy intramurals where everyone has to do something and football is simply something you can pick? I'm not big enough to knock many people down (I'm tall, skinny, and lanky; don't get me wrong, I can still take a hit, as punters sometimes do), and I'm not fast enough to outrun many people, but I am a pretty decent punter (I max out between 45-55 yards, longest was 62 when the wind was in my favor). Although, I haven't played for a team since the 7th grade (my school is too small for a team), I have been working on my drills and leg exercises for weeks now, and I intend to do so all the way up to when I leave for Indoc.

Before anyone points this out, I realize that being on a certain sports team isn't going to change anything about life as an officer or my training to become one, but seeing as athletics are required in the curriculum of an academy, I'd like to take on the challenge of the sport I enjoy the most.

Can anyone tell me the chances I have? What I can do to try to walk on? How to prepare for NAPS, in general (other than physical fitness)? Thanks in advance! :)

EDIT: I just found the line on the NAPS website that says open tryouts are held. But any other information and answers to my other questions would be much appreciated.

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I feel like I didn't elaborate enough. Obviously, there's so much more to punting than just distance. E.g. a 35 yarder going out at the 2 is better than a 60 yarder that gets returned. There are many situations a punter may face, and the drills I go through help me to prepare for all of them.

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Walk-ons are extremely rare in the marque sports. I'm not talking about squash, fencing, sailing or the rifle/pistol team. I'm talking about football, basketball, lacrosse and baseball. They seldom have walk-ons. Has it ever happened? Sure. Is it common? Not at all.

I guess there is nothing to stop you for trying out for any of these sports, but there will be nobody reaching out to you. There will be no announcement, "Any midshipmen who desire to tryout for the Navy football team should report to Rip Miller Field at 0900 on Saturday." It's never going to happen.

Most Division I programs recruit heavily and do not leave things up to chance and cross their fingers that some talented athlete will emerge from the student body at large.
 
I noticed that football is one of the first trimester sports at NAPS. Since a large majority of the class will be recruited athletes (many of whom are probably football recruits), how would one go about trying out as a walk-on? Or is it like academy intramurals where everyone has to do something and football is simply something you can pick? I'm not big enough to knock many people down (I'm tall, skinny, and lanky; don't get me wrong, I can still take a hit, as punters sometimes do), and I'm not fast enough to outrun many people, but I am a pretty decent punter (I max out between 45-55 yards, longest was 62 when the wind was in my favor). Although, I haven't played for a team since the 7th grade (my school is too small for a team), I have been working on my drills and leg exercises for weeks now, and I intend to do so all the way up to when I leave for Indoc.

Before anyone points this out, I realize that being on a certain sports team isn't going to change anything about life as an officer or my training to become one, but seeing as athletics are required in the curriculum of an academy, I'd like to take on the challenge of the sport I enjoy the most.

Can anyone tell me the chances I have? What I can do to try to walk on? How to prepare for NAPS, in general (other than physical fitness)? Thanks in advance! :)

EDIT: I just found the line on the NAPS website that says open tryouts are held. But any other information and answers to my other questions would be much appreciated.

Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app

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Walk-ons are extremely rare in the marque sports. I'm not talking about squash, fencing, sailing or the rifle/pistol team. I'm talking about football, basketball, lacrosse and baseball. They seldom have walk-ons. Has it ever happened? Sure. Is it common? Not at all.

I guess there is nothing to stop you for trying out for any of these sports, but there will be nobody reaching out to you. There will be no announcement, "Any midshipmen who desire to tryout for the Navy football team should report to Rip Miller Field at 0900 on Saturday." It's never going to happen.

Most Division I programs recruit heavily and do not leave things up to chance and cross their fingers that some talented athlete will emerge from the student body at large.

I see. I suppose I knew that in the back of my mind, but knowing that there is at least a sliver of hope might give me enough motivation to keep working at it. Thank you. :smile:

The NAPS website (athletics section) does state the following, though:

The Athletic Department offers nine varsity sports throughout the academic year. Each sport will offer open tryouts which Midshipman Candidates may compete.

Which gives me another question: Is participating in a sport/some sort of athletic competition also required at NAPS? What if you are physically fit, but for some reason are just god awful and don't make the cut for any of the teams?
 
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