My cadet is weighing options of trying out for the varsity sports team. It would include a pretty hectic travel/game schedule. Because there was no recruiting from a coach, odds are any play time would be very minimal. Other than bonding with teammates, is there much of a benefit in playing varsity sports in terms of future opportunities or rankings? Thanks!
Importance of varsity sports for future
- Thread starter mzlaurab
- Start date
Not sure if it provides points for OML (I think it might), but I think there is much more to it. It is a lot of work at the college level, but it might be worth it for him. How well does the ROTC program work with athletes? Are they willing to work with cadets with their schedules? He can gain a lot from being a college athlete, but those things are different for each person and their value is different for each person also. There is no harm as a walk on exploring the option and even spending a few weeks practicing (if the coach allows it) to see the reality of balancing it all. College athletics is a whole different level as coaches rely on these kids performances for their pay checks. Only your cadet can give an honest of assessment if this is something he really wants to do and how important it is to him.
Why not take one step at a time? Say if your cadet makes the team and don't get playing time or academic suffers and he or she quits, what happens?
The most important thing for a cadet is to graduate, not play a varsity sports. A good thing for a SA is that a cadet doesn't lose his or her "scholarship" when he or she quits the sports team.
IC
I agree - take it one step at a time. If your cadet wants to give an IC sport a try, I say go for it. He/she can evaluate it and decide if it will be worth it once there.
If there's real interest by the cadet, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the high school coach to let the academy coach know there's some interest. That way, the cadet may be able to start participating with the team from the outset. There were several "walk-ons" in my son's sport - the ones that were able to participate with the team during BCT (becaue the coach already knew to expect them) seemed to have a better chance of making the team. Some walk-ons continue throughout their 4 years there; others don't. (Same goes for the recruited athletes.)
If the cadet does make the team, is it worth it? That depends. Just like beign an IC at any school, there are costs and benefits. I would say that my son did benefit from the IC experience. It depends on the coach, the teammates, and love of the game.
As for helping with their later career - it can (but doesn't always) help with job assignments. The coach does get to provide some input (a form 94 I believe) for a certain number of athletes that is considered in the cadet's Board Order of Merit. (AOCs, officers over the flying team, and others can also submit form 94s.) Other than that, I'm not aware of any official career benefit. (But I'm just a mom - and from a non-military family - so others may know more about how that all works.) Non-official benefits may include meeting with alumni in that sport who are now active duty and touring bases when travellign with the team - my son's coach (retired military) has been very good about having officers from various fields come talk to the team and setting up base tours when they travel for games.
I agree - take it one step at a time. If your cadet wants to give an IC sport a try, I say go for it. He/she can evaluate it and decide if it will be worth it once there.
If there's real interest by the cadet, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the high school coach to let the academy coach know there's some interest. That way, the cadet may be able to start participating with the team from the outset. There were several "walk-ons" in my son's sport - the ones that were able to participate with the team during BCT (becaue the coach already knew to expect them) seemed to have a better chance of making the team. Some walk-ons continue throughout their 4 years there; others don't. (Same goes for the recruited athletes.)
If the cadet does make the team, is it worth it? That depends. Just like beign an IC at any school, there are costs and benefits. I would say that my son did benefit from the IC experience. It depends on the coach, the teammates, and love of the game.
As for helping with their later career - it can (but doesn't always) help with job assignments. The coach does get to provide some input (a form 94 I believe) for a certain number of athletes that is considered in the cadet's Board Order of Merit. (AOCs, officers over the flying team, and others can also submit form 94s.) Other than that, I'm not aware of any official career benefit. (But I'm just a mom - and from a non-military family - so others may know more about how that all works.) Non-official benefits may include meeting with alumni in that sport who are now active duty and touring bases when travellign with the team - my son's coach (retired military) has been very good about having officers from various fields come talk to the team and setting up base tours when they travel for games.
See page 7
cadetcommand.army.mil/cadet/may2013/pdf/2013maycadet.pdf
The link is incomplete as I am not allowed to post actual links because I have not had the required 10 posts.
It seems to indicate that playing a varsity sport counts as 1.5% of the order of merit list calculation.
cadetcommand.army.mil/cadet/may2013/pdf/2013maycadet.pdf
The link is incomplete as I am not allowed to post actual links because I have not had the required 10 posts.
It seems to indicate that playing a varsity sport counts as 1.5% of the order of merit list calculation.
EDelahanty
10-Year Member
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- May 7, 2010
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I read the original question as indicating the person is currently at an academy and they are asking if sports will make a difference AFTER graduation. Others are answering as though the person is still in h.s. and now applying, but I don't think that is what they are asking.
I do agree that once at the academy, you need to keep your priorities in order. If playing a varsity sport hurts your academic standing and/or could possibly result in not graduating, then regardless of any future 'benefit', you still need to graduate for any of that to matter.
I do agree that once at the academy, you need to keep your priorities in order. If playing a varsity sport hurts your academic standing and/or could possibly result in not graduating, then regardless of any future 'benefit', you still need to graduate for any of that to matter.
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At USAFA, my son took up some sports which I would call "lifetime sports:" marathon running, moutaineering, rock-climbing, skiing (all kinds). Two-and-a-half years out, he still participates in all of these (as time allows).