What sports should I participate in to help for admission to the Academy?

What sports should I participate in to help for admission to the Academy?
I'm entering high school this year, and I was wondering what sports I should participate in during high school to help for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Academically, I have a strong background, and during my freshman year, I will even be taking an honors chemistry course designed for juniors. I know that the Air Force Academy will prefer me doing something that I love, but I have no experience in any of the sports that my new school offers, and I want to pick up a new sport in high school. With that said, which sports from this list should I participate in during high school to help me for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy?

These sports are the only ones offered at my school.

[Choose One Sport Per Season Only From This List (Assume you have equal or no experience in any of these sports)]

Fall Sports Season
- Cross Country
- Soccer

Winter Sports Season
- Swimming
- Basketball
- Wrestling

Spring Sports Season
- Lacrosse
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Golf

Also, please explain why you would choose the specific combination? Thank you very much.

I am a candidate for USAFA for Class of 2016 and I currently am taking my 3rd year of Cross Country. I've heard from several people (including past cadets) that Cross Country and Track and Field are pretty good sports to participate in because cadets run A LOT. So I would recommend it, it would build up your endurance mentally and physically.

Swimming is also a good option in your case (because you've previously mentioned that you had equal or no experience). I know that if you're not interested in the intercollegiate athletics (which means that you're officially part of a team representing USAFA), it's mandatory to take intramural sports. Swimming is one of the required activities and I have heard about how it's challenging to pass that class.

Because your school offers Cross Country, I'm surprised why it doesn't offer Track and Field. They are very related to each other and I would recommend taking Track and Field. If not, I would guess either baseball or lacrosse. Usually, sports like golf or tennis aren't preferable because they aren't considered "team sports". So unless you're really good at tennis or golf, I would say, try to stay away from them.

Good luck with USAFA and any other college you're planning to apply to.

Pima said:

You are inferring you have played sports before at your last school, so why are you picking up a new sport?

It appears on your list these are all traditional sports, what did you do at your last school?

It is not so much about how many sports you do, but sticking with it and showing commitment.

Seriously sports are not a 1 size fits all. For example in our area the majority of FB players will do LAX. It is just because they work well together from a sport aspect, rarely do you see a Xcountry member do LAX.

Nobody knows your strengths or weaknesses. Can you run long distances, do you enjoy running long distance, or would you prefer to do more of a team sport? Can you compete at the level for a school that is state champs in Golf if you have never hit a golf ball? There is no edge because you were on X sport, unless you are a recruited athlete.

Do what you like, because you will not be successful if you are doing it to get into the AFA.

OBTW, before you start asking us, you should look at your school to see if any of these sports are teams that cut. At our school, Tennis, Swimming, Golf, Volleyball, Basketball and Wrestling all cut when it comes to the team roster. Even freshman. That would be because they have been district and state champs forever, so everyone wants to be on those teams.

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My old school used to be big on sports, so there were many to choose from, but I moved, and now I am going to a school with limited sports. At my old school, I did not do a fall sport, I did fencing in the winter, and I did rowing in the spring.

Tennis and Golf are always seen as a team sport because it is like swimming, the entire teams scores are calculated to determine who won the match. It is not if they only have 1 player that competes. If one player loses, than they jeopardize the entire team's ability to win.

Under your premise Track and Field should not be deemed as a team sport either, since the person who does the long jump does it by themselves, and has no impact on the team.

You'd be amazed how many colleges offer Golf scholarships...there is that one famous guy (or infamous) that had a full ride to Stanford for Golf...you know...TIGER!

Would he have gotten into Stanford if he did Track or baseball?

My point is don't tell someone to do a sport without knowing their abilities because it appears to illustrate something more. Peter may not be able to hit a baseball at all, so he will not shine, and probably will in a yr or two become frustrated with his own inability, thus quitting and trying out another sport as a jr.

Meanwhile, had he done Golf against your advice, and became the District Champ, plus a state finalist, he would have illustrated the following:
1. HS Sport for 4 yrs -commitment
2. Ranked and able to illustrate his ability through awards
3. Mentor/Leader --- yes even Golf has Team Captains.

Additionally, JIC you don't know the AFA has a Golf team.

Peter,

I would suggest you PM Fencersmother. Her twin boys are class of 12, and one was recruited for fencing by the AFA. He actually got an LOA. Follow her advice.

I won't swear by it, but I think he fences for the AFA. Don't give up on fencing by doing so you actually might hurt yourself since they actually have fencing at the AFA.

I do not believe they have Crew, but since that demands a lot of upper body strength, swimming would seem like a match.

I would also suggest since you are probably only 15 to look into your local Y and get a life guard certification. By doing so, you can also get a job as a life guard and that job will help you more because it is athletic than working at Target. Many kids who are on swim teams also do life guarding.

Knowing that your sports are more upper body strength and agility, the other sport I would recommend would be wrestling. The other sports are more aerobic and/or turning on the dime with hand eye coordination. Not saying fencing isn't that, but you surely are not looking up in the sky while running to catch a ball and keep 5 guys off of you. LAX is like FB. If you feel comfortable with FB, than LAX is a good option, but if you feel you can't outrun, block, carry a stick and catch a ball all at the same time it isn't a match. I would also place BBall on the same level. Golf maybe an option since it is the ability to attack an object with succinct precision and accuracy. You also have the upper body strength to WHACK the crap out of it! If you are a lefty...OMG you are blessed!

Sports

This is easy: Do the sports you enjoy. However, if you can't tell what you'll enjoy, you need to assess your talents. Are you thin and lanky (cross country) or more on the muscular and compact side (wrestling?) How is your hand eye coordination...good? (golf, lacrosse, tennis, baseball.) Are you okay with looking at the same thing for hours on end? (swimming.) And bear in mind those are my stereotypes, which aren't universal.
In addition to picking sports you'll enjoy, keep leadership in mind. Become the team captain. (And don't be timid about letting the coach know that you'd like to be captain at some point.)
You might also consider officiating sports as well. My son officiated a lot of soccer and it gave him plenty of essay material and fodder for interview questions. Contact basketball leagues, little leagues, volleyball and soccer (to name a few) and see about becoming an official. good luck

I was told certain sports rank higher, such as wrestling. It shows individualism and teamwork, I'd assume swimming would be similar. I am a wrestler, and I know it helped. Plus, we're the best...