Walk On

sm3316

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Mar 16, 2016
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How does walking on work as far as bringing football cleats and other sports equipment?
 
Probably better to mail them to yourself instead of carrying around on Rday. Whatever you bring, you carry...unless you are recruited. If recruited, you drop it at the team picnic the day before.
 
How does walking on work as far as bringing football cleats and other sports equipment?
Email coach and introduce yourself. It's a good idea to let them know who you are before you show up. In addition to equipment, you will also want to know other logistics about walk on tryouts - dates, times etc.

There may be some accommodation for bringing extra gear, but will require showing up before R Day to drop it off. You definitely will not be carrying it around on R Day.
 
You definitely need to contact a coach if you have not done so already if you intend to walk on.
 
You definitely need to contact a coach if you have not done so already if you intend to walk on.
easier said than done. no coaches answer their phone for one certain sport. a call to the general number sends your request to the athletic director, who then 'forwards' your information to the coaches....who then never return calls... or email....fifty emails to be specific... one coach told me that his computer did not allow him access to highlights on HUDL.com. and that is where it all stopped. Anyone interested in more information about walking on private message me.
 
easier said than done. no coaches answer their phone for one certain sport. a call to the general number sends your request to the athletic director, who then 'forwards' your information to the coaches....who then never return calls... or email....fifty emails to be specific... one coach told me that his computer did not allow him access to highlights on HUDL.com. and that is where it all stopped. Anyone interested in more information about walking on private message me.

With a DD who played D1 I'm aware of those difficulties. Most D1 teams (especially football in this case), have assistant coaches who deal with this. As a matter of fact, many bigger programs don't even show an email for the head coach.
Another possibility is to have a high school or club coach contact one of the coaches.
Walking on is tough enough without a coach knowing who you are ahead of time.
 
You will have a chance to walk on during the end of Beast ( I'm sure this will be vetted by the coaches). It's not easy. My DS (now a cow)was on the bubble of walking on after he received a hand written letter from the Head Coach just before R day. He then saw his class schedule for the fall and retired his cleats. If you can manage your grades I say go for it. I have a new respect for West Point Athletes and their ability to balance their Cadet duties plus classes. Go Army beat Navy!
 
You will have a chance to walk on during the end of Beast ( I'm sure this will be vetted by the coaches). It's not easy. My DS (now a cow)was on the bubble of walking on after he received a hand written letter from the Head Coach just before R day. He then saw his class schedule for the fall and retired his cleats. If you can manage your grades I say go for it. I have a new respect for West Point Athletes and their ability to balance their Cadet duties plus classes. Go Army beat Navy!
Many colleges are tough. As an athlete, especially at West Point, one must realize it is no easy task. It is my understanding that perhaps one to two walk-ons are taken on each year. But- you should give it your best shot since you have this one opportunity. As a high school football player who has been serious about academics, I'm sure you understand it will be difficult- more so than your most grueling days of high school.
 
Many colleges are tough. As an athlete, especially at West Point, one must realize it is no easy task. It is my understanding that perhaps one to two walk-ons are taken on each year. But- you should give it your best shot since you have this one opportunity. As a high school football player who has been serious about academics, I'm sure you understand it will be difficult- more so than your most grueling days of high school.
i was told 15 walk ons
 
how many dozen emails should be sent before assuming that the coach has actually read an email, or even cares?

I don't know that I would send dozens or even more than one.
I'm telling you the reality. While possible to walk on without the coach knowing who you are, your chances drop off dramatically. I know the coaches will announce during tryouts at some academies that if the player has not been contacted by a coach they need to play club. Uninvited walk ons are not even looked at.
 
How about rifle team?
I know it is very competitive D1 as well, but is there a chance of being a walk on if you haven't shot competitively? DS has a big interest in the team and shoots well, but hasn't shot on a team before. There are no rifle club teams at WP that I know of.
 
How about rifle team?
I know it is very competitive D1 as well, but is there a chance of being a walk on if you haven't shot competitively? DS has a big interest in the team and shoots well, but hasn't shot on a team before. There are no rifle club teams at WP that I know of.
I admit I was talking more about the more "popular" teams.
 
I admit I was talking more about the more "popular" teams.

No problem, I was only asking in general if it would be more of a possibility. Presumably football ,basketball etc.. would be more difficult to walk on than rifle team.
 
No problem, I was only asking in general if it would be more of a possibility. Presumably football ,basketball etc.. would be more difficult to walk on than rifle team.
My direct experience is only with lacrosse and soccer.
 
Bring your stuff to R-day if you don't have a chance to drop it off prior. During mass athletics, you'll have a chance to go with the team to go play and that will most likely amount to the most chance you'll have for the coaches to see you to walk on for a fall sport. If you wait for stuff in the mail, you probably won't get things in time to participate in all of the sessions possible and you've cut your chance.
 
Bring your stuff to R-day if you don't have a chance to drop it off prior. During mass athletics, you'll have a chance to go with the team to go play and that will most likely amount to the most chance you'll have for the coaches to see you to walk on for a fall sport. If you wait for stuff in the mail, you probably won't get things in time to participate in all of the sessions possible and you've cut your chance.
I was specifically told that "there will be seven to fifteen practices during beast which several hundred athletes try out. of all these walk ons, 15 to 20 will be kept on the team".
 
USNA has about 170 people on the football team. Virtually all of those were 'recruited' Most will never dress for a game in 4 years should they last that long and most are done NLT their sophomore year.

In the summer, there is time for intramural sports as well as USMA team sports including football. If you are trying out, you can go to your sport's practice and a coach may or may not notice you. At USNA, the final couple of weeks of Plebe Summer - the football players are separated from their Plebe Company and move in with the football team that is preparing for the upcoming season. I would think that requires an invitation.

For the class of 2020 at USNA - only one walk-on was invited to that session and he ultimately 'made the team' but never dressed. This same player was also recruited by a number of other D1 programs that had outstanding academics. This particular player would have been 'recruited' but since he didn't get his DoDMeRB waiver until very late in the process, the coaches had long since backed off his recruitment. So the coaching staff new his name b4 hand.

Many moons ago at USAFA, I think 25% of my class 'went out for football', none that weren't recruited were still practicing by Labor Day.

If you want it - go for it. USMA has a process. But be realistic and consider how many other D1 programs expressed interest in you and how that stacks up to USMA football. Plus, what makes you special enough to get noticed? Are you incredibly fast, are you particularly large framed where the coach can see that they can put 35 lbs on you and make a lineman out of you eventually.

And if you aren't tall enough, fast enough, quick enough for D1 football, USMA has some great club sports like rugby where many football skills translate. Plus there is also Sprint Football which isn't quite on par with D1, but appears to be a lot of fun and you get to play other schools vs intramurals.

If you have reached out multiple times with no feedback, you probably already know how interested the coaches are.

My experience with college recruiting is most coaches will have at least someone return the call even if all they can do is call your high school coach. (NCAA puts a lot of rules around coaches calling players back, but they call your coach directly)

It's a longshot, but you are smart enough to get into USMA and you appear determined to give football a shot. Strap on the pads and give it a shot - best to fight and die in the arena vs listen to us tell you it's not worth the effort and wonder later on down the line.
 
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