No Sports?

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phillips77

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Jul 21, 2022
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Hello. I am currently in my senior year of high school, and I am planning on applying for USNA & USAFA class of 2028. I did not apply for the class of 2027 for either academy because I will be participating with a Drum Corps International drum corps over the summer, and I believe that my experience with them will greatly enhance my application and me as a person (it is also something that I have always wanted to do, and if I went to a service academy right after high school I would miss this opportunity and never get a chance to do it in the future).

I have been in my schools marching band and concert band for all 4 years. During my senior year, I served as the Low Brass Captain and I am currently the first chair of my school’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, where I lead the sections I perform with. As mentioned earlier, I will be marching with a drum corps over the summer where I will learn to work with a very high performance team for 12+ hours a day, as well as do lots of physical training on a daily basis. The group I am marching with is comprised mostly of college students, and we will tour the east coast from May to August.

From reading online, I have learned that the service academies view high school sports participation as very important, especially at the varsity level. I have not participated in any sports during high school. How does my experience with marching band and soon-to-be drum corps compare with USNA’s view of “sports participation”? My school’s music program is taken very seriously, where during the marching season we had rehearsal 3-4 days a week, often lasting until 8-9pm. On Saturdays, we would have competitions at other schools where our days would start at 9am and end at 10pm (sometimes as late as 1am). Our program has always placed very highly in our regional competitions. Our program also offers many student leadership positions (similar to the ones I served as mentioned above). If I explained this to USNA, would it compare with a sport? Or would they just see it as an extracurricular?

When I return from the summer tour this year, I will be taking AFROTC classes (NROTC is not offered) at my community college. Would it be a good idea to participate in one of my college’s sports to compensate for my lack of sports in high school? Or, do you think my participation in marching band, drum corps, and ROTC will be enough to meet the USNA standard?

Thank you for reading.
 
Participate in sports. Look for leadership opportunities in the Drum Corps and in college.

Become as well rounded as you can be.

Your record is your record. Your accomplishment is awesome. Congrats.

It all depends on your competition. But if you search around this site you will find others with your talent at the academy.

Best of luck!
 
A1Janitor said:
Participate in sports. Look for leadership opportunities in the Drum Corps and in college.

Become as well rounded as you can be.

Your record is your record. Your accomplishment is awesome. Congrats.

It all depends on your competition. But if you search around this site you will find others with your talent at the academy.

Best of luck!
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Thank you for the response. I forgot to mention— when I come back from the summer, I plan on coming back to my high school and being a “music teacher” of sorts during the marching season for the Low Brass, as well as teaching the full ensemble during rehearsals where we practice the visual aspect (marching technique). I am currently looking into my college’s sports, and I am thinking about possible conflicts with sports and teaching at my high school (I also will be working a job). What would you say would be a bigger priority to make my application stronger: sports, or teaching?
 
You are very intent on carrying out your plan. That much is clear from this thread and your prior one of similar nature. It all shows purpose, commitment and passion. As is often said: It is what it is.

Therefore, don’t worry about what we on SAF have to say. We can’t “chance you” because we’re not admissions and we simply don’t know how USNA will assess your application. We can speculate, but that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee. 😉

Carry on. Be yourself. Don’t apologize. But be ready to explain how your desired path makes you a stellar candidate, future mid and future officer.
 
I would say making a sport your priority over teaching? I know there are mishipmen who did not play sports in high school or college, but I would think that is more the exception. Playing a an organized sport is as much about team dynamics and life skills as it is about fitness. You also need to absolutely crush your CFA if you don’t have a sports background, as I think seeing a lot of sports and varsity letters on a resume indicates a certain level of athleticism and fitness. I think you can do it though! Good luck!
 
Congrats on your musical accomplishments. International trip sounds amazing.

My DS didn’t do traditional high school sports. He did do Tae Kwon Do. After achieving his first black belt he began teaching adults and kids. That gave him a lot of life experience, humility, pride, quiet confidence, and a desire to be a good instructor. Teaching others might be a great fit for you.

What sports teach you isn’t just athleticism. The academies are looking for applicants who have won some and lost some. Who have learned from those experiences.
How to be a graceful winner and loser.
How to contribute to the success of individuals on your team to improve the whole.
How to suppprt those who aren’t as successful and encourage them to improve. How to lead and aid them in their growth.

Sports can teach you that. But so can other experiences. If you can pass the CFA with bells on, and be able to articulate those things I’ve mentioned, I think you are in good shape.
As others said, we can’t chance or predict an outcome.

Nobody can.

But applicants are always encouraged to be their authentic selves, do what they love better than most, leave their team or organization better for their having been a part of it, and be able to articulate that.
 
@Heatherg21 is providing great advice-listen to it.

Your experience with band, marching band etc. is notable. It may be considered very applicable towards demonstrating you commitment to goals, hardworking, leadership potential and more. I don’t think trying to get a sport now will be helpful. Play your strong hand (Which you have described), be able to talk about and demonstrate how what you did relates to being a Naval officer. A lot depends on who your competition is on each nomination slate you end up on. You have a lot to offer-go for it. I agree it's important for you to do extremely well on the CFA-prepare now and put your strong work ethic into the CFA prep. Read everything about USNA especially on USNA.com . You have a zero chance if you don't apply. Go Navy!
 
warden said:
Thank you for the response. I forgot to mention— when I come back from the summer, I plan on coming back to my high school and being a “music teacher” of sorts during the marching season for the Low Brass, as well as teaching the full ensemble during rehearsals where we practice the visual aspect (marching technique). I am currently looking into my college’s sports, and I am thinking about possible conflicts with sports and teaching at my high school (I also will be working a job). What would you say would be a bigger priority to make my application stronger: sports, or teaching?
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Lol I am the last person on this site people should listen to.

I hope to see your name next year.
 
The question of band participation in h.s. comes up frequently on here. None of the SA's consider band a 'sport' no matter how many hours you spend practicing/marching/performing/traveling. They all consider it an ECA. Many older threads talk about why SA's value sports so no need to rehash that here. Typically, 90+% of those offered an appointment had some sort of varsity sports in h.s. That means that some 10% or so of those appointed did not, but they are still expected to keep up with their peers once they start the program. SA's don't have the time to teach you how to become an athlete. Sports participation isn't about checking a box on an application. Many who are top athletes have worked on their chosen sport since middle school. You don't become a top athlete with one year's worth of work anymore then you can become a top musician in that timeframe. If you apply to an SA, you will be competing against those who likely excelled in sports/academics/leadership & ECA's.

If you are currently a h.s. senior, your window of opportunity to impact your resume is largely behind you. It sounds like you need to think about the road ahead and what you eventually want to do. No one goes to any SA to become a professional musician. What you like to do as a hobby and what you want to pursue as your career needs to be sorted out before deciding to attend any SA.
 
While I agree with most of the prior post, I would say that we don’t sit in the admissions office. We don’t sit on the selection panels.

While stellar sports and captain this and captain that and state this and state that light up the board, there are those who are like the submarine service. Silent and stealthy.

Demonstrate the skills that those athletes demonstrated in some other way. Articulate that. Don’t count yourself out. It is and will always be the, “whole candidate score”.
 
warden said:
Thank you for the response. I forgot to mention— when I come back from the summer, I plan on coming back to my high school and being a “music teacher” of sorts during the marching season for the Low Brass, as well as teaching the full ensemble during rehearsals where we practice the visual aspect (marching technique). I am currently looking into my college’s sports, and I am thinking about possible conflicts with sports and teaching at my high school (I also will be working a job). What would you say would be a bigger priority to make my application stronger: sports, or teaching?
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I would recommend doing teacher. Both experiences teach you different values but I personally believe probably that teaching would be the better way to showcase leadership right now. Because at the end of the day, you want to show the Academies you have leadership potential. If you're applying for the C/O 2028, you'll only at most be doing a few months of a sport that you just started with. That's not gonna be enough time to gain the value of sports as you normally would if you did it for 3-4 years. This teaching opportunity sounds completely awesome and is likely going to have a better impact on your application. Not to mention, it builds upon what you've already been doing for the past 4 years. You're building upon your passion in a meaningful way that can demonstrate leadership. In my opinion, that's more impactful than starting a random sport for the first time ever to just boost your resume.

I also feel like the SAs are fairly understandable when a candidate is doing something that conflicts with sports time. In high school, I could only do one full year of sports because in other years I had to babysit my little siblings and my BGO told me that was completely fine. I'm a college reapplicant and during my interviews, I don't remember being asked at all if I do sports in college. I was just asked what I do to keep myself physically fit. I didn't do sports this time either because I wanted to be in Student Government (the times were conflicting) because I felt like that would be a more valuable experience for me. I didn't have to explain "why I didn't do sports" in interviews nor did I write about it in my essays.

Go for being a teacher. Follow your passion and what you're already great at it. I believe that it's okay to not do sports as long as whatever you're replacing that time with is something you're able to demonstrate leadership in (as long as you also stay in shape and crush your CFA) and I think you'll be doing that no problem with this teaching job. Not to mention, it's also something that makes you unique and stand out. ;)
 
IggyMom23 said:
Playing a an organized sport is as much about team dynamics and life skills as it is about fitness.
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My daughter did marching band through high school, but also did 2 sports. She was the outstanding freshman on her swim team and earned a varsity letter all 4 years. That being said she also accomplished alot in marching band-section leader, and the drum major in her senior year. Marching band drum major is the equivalent of team captain in a sport.
For those people who are not familiar with a good high school marching band program I have to say: In marching band team dynamics, life skills, leadership, time commitment, and character development are present as much as in a sport, maybe even more. Those kids have fun, but marching band is about discipline, hard work and a huge time commitment. Kids who do marching band and do well, and keep their grades up at the same time should be given the credit they deserve.
 
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Tea Baggins said:
My daughter did marching band through high school, but also did 2 sports. She was the outstanding freshman on her swim team and earned a varsity letter all 4 years. That being said she also accomplished alot in marching band-section leader, and the drum major in her senior year. Marching band drum major is the equivalent of team captain in a sport.
For those people who are not familiar with a good high school marching band program I have to say: In marching band team dynamics, life skills, leadership, time commitment, and character development are present as much as in a sport, maybe even more. Those kids have fun, but marching band is about discipline, hard work and a huge time commitment. Kids who do marching band and do well, and keep their grades up at the same time should be given the credit they deserve.
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They key to your daughter - “but also did 2 sports.”

Nobody disagrees with giving these kids credit. It comes down to admissions and their standards.

I think it is important for students who don’t do any sports - but worthwhile activities like the arts - to workout and nail the CFA.
 
Tea Baggins said:
My daughter did marching band through high school, but also did 2 sports. She was the outstanding freshman on her swim team and earned a varsity letter all 4 years. That being said she also accomplished alot in marching band-section leader, and the drum major in her senior year. Marching band drum major is the equivalent of team captain in a sport.
For those people who are not familiar with a good high school marching band program I have to say: In marching band team dynamics, life skills, leadership, time commitment, and character development are present as much as in a sport, maybe even more. Those kids have fun, but marching band is about discipline, hard work and a huge time commitment. Kids who do marching band and do well, and keep their grades up at the same time should be given the credit they deserve.
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So, yes, marching band provides all those things you mention. I remember summer marching band training on an open football field under the scorching midwestern sun like it was yesterday. It was tough, and then the games and competitions…yes I agree with you about all of it. And I know what OP is doing is quite an accomplishment and a huge commitment. I guess I’m focusing on the fact that midshipmen are athletes. Participation in sports just tells admissions you can handle it. Of course there are exceptions, and OP has the opportunity to show admissions thru the CFA.
 
If you don't have a record of sports you need to do really, really well on the fitness test. Consider yourself warned.
 
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Did you put in 5 miles today? RUN …. Run every day … run … run 5 miles minimum. Time your mile run too.

Do pull-ups, push-ups , and crunch’s everyday … tick tick tick

CFA, CFA, CFA …

Btw … there are some kick butt Musicians at the SA’s … but they do other things too.

So get it going …
.
 
One thing I might add to all this sage advice… for someone who hasn’t needed to take and pass numerous sports participation physicals throughout high school is that you should now familiarize yourself with the USNA medical requirements and detailed questions that you will need to answer re your physical and mental/behavioral history and have a comprehensive physical exam. I would look at that now prior to charting your plan too far ahead.
 
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