Appointment without Athletic Participation

MSnyder25

MSnyder25

TAMU Class of '25 AFROTC
Joined
Jun 9, 2020
Messages
21
I am planning on applying to the Air Force Academy for the Class of 2025. The one thing that I am concerned about is the Athletic part of the application. I am physically fit and working on my CFA but have not been involved in any sports in high school. I run in my free time and do 5Ks but I want to know if the lack of being on a varsity team sport will hurt my application. I'm pretty solid academically and I am involved in the scouts and other extracurriculars at my school. If anyone has any advice on a way to solidify this part of my application I would greatly appreciate it.
 
Hard to say. People have certainly received appointments without team sports. Team sports are important not simply for the physical and fitness attributes of it; but for the teamwork, discipline, and other aspects of a team. The only way to find out is to apply. If you can stress the teamwork and discipline attributes in other ways then it shouldn't hurt you.
 
I believe for USMA, 99% of cadets at least participated in a varsity sport. Fewer than that lettered, fewer than that were captains etc.

I always said varsity sports aren't an official requirement but an unofficial requirement.

BUT, you run in your free time and do 5Ks... talk about that in your interview. I think if you're strong in other areas, admissions might just gloss over the lack of varsity sports, especially when they see that you run competitively in your own time.

And crush the CFA, that would help a ton.

Good luck!
 
Without any varsity sports, you need to really train for and excel in the CFA. This will be the only gauge of physical fitness the selection committee will have unless you turn in some of your 5K's as extracurriculars and have blazing fast times.

Otherwise, as referenced by @kinnem, sports are more than just physical fitness but teach teamwork and gives leadership opportunities. Without them, you will need to look for other leadership opportunities besides sports and be able to articulate those on your application.
 
kinnem said:
Hard to say. People have certainly received appointments without team sports. Team sports are important not simply for the physical and fitness attributes of it; but for the teamwork, discipline, and other aspects of a team. The only way to find out is to apply. If you can stress the teamwork and discipline attributes in other ways then it shouldn't hurt you.
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MSnyder25 said:
I am planning on applying to the Air Force Academy for the Class of 2025. The one thing that I am concerned about is the Athletic part of the application. I am physically fit and working on my CFA but have not been involved in any sports in high school. I run in my free time and do 5Ks but I want to know if the lack of being on a varsity team sport will hurt my application. I'm pretty solid academically and I am involved in the scouts and other extracurriculars at my school. If anyone has any advice on a way to solidify this part of my application I would greatly appreciate it.
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Why don’t you try out for the track team in senior year? If you run outside of school and do 5Ks why not do the same in-school?
 
We take all types - athletes, mathletes, band kids - you name the sub category. Of course you want to excel at the CFA - consider it a fitness standardized test that shows athleticism is not an issue for you. It is scored, so get as many points as you can. Leadership and adversity can come from activities other than athletics. I do not think this will be an issue provided you are crushing it in academics or extracurriculars.

Think 3 legged stool - be good at all three and great in AT LEAST one - Academics | Athletics | Extra-curricular Leadership
 
^This! Also, I would add -- for next year, I respectfully and humbly suggest you attempt to participate in some type of sport -- track & field, cross-country, whatever. Also, if varsity sports, as a senior, are not available to you at your school, perhaps you can participate in a club-level sport in your community? While I agree, lack of sports participation is not necessarily an absolute application ender, you can still remedy this situation by participating in a sport. You still have time.
 
Short answer - yes of course it's possible but you need to show that you have the attributes normally or often developed through sports. To understand this, read this great thread by Christcorp:

Sports, and your academy application

This isn't in response to any particular thread of poster. I'm simply writing it in the hopes that any new people will find it when, or if they do a search on the topic. It seems that in recent years, more and more applicants are asking questions about sports, or rather the lack of sports, in...
www.serviceacademyforums.com

Then as you work on your application and are interviewed, be sure it comes across
 
My son did not play HS sports, but he had tremendous leadership in other areas. He ran 5k's and lifted but no organized sports past 10th grade (baseball community league). He is a rising sophomore. BUT we come from a small state.
 
My 2024 daughter did not have ANY sports participation, other than taking dance classes. She even had to retake the fitness assessment due to a slow(ish) run time!
 
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