How vital is playing sports on an actual team?

Prospective candidates applying directly from high school need to fully appreciate the level of competition they're up against when they ask, "I don't play sports...but I do this thing...will I be competitive?" The nice answer to this question is, "You don't know unless you apply." The honest answer is, "Most likely not."

Gaining admission to any of the Service Academies is very difficult. Each one actively recruits student-athletes. The USAFA website states, "Every Cadet is an athlete." Believe them when they say this. USAFA reports that 82% of Cadets earned at least one varsity letter in high school. USAFA does not differentiate between the number of varsity team members and the number of varsity letter winners (they are not synonymous). West Point's most recent graduating class consisted of 84% high school varsity letter recipients, yet 99% participated in varsity athletics!

In 2022, USAFA enrolled 1,055 Cadets from all over the United States. Recruited athletes represented 23.1% (244), prep school represented 15.6% (165), and prior enlisted represented 4.9% (52). Only 56.4% (594) of the enrolled spots were filled by students outside those categories. Competition for direct appointments is very intense, and despite the selectivity, only about 80% of the Cadets who enroll will graduate.

If you want to attend a service academy and don't play sports, join a team. The rule at the SAs is that you played organized team sports in high school. The exception to that rule is that you did not. It is difficult for parents of Cadets or graduates to hear high school students say, "I don't have time" to play sports. Make time to play sports if you are serious about attending a Service Academy. If you can't manage your time in high school, I promise you that you will not be able to manage your time at a Service Academy.

My daughter left the house before 7:00 am to go to high school and got home after practice at about 6:30 pm. We all ate dinner as a family, and by 7:00 pm, she was up in her room studying until she went to bed, only to wake up and do it all again the next day. This went on five days a week throughout the school year. Thursdays were CAP night, which lasted from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. This meant that she ate her dinner in the car on the way to the airport and stayed up later on those nights to get her studying done. By the way, the demands on her time have only increased at USAFA.

She played a varsity sport every season of every year and earned 12 varsity letters in high school. She also played in the band and orchestra in addition to Girl Scouts, CAP, Link Crew, SAAC, National Honor Society, etc. Combine that with top grades and a top ACT score. I always thought she was exceptional (I still do), but she is not unique at USAFA. She is surrounded by exceptional young men and women just like her: smart, hard-working athletes. This is who you are competing against for an appointment—kids who also didn't have time in high school but somehow figured out a way to make time.

If you don't play a sport in high school, you are seriously handicapping your admissions odds.
 
I do all the JROTC teams, (4 or 5) and still had time to atleast participate in a varsity sport. Its all about about time management.

I am also ensuring I do more teams before then end of my senior year.
 
7Rocket26 said:
I'm interested in applying to USAFA, but one of my fears is that I'm at a disadvantage to other applicants because I do not play on a sports team. I play plenty of sports on my own and with friends and consider myself an athletic person, but I don't have the time to join a sports team. Does this hurt my chances?

Also, if I were to join a sports team, would it matter if it isn't a school one, but if it is instead a recreational team or a club team? Please let me know, thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
I never played a sport in my life and got in. It's all about the "full person concept", as they say.
 
Bigrod said:
Traditionally the incoming classes hover at over 80% of appointees played at least 1 if not more Varsity sports during HS. If that number doesn’t give you an idea of how important it is then that’s on you. Join the track team or cross country team. Those are usually no cut sports and then you can check another important box. If you choose not to you may find out you wish you had…..
Click to expand...
Data is a tricky one - we are quoting 80% played at least 1 "varsity" sport...that is all within a high school structure. Some of the more elite athletes I am aware of played beyond levels of high school and had results to back it up - although it does depends on the sport(s). My DS's most competitive sport was honestly outside high school where he trained and competed across several states in his main sport of tennis - but what another person said above; teamwork, leadership and the whole state competitive structure/ladder to #1 provides a more consistent framework for the SAs to evaluate. DS knew this going in and still did the high school athletic grind as a supplement; 3 varsity sports, individual and team state titles, volunteer and club officer roles etc. Applicants will find a way to demonstrate what the academies are looking for in candidates. Lack of available time is not something typically accepted as a reason in not getting things done.
Don't know what sports you play but you should back it up with results, demonstrate persistence/solid training, coachability, etc.
 
I really hate the ‘statistics’ question. Say 80 pct play a sport. Great. But none of that matters to your actual offer, or not, of an appointment.

There are many players in a class build (some athletes, some scholars, some underrepresented communities….). That adds another wonky element of ‘statistics’. And then the subjectivity piece. And the slate competition piece. And a prep offer consideration piece. Yes, set yourself up for your best outcome. Yes, present your best application/resume. But DON’T ‘not apply’ bc you are missing a perceived piece. Not every appointee, has every piece checked.

I get it. Checking the proper boxes increases the odds of an offer. But, if you receive an offer, you 100 pct got it. If you don’t? It’s 0 pct.

Apply. Its a 100 pct NO, if you don’t apply.
 
Adding to @justdoit19 post about statistics. This point is easily misunderstood:

If 90% of cadets/mids played a varsity sport, that doesn't mean someone who didn't has only a 10% chance of appointment. Prevalence is not the same as likelihood. An applicant who has three varsity letters may have 20% chance and an applicant who has no varsity letters may have 80% chance. There are many other factors that, when taken together, carry more weight. As @justdoit19 said, the only clear stat is that 100% of non-applicants don't get appointed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top