Varsity sports walk-ons

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Whatisnext2017

5-Year Member
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Jan 19, 2013
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Is there an opportunity for a non-recruited athlete to tryout as a walk-on for a varsity sport or are the only options to compete on club teams or intramural teams? How does the process of club teams work? Any insights are appreciated.
 
You can walk on - best if you contact the coaches prior to arrival/fill out one of the recruiting questionnaires. The current 1st Cpt is a walk-on football player. Some sports like track have a lot of depth that they can't recruit every position for. Best if you are on the radar first. Unless something drastic happens this summer, there is usually a time during Beast to practice with the team as your first look, especially if you weren't recruited.
 
What about competitive clubs, i.e. cycling, climbing, crew, rugby. Do they also have tryouts during Beast? How difficult is it to be accepted on the team, Esp if you don't have a great amount of experience? And lastly do those who do competitive club, not participate in company athletics or is that just the intercollegiate athletes? Thanks!!
 
Thank you for askiong this kf, I was going to ask the same thing! Is it difficult to walk on as opposed to be recruited?
 
Different competitive clubs have different requirements as far as try outs - some like Rugby were there is more interest than spots have to limit, other clubs don't have that difficulty. Some clubs, you can't even try out for until the spring (parachute). There is a club night in the early fall that all the plebes go down to (no there aren't try outs during beast, but you never know - your squad leader may be on a team). Depending on the season, you'd still have to do company athletics.

As far as corps squad, its much more difficult to get on a team as a walk on than as a recruit, but it is not impossible. All depends on your ability and the team's needs.
 
I saw this a while ago and thought I would come back to it as I did both - walked on and then participated in a club sport.

Sometime during Beast - not sure exactly when - the New Cadets would do sports/PT in the afternoons, but the recruited Corps Squad athletes would go off and participate in their sport. The swimmers went to the pool, the wrestlers to the wrestling room, the football players to the weight room or doing drills at Miche etc... Well, the golfers went to the golf course to hit balls. I can't remember if I asked or not, but one day I went with the golfers.

I hit balls with borrowed clubs and just kept going. The coach saw some merit in my ability and had no problem with me being there. (Though to this day I curse him for teaching me how to hit a draw/hook! :yllol:) I became part of the team - sort of in a tryout mode - had my parents send my clubs when the academic year started - and was essentially a Corps Squad golfer. And then, the first World History exam hit....... in which I was 1 of 3 out of 400 cadets who failed the exam. The golf coach and my Tactical Officer felt I would be more value to the Army as an officer than a golfer or a failed cadet and so I was removed from the team. (I will not regale you with the stories of my return to "company tables" - that is a book in itself.) Suffice it to say, I got a B in History and made the Dean's List that semester.

One day at lunch during Yearling (Sophomore) year, an announcement was made that "anybody interested in joining the Fencing Team meet in Room XX in the gym". I figured why not?

So I went - and was introduced to the three blades with a demonstration by fellow cadets: foil, epee, and sabre. And they let us play around a bit.

Foil: too many rules, didn't like it.
Sabre: got welted from my shoulders to my waist, too many rules
Epee: no rules essentially, just stab the other guy

I ended up fencing epee my last three years and loved it. Great trips, great cadets, memorable experiences.

I recommend that everybody get involved in something - anything - chess, rugby, drama, the radio station, the yearbook. It really makes a difference to the cadet experience.
 
So, Maine, if a Corps Squad athlete (either recruited or make the team by walk-on tryouts) is having difficulty academically, are they always "removed" from the team, or are they allowed to practice with the team, but not play until the grades come up? I know some civilian schools have extra tutoring and study help for athletes...but wasn't sure how that works with USMA.
 
MaineGrad86 said:
Mi Well, the golfers went to the golf course to hit balls. I can't remember if I asked or not, but one day I went with the golfers.

I hit balls with borrowed clubs and just kept going. The coach saw some merit in my ability and had no problem with me being there. (Though to this day I curse him for teaching me how to hit a draw/hook! :yllol:)
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I am just curious. What kind of golf scores do you need to make the golf team? I am half-way decent (but by no means good) :smile:
 
soccmomer said:
So, Maine, if a Corps Squad athlete (either recruited or make the team by walk-on tryouts) is having difficulty academically, are they always "removed" from the team, or are they allowed to practice with the team, but not play until the grades come up? I know some civilian schools have extra tutoring and study help for athletes...but wasn't sure how that works with USMA.
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No, they are not always removed. In fact, they normally are not.

I had two things not in my favor: 1) I was not recruited, 2) I wasn't really that good - I was in no danger of becoming one of the top five.

There is lots of help available to cadets and coaches encourage them to seek it, teammates also help out, fellow company mates etc....

But when push comes to shove, the Academy wants to produce an officer, not an athlete.
 
Daaltaraan said:
I am just curious. What kind of golf scores do you need to make the golf team? I am half-way decent (but by no means good) :smile:
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I usually shot in the high 70s - barely good enough for the coach not to dismiss me out of hand.

It is humbling though - I played with a cadet one day who shot a 68 without breaking a sweat.
 
There will be a time during beast where they will hold tryouts for both club and corps squad teams. This will most likely be during the later half of beast, it will be called "Club night(s)". New cadets will have the opportunity to talk to coaches, and some team members about the sport/club. Tryouts are also held during this time as well. Even if you are not recruited and would like to try out, there will be opportunities during club night to find out if you want to try out. Don't be intimidated, and go out for every club/sport you are interested in. Think about it. There are probably 1,000 other new cadets just trying to find some solidarity over the summer. For me, sports helped me get through.

So yeah, give it your all during these try-outs, and remember to have fun!
 
Walk-On

My son accepted appt to the class of 2017. He was a recruited USMA athlete and established a rapport with the coaching staff. Unfortunately, mid-summer the team filled its coveted spots and he did not earn one.

Regardless, he attended the summer camp and got 3 more days of evaluation, made camp all-star team, and the coaches encouraged him to walk on. He stayed in touch and arranged a visit to the coaches this fall during his overnight visit and they reinforced their invitation.

After accepting his appt, he contacted the coaches and they added them to the corps squad workout/practice list during Beast. He will get a full evaluation then and tryout with Varsity with option to play JV.

Bottom line:

1) start early with coach contacts - freshman to soph year of HS - and establish a positive rapport, send videos, stay in touch with sports and academic updates
2) Demonstrate academic excellence
3) Attend USMA camp - as many times as you can and start early
4) Find out what tourneys USMA recruits and play there (club teams)
5) Learn the NCAA contact rules - coaches can't contact you until 1 Sept of your Junior year but for some sports that's too late if you really want a spot - you can call, email, visit, and approach them earlier
6) Some sports have JV teams at USMA - that's a great option
 
Equipment

If we are going to try out for our sport during beat, what about equipment needed for the sport? I'm going to assume the academy doesn't want kids showing up on R-day with golf clubs, soccer cleats, track spikes, etc. Do they give us proper equipment/clothing for tryouts?
 
^I was wondering the same thing about bringing basketball shoes.


Also, who do the JV teams play? About what level of play is it? (equivalent to DII, DIII, ect.)
 
My brother graduated class of 2012, and from the discussions we have had it is difficult to walk on to a team without a previous relationship with the coach.
 
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