There is a very significant difference between high school and college athletics. Athletics at the college level are much more demanding, both mentally and physically. The seasons can be very long and strenuous. The coaches are generally much tougher on their players then they are in high school. These are some of the reasons many players love it and hate it so much. They want to step up to that next level and become a better athlete than they were in high school. Many athletes make the transition without any hitches, while others are not so fortunate and crumble under the pressure. Collin McIntee is a former high school hockey player making his transition into college hockey. “It’s not easy” Says McIntee when asked about how he was doing with making the transition into college athletics. “I’m not used to playing all year round, I’m only used to the 3-4 month seasons, so it should be interesting to see if I can last.” College athletics are obviously performed at a much higher pace than high school. “Every guy on a college team is one of the best players from a high school team, this makes the competition for a spot in the lineup very tough” says McIntee. The coaches in college are tougher on players for a reason. They want you to excel and play well, but if you don’t you are sure to be riding the pine for a while. This makes the players want to perform week in and week out so they can keep their spot in the lineup. This is a very powerful motivational tool.
There are many obstacles to overcome for athletes who want to compete at the college level. Ranging from injuries, angry coaches, mental toughness, and much more. These obstacles are what makes everyone appreciate college athletes and the hard work they put in to play the sports that they love. They are also what keep 98% of high school athletes from every being a college athlete.
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