I knew he wasn’t going to make the team before the he put his shoes on. I’m no fortune teller but I’m rarely wrong. It’s nothing personal but people tend to forget:
Not all student athletes get scholarships.
Not all student athletes get attention.
Not all student athletes get recruited.
And not all student athletes that competed in high school get the opportunity to play in college.
But nobody cares about a little thing called facts when it comes to sports. Against all odds is the name of the game. A previously held stat line , accolade, or an award has never won a game being played currently. If only the facts mattered; we wouldn’t watch March Madness Basketball.
We wouldn’t tune in to the playoffs?
We wouldn’t watch the championship games
And that’s the reason year after year we get so many ambitious hopefuls that didn’t get recruited to play at the university; decide that they want to try out or walk on . Over the years we’ve had about 100 or so who decide to tryout. About 7 a year. How many do you think actually make the team?
5.
5 a year?
No.
5 over the span of 10 years.
5 out of 100.
The other 95 or so are just in the way. I know that sounds mean but I don’t get to keep my job based off of “feel good” stories. My job is always in question and the only thing that brings any stability is winning. The other 95 just weren’t winners.
It’s nothing personal.
There are more years than not that we end up having zero walk ons that actually make it. But this isn’t random. Nearly every time a walk-on doesn’t make it, it boils down to 5 things. And those same 5 things are the same things that hold back so many collegiate student athletes graduates , that are looking to find a career
- Use a warm lead
Too often times walk-ons think they can make the team based off their skill level alone. What they should do is have someone vouch for them prior to them trying out in the first place. You want to separate yourself from the jump. With so many people desiring to get a spot on a team, you want to separate yourself early on. The first time the coach hears about you should not be when you show up for tryouts. You should have already dropped in a few times prior and your credible contacts should have already called and spoke about you to the coaches. Notice I said “credible”. Unless your mom or dad was your previous coach they should not be calling on your behalf.
Why play fair?
You want to have several people that can speak favorably on your behalf.
The same is the case when finding a career. I know you may think that your resume, school you graduated and your grade point average should do the trick but that’s simply not the case. The more desired position boils down to who knows who. Who’s willing to put their name on the line for you? Bonus points if you already know someone that works within the career that you desire to work in.
2. Don’t play with a chip on your shoulder.
Playing with a chip on your shoulder or playing with an edge is something that is often times celebrated in sports. But there’s a time and place for everything. When you’re walking on to a team or trying out; this aint the time or the place. In your mind you may think it’s just being competitive but from the outside looking in it looks like a person that has a bad attitude. It looks like you are positioning yourself as a person that is them against the world. And the world is the team they’re trying to make. Does that make a lick of sense to you?
I didn’t think so either.
When in the pursuit of a career as a former collegiate student athlete be mindful of the mood and how it can be received to the decision makers who will hire you. Gone are the days that you can rest on “I may face just looks like this naturally. It’ll be different when they get to know me.” With that mentality , you won’t last long enough for them to have the chance to get to know you. Being relatable and approachable is not an option. It’s a requirement. You can have all the information in the world but if your presence is too off putting for your co workers to get that information; there’s no reason to hire your or keep you around.
3.Be a collaborator and enhance what we already have going on . Don’t make it about you.
Too often times student athletes feel like they have to play a role that’s going to give them the most attention instead of playing the role the team actually needs them to play. Understand that the coaches already have the framework of what they’re looking to achieve for the upcoming season. They’re just looking for a small piece that can enhance what they’ve already put together. If you are a person that makes it about themselves instead of trying to enhance what the team already has in place, this will end up making you look bad.
The most successful student athletes who are trying out for the team have already done research on what that particular team is in need of. Let’s say we’re playing basketball. Instead of trying to shoot every time you touch the ball and outscore the established shooter who is already on the team; how about you prioritize getting that person the ball and celebrating their success?
When it comes to your career; how can you enhance what they already have going on? Have you researched the pain points they are experiencing and have you come up with an innovated solution that can save the company time , energy and money? Are you able to successfully communicate that information in a way that’s not off putting or disrespectful?
Companies want to hire and work with those that are going to row in the same direction as the rest of the people on the boat and not someone that is committed to their own individualistic approach.
4. Don’t talk bad about your previous coach or employer. It makes you look like a clown.
This should go without being said but every year I see student athletes fall into this trap. Don’t talk crap about your previous school or coaching staff.
No matter what.
Even if you are right.
This happens especially if the student athlete didn’t play as well as they think they should have or if they think they should have been utilized differently by the coaching staff.
Trust me this is a bad look for a number of reasons. Coaches know each other and it really shows how you ‘re willing to speak about them if something doesn’t go your way. No matter how you really feel about the previous coach / school; it’s best if you speak with a sense of gratitude and respect.
The same can be said for your career.
5.Play Nice in the sandbox. Don’t throw sand in another person’s hair.
No sport is done alone. Even if it’s an individual sport, there are so many people behind the scenes that directly impact your performance. Being nice to them is important. Think about how often you practice, travel and compete with those on your team. Often times you see your teammates more than you see your own family members!
Being nice and likable is something that directly impacts overall team chemistry. Without it there’s no trust and when there’s no trust you can’t depend on each other and when you can’t depend on each other; the team will always be fragmented and will never be able to get on the same page in order to be successful. You have to be nice and a likable person to be around on a team Be nice. It’s as simple as that.
My first job after graduating as a collegiate student athlete humbled the heck out of me. The first 8 months had me rethinking if I was cut out for this line of work. I made so many mistakes and had so many embarrassing things happen to me as I did my best to try and figure it all out.
I eventually got to the point where I could hold my own and one of the first things I did was ask my my supervisor and the person who hired me ; why they hired me in the first place because to be honest, I’m not sure I would have hired myself.
He looked at me with a smirk on his face and said “ I knew you’d make it.” He said that the interview process was just to see if you were a people person and you could work well with others. I can teach you everything else.” That’s something I never forgot. So ask yourself; do people celebrate when you leave the room and try to avoid you when they see you coming or are they excited for the next time they can work with you again and they meet you half way because they’re just that pumped to see you again?
These things matter.
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