This column is from the November issue of the New England Hockey Journal. Subscribe here.
As a proud alumnus of Castleton University, formerly Castleton State College, I’ve had the privilege to learn, compete and work alongside just about every collegiate platform available to today’s student-athletes.
Studying sports medicine at a small Division 3 school allowed me to experience excellent academia through low teacher-to-student ratios all while playing basketball in a competitive athletic conference. My horizons were set, and on it, the prospective of playing professional sports was not one of them. Self-reflection and proper management of personal expectations is crucial to taking full advantage of your collegiate opportunities as an athlete and a student.
Although many of you are now just beginning your athletic recruiting process, others are in the middle of an overwhelming and sometimes disheartening journey. With the exception of a very small, highly gifted set of athletes bound for Division 1 athletics, the majority of you will need to decide which level of athletic commitment you would like to pursue and how it ultimately will affect your personal and professional opportunities.
NCAA Division 1: This is the highest level of college athletics and, thus, the most competitive. D-1 schools typically have large budgets and expensive facilities, and student-athletes are expected to train and travel extensively. In these athletic departments, the school essentially dictates when you sleep, learn, train, practice and eat. For some, that is the ultimate dream; for others, the ultimate nightmare. Performing at a high level, maintaining orthopedic health and finding time to excel in the classroom are requirements you are expected to accomplish. Free time, family time and alone time are not moments of your life that are of top priority to the university that you represent. Winning, however, is.
NCAA Division 2: While still a competitive division, in Division 2, athletes are provided more balance in their lives, as training and competition aren’t as intense. For Division 1-caliber athletes looking for an opportunity to play all four years of college, this level is a great place to consider. Often smaller campuses with fewer students, D-2 schools offer great high school athletes the ability to remain big fish in small ponds. Conversely, high school athletes with their eyes set on Division 3 schools might want to consider D-2 if they are looking for more emphasis placed on regimen and commitment to sport. Regardless of what ability you possess, it is common thought that the top 50 percent of D-2 schools will outperform the bottom 50 percent of D-1 schools two-thirds of the time.
NCAA Division 3: No athletic scholarships are offered for Division 3 student-athletes, but there are many other forms of financial aid. The competition levels are still very high, but practice seasons are shorter, and there’s more of an academic focus. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that nearly 80 percent of D-3 athletes are candidates for academic and need-based financial aid. From an athletic commitment standpoint, nothing in the offseason is mandatory. Strength training, team activities, study hall and practices are attended on a 100 percent volunteer basis. During D-3 sports seasons, your daily life is a sample reflection of a D-1 or D-2 program. Team lifts, team study hall, practices and film can be made mandatory. Because so many athletes — some recruited and some not — could make any given team, the competition is high for a roster spot. If you want an opportunity to continue your athletic career but still experience the campus community, D-3 is your play.
NAIA: A much smaller community than the NCAA — with a little more than 250 schools the NAIA is a great option for student-athletes who love their sport but are looking for a smaller or private college, or a specific major to pursue. Castleton University began as an NAIA school and put together some of the best men’s basketball teams in the country when now-NBA coach Stan Van Gundy was coaching his way through the 1980s. NAIA schools are respectfully considered to be the same caliber as most D-3 schools and in some instances can compete regularly with D-2 schools as well.
NJCAA: Junior college (JUCO) is a good option for the student-athlete looking to get a sense of what college athletics are like at a two-year institution before transferring to a four-year college. Many student-athletes compete at the JUCO level because they are working on their NCAA eligibility or are trying to save money before transferring to a four-year college. Over a dozen times over the past five years, I have worked with athletes who suffered either a physical or academic setback that yielded a hiatus in their athletic pursuits. In almost all instances, the athletes attended junior college to physically mature and academically excel before accepting partial and full scholarships to a plethora of D-1 and D-2 institutions.
Every athlete has a unique life that demands decisions specifically aligned to their current position within it. Academic goals, athletic commitment, financial resources, family health and, most importantly, self-reflection are all variables you will need to weigh. It is not the budget of your athletic department that defines you, but rather a culmination of your commitment to education and winning in all arenas — through sport and in life.
Joe Caligiuri (MS, ATC) is the owner of Stadium Performance in Dedham, Mass., and has served as athletic trainer for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and NFL’s New England Patriots. SP offers Boston’s No. 1 injury-prevention, ACL rehab and speed programming. Check out spstrengthcoach.com.
