Chase Hoskins
Business Manager/ Digital Media Manager
According to the NCAA, of the “eight million students currently participating in high school athletics in the U.S., only about 550,000 will compete at NCAA schools.” The NCAA also states that only about 2% of high school students receive an athletic scholarship.
More than 50% of Webster Groves High School students participate in 28 MSHSAA-sponsored activities. When they graduate, many students face the question of whether or not they want to participate in college sports.
Varsity basketball coach Justin Mathes said, “I really believe that love of the game is one of the distinguishing factors between players who go on to play at the next level.”
“High school sports take the time obligations of a part-time job; college sports take the time commitment of a full-time job,” Mathes said. “Between practice, weights, film, conditioning, treatment, and study halls, a college athlete will have roughly four to six hours per day that are mandatory outside of classes.”
“College sports are much more competitive and less sympathetic — with new laws and roster spot limitations, it’s perform or get cut,” said Jon Petter, head coach of the cross country and track teams.
To maintain college athletic eligibility, you also are required to maintain a 2.3 course GPA. NCAA changed its rules following the House v. NCAA legal settlement, which eliminated traditional sport-specific scholarship limits in favor of strict roster caps. Under the updated rules, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field rosters are capped at 45 athletes, and standalone cross country rosters are limited to 17 runners. Using this new model permits more athletes to get scholarships. The rosters are locked out before the season begins, preventing unlisted athletes from participating in any official or voluntary team actions. The NCAA has also changed its athletic longevity rules by using an age-based eligibility model that gives students a continuous 5-year window to compete in five seasons, starting at college enrollment or after an athlete’s 19th birthday, and abolishing redshirting and medical hardship waivers. Only pausing for documented pregnancy, active military service, or religious missions. Leaving higher competition for a limited number of mandated roster spots.
“College coaches want to see athletes that can work hard in all facets of life and be successful,” Coach Petter said. “If a prospective athlete has poor grades, not only will it make it hard to get NCAA eligibility, but also hard to get into most universities — not to mention the coaches will worry about focus, stress management, accountability, etc.”
Playing sports has been shown to improve academic performance. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, 92.9 percent of students who play sports passed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills reading, compared to 61.3 percent of the non-athlete population.
Playing sports has also been shown to build a stronger sense of community and connection to school. According to the CARIS Sports Foundation, “High schools have regional rivalries and student athletes get to represent their school in what are most likely, heated games.” This helps students build a sense of community and honor. In addition to the health benefits, athletic scholarships can help students save money on tuition. “College coaches are trying to combine academic scholarships with athletic scholarships to cover more of the total cost,” Mathes said.
Participation in athletics is a strong incubator for real-world leadership and lifelong capabilities. Research shows that participation directly correlates with higher educational attainment, increased full-time employment, and higher wage earnings by 30 compared to non-participants.
