5 Reasons College Softball Players Make Good Employees
If you compete at the college level, in any sport, you are bound to learn a few things along the way that will stay with you for the rest of your life. It’s all about the experience, right? Every sport at the college level is different. Softball being a spring sport demands six months of team practices and workouts before the season even begins in the spring. Not only are these student athletes balancing 20 hours of practice a week in the fall, they are also managing a full academic course load on top of it.
When spring comes, traveling, games, and the full academic load takes over. When teams travel in the spring, many leave on Thursday’s, then play one game a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and then return home late Sunday night. Then it’s back to school Monday through Wednesday and the schedule is repeated. Home games are a little different but the game playing schedule remains the same. Instead of a travel day, most teams will practice instead.
Students attend college so they can acquire a degree and get on a career path. Student athletes attend college so they can continue playing the sport they love, to acquire a degree, and to get on a new career path once their athletic career concludes. Softball players learn many different skills throughout their college career that carry over into the real world after college. Below are five skills acquired by softball players in college that would stand out to an employer if added to a resume.
Time Management Skills: College softball players balance a full academic load, 20 hours of practice a week, mandatory study tables, travel, games, and any other team-related function coaches throw their way. They are also expected to perform in the classroom as well as on the field. It may take a couple semesters to get the hang of it, but softball players in college have great time management and prioritizing skills. They have to, or they wouldn’t succeed.
Teamwork: There are roughly 22 players on every college softball roster. It takes all 22 individuals to work together to compete for and to achieve the team’s common goal. In softball, there is no “I” in team. Softball players know how to work together as a group and this skill carries over to group projects in the classroom and in other areas of life.
Communication: Many softball players develop strong verbal and leadership skills when they are competing in college. They are taught to voice their opinions and are trained to communicate with coaches and teammates so everyone is on the same page. Athletes are natural born leaders and their personalities on the field carry over to the real world.
Hard Work Ethic: From a young age, athletes are told that “if they aren’t working hard, someone else is”. Many athletes, especially those at the college level are intrinsically motivated. This means they will put in the extra work without being told. In college, the majority of the team members will operate this way. They will work hard at their softball craft, work hard in the classroom, and work hard in other activities they are involved in.
Able to Perform Under Pressure: College softball players thrive under pressure. If they didn’t they wouldn’t be on the field in the big games. Not only are college softball players able to take on multiple tasks at once (school, travel, games, etc.), they have the ability to succeed in all of them. These athletes are put into high-pressure situations every time they take the field and they possess the mindset to stay composed which allows them to succeed. This is a skill that definitely carries over into the workforce after softball is done.
The college years will go by fast, especially for a college softball player. Most college coaches will take the time to prep and educate their players on what’s to come after their careers conclude. Working in the real world may seem foreign and be intimidating because it’s something completely unfamiliar. Trust the skills you have developed in the sport of softball and personal experiences because you a prepared and you will succeed.
