How to Survive As A Walk-On On A College Sports Team

You have to understand that the coaches have their scholarship athletes best interests in their mind first and foremost. These players are going to get the best equpment and play the most because they were actually recruited and given money to come to that college. You will have to work so much harder just to even get a shot at playing or earning a scholarship. What would the coach look like, playing walk-ons over scholarship athletes?

You have to work hard even if you are only on the practice squad and may not have a shot at playing. You never know, when your oppurtunity may come. You want to be prepared to play should someone get hurt or something of that nature.

Be honest with yourself. Do you have the skills and ability to play as a walk on for that team? If not, you may want to consider going to a smaller D2 or D3 college where you can probably play at and probably get a scholarship to play at.

Don't give up on your dreams. There have been players who have been walk-ons, only to earn a scholarship and dominate at their school and even go on to play in the pros. Jim Leonhard of the New York Jets comes to mind. He wasn't even a scholarship player at Wisconsin until his senior year, despite him being a starter in a lot of games before then and breaking records at the University of Wisconsin. Now he is a starting safety for the New York Jets in the NFL. That should be enough to motivate you to make it as a walk-on for a team.