I want my (hypothetical) daughter to play college sports.

Jock…Gym Class Hero…Gym Rat…the stereotypes thrown at athletes are endless, especially in the world of female sports. I can remember being a freshman in high school pitching for the varsity team, and the baseball team called me “testosterone.” (I should point out that our record was much better than theirs that year!) Athletes get a bad reputation and are often portrayed poorly in the media, yet generally these athletes in the media are the exception rather than the rule. Obviously, as many of you are raising amazing young women that I have been fortunate enough to work with who will continue to break stereotypes. 
 
Where does this stereotyping stop? It stops when those of us who do the right thing and are proud of what we accomplish on and off the field step up and say something. Stand up for your daughter and female athletes when someone sends a shot our way. Your daughter should be proud of who she is and what she has accomplished. When people question our choices to play sports and dedicate our lives to the craziness of traveling every summer and practicing almost year round remind them of the life lessons that your daughter learns.
 
“I saw both of my daughters deal with stereotypes in different ways as they grew up. There were moments in each of their careers when I questioned what was best for them and if this really was the right path for them and our family. Years later, I am thankful for the paths they each took. Playing collegiate softball helped shape each of them into the successful young women they are today.”
            - Laurie Murphy (also known as my awesome mom who
            raised two softball crazed & just plain crazy daughters)
 
 If your daughter chooses to take her game to the next level, there are SO MANY doors that are opened for her. Participating in college athletics should be considered a positive experience. The balance that student athletes maintain between academics and athletics not only helps them to succeed but also prepares them for the future.
 
Why I would want my (hypothetical!) daughter to participate in college athletics
 
1. A Huge Support System: On average a softball team has 20 players, and maybe 4 of those players are freshmen. This gives those 4 freshmen 16 people automatically who have been in their shoes as well. Most programs have required academic meetings with coaches or study halls to be sure that student athletes are also staying on top of their academics. Many programs have added academic support such as tutors and advisors that have worked with athletes for years.
 
2. High Expectations: Whether it comes in the form of NCAA Eligibility Rules, a Team Contract, or keeping up with classroom with a crazy schedule your daughter has been given expectations much higher than the general student population. She is expected to keep up with her classes or there will be consequences in athletics as well.
 
3. Time Management: Sometimes, the less time you have, the better you are at managing it. By having commitments outside of class your daughter will learn (if she hasn’t already!) how she “operates” the best and when she needs to do what. For me, it was always getting up early in the morning to do my homework and studying before I went to class and practice because by the time I was done with practice all I wanted was food and sleep! My teammates all managed their time differently, but they did what worked for them. As an adult, the time management skills I developed as an athlete help me at work more than I ever imagined they could.
 
4. Networking and her Future: Two words: resume builder. Employers don’t see “athlete” on a resume, they see “responsible, time management, respectful, dedicated, gritty, problem solver, mentally tough….” and the list goes on. On top of this, the alumni networking that occurs when you graduate as an athlete from an institution is huge. You automatically have something in common with thousands of professionals who graduated from the same school you did!
 
5. Lifelong Fitness: No “freshman fifteen!” just kidding…but seriously, the exercise and nutrition habits that I developed as a college athlete are now second nature to me as an adult. The gym has become an outlet after a long day now that I no longer have practice for that, and eating healthy isn’t something I need to think about on a daily basis anymore.
 
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“I wouldn’t be as successful as I was in college athletics if I didn’t have the support of my parents, teammates, and coaches. My teammates determination inspired my determination. My coach would read quotes that would help to put everything into perspective and refocus my energy on school and field hockey.
            - Miranda Wallace, Shippensburg Unv. Field Hockey (Senior, 2016 DII Champions)
 
“One way that really helps me balance academics and athletics is budgeting the time I’m going to spend on each the night before. That way when I say I’m going to pitch or workout after my class, I don’t really have an excuse. I also like to do everything the night before I start studying or doing homework, so it’s easier for me to go hit or pitch while I’m still out and about.”
            - Shannon Tierney, Rhodes College Softball (Freshman)
 
“Time management is key. Having a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule helped to give me an idea of what the short term and long term looked like without getting overwhelmed. That way I could also stay on top of my class work, play softball, and still have time to relax at the end of the day - having time to unwind is important too!
            - Taylor Dorman, Shippensburg Unv. Softball (Junior)
 
“I’ve been a student-athlete for as long as I can remember so I don’t really know any different. School work always comes first then practice. A normal day is school, homework, practice, then bed.”
            - Lexi Alleman, Shippensburg High School Softball/Field Hockey (Sophomore)
 
“The most important factor in balancing athletic participation with academics is time management. The athletes that do the best job of staying ahead of their studies and getting their work done early are the ones who tend to have the best ability to balance the two.”
            - Jeremy Phelps, Rhodes College Assistant Men’s Lacrosse Coach