Going home after a hard day at school has to be the best feeling ever. Many students, however, stay on campus for multiple extra hours for their practice only to go home and start hours of homework.

Playing a sport and managing grades is second nature to some student athletes. However, taking their hobby to the next level, trying to get recruited for college, may cause some extra stress.

Starting mainly in junior year, student athletes hoping to play in college begin the recruiting process. College coaches can start contacting the athletes they would like to see on their roster. In volleyball, for example, representatives will come to major tournament and evaluate playing times. If they decide that a particular athlete is worth watching, the student’s name will go up on a board in order of skill. Starting at the top of the list, a position will be offered to each girl. The first signing period usually begins at the start of your senior year.

Student-athlete Kimmy Comito has been involved in her lacrosse recruiting process. She attends tournaments throughout her fall and summer club lacrosse seasons where hundreds of coaches come to watch hundreds of girls play. Determined to take her sport to the next level, Kimmy take the lead in contacting coaches of the schools she is interested in.

“It can be a lot to keep up with emailing coaches and seeing where I am on their radars. It’s a time consuming process, but it will be worth it in the end.” Kimmy looks forward to hopefully making a verbal commitment to a college over the summer.

Many other athletes are not looking for a big commitment but hope to continue to play recreational sports in college.

Whether you take sports seriously or just play for fun, finding time to manage both may be a bit of a challenge. Try using free time in school to complete homework so when you get home you can catch up on sleep!

The college recruiting process is a bit of a hassle, but spending the next four years of your life playing a sport you love will pay off.