A “walk on” is a student athlete who does not receive an athletic scholarship to a school. Many student athletes are offered “walk on” positions, but you should be aware of a few things before making that commitment. First, is the school a top choice school for you? Would it be considered a “dream school?” How are your grades? Will you be receiving any academic money to help pay for your education? These are important questions to ask or to begin to ponder.
You will need to sit down with the head coach and discuss where you stand with the other recruits. If you are a student athlete that began the recruiting process late and the coach ran out of money, choosing to walk on to a dream school may be a good fit for you. Especially if you are only facing to pay for one year of school. It would be important to know if there is a possibility to earn money in subsequent years. Athletic scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. This means if you go to school your first year and slack off the coach can take your scholarship from you and offer it to another student athlete who is proving their self and is worth the investment.
Understand that some student athletes remain practice players all four years and do not get the opportunity to compete during game time. Make sure you are okay with this when you are considering your options. I always advise my clients to consider all their options and identify what is important to them. Although you may not be competing, the fact is you will still receive priority registration, have the opportunity to graduate in four years, and be a part of a college team.
As a college volleyball recruiting expert, I am here to help you every step of the way. It is my goal to help you understand what your options are and find the perfect fit! Whatever you do, don’t settle! There are lots of opportunities available. You just have to explore all your options and define your needs. To schedule a free consultation, email Kara@myrecruitingsolutions.com.