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"Intercollegiate athletic is a major segment of the sport industry" (Principles and Practice of Sport Management)

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"Intercollegiate athletic is a major segment of the sport industry" (Principles and Practice of Sport Management)

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The amount of college athletes today is the highest it has ever been in history. Not only is college athletics seen as an activity for athletes, it is a business for all of the people behind the scenes of the games.

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The history of youth sports began many years ago. Some of the earliest games consisted of "lacrosse" played by priests because the stick resembles a bishop's cross shaped crosier. Despite the long history of unofficial sports, organized athletics did not begin until the mid-nineteenth century.

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"as long as there are boys and girls, a need for play and competition will exist" (Principles and Practice of Sports Management)

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Organized sports started first in private schools in the US. The idea began with increased health and wellness for students required physical activity. Public schools began to incorporate physical activity at a much slower rate than private.

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This is a very interesting article taking a look at the beginning of sports in different parts of the worlds. It is interesting to see the similarities between these beginning sports, and some of the ones we see today.

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By Tim Lambert

Sport In The Ancient World

Egyptian Sport

People have always played sports. In Ancient Egypt, people went swimming. They also enjoyed boxing, wrestling, and archery. They also played a game that involved standing on a boat and trying to knock the opposing team into the water with a stick.

The Olympic Games

In Ancient Greece, athletic competitions were held during religious festivals in every Greek city. However the Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC in honor of Zeus, the leaders of the gods and people came from all over Greece and the Greek colonies to take part in them. Wars stopped to allow everyone to take part. Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, running, horse racing, chariot racing, and the pentathlon (five athletic events). Winners were not given medals. Instead, they were given a crown of leaves.

Women were not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. However, women had their own games dedicated to the goddess Hera (wife of Zeus). The Heraean games were held once every 4 years.

Roman Gladiators

In Rome and other major cities in the Roman Empire gladiators were men (or sometimes women) who fought, sometimes to the death to provide entertainment. The first gladiators fought in 264 BC at a funeral. Six gladiators fought to entertain the guests. The word gladiator means a man who fights with a gladius (a short sword) and the word for a gladiatorial fight was a munus, which means a duty owed to the dead.

In time gladiatorial fights became separated from funerals. They evolved into public shows put on by rich Roman politicians to please their supporters. Eventually, Roman Emperors were expected to put on costly shows to keep the poor people of Rome happy. At first, gladiators were slaves but later some were criminals who were sentenced to fight for a set period of time or a set number of games. Surprisingly some people volunteered to be gladiators. Again they fought for a set period of time or number of games and were given a large sum of money if they survived.

The Romans also liked chariot racing. There were four teams, greens, blues, reds, and whites. The charioteers were treated as heroes. However, being a charioteer was dangerous and could be fatal. In the Roman Empire larger towns also had an amphitheater where sports such as cockfighting were held and sometimes gladiators fought to the death. Some Roman towns also had theaters.

Sport in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, games for the poor were cheap like wrestling, running races, and playing dice.

The main pastime of the upper class was hunting. Men hunted deer with packs of dogs and killed them with arrows. They also hunted wild boar with spears. Both men and women went hawking. Knights also took part in tournaments. At them, knights fought with wooden lances, swords, or maces. This was called jousting. There were also tourneys (fights between teams). Tournaments often lasted four days. Two days were for jousting, one was for tourneys and one was for archery competitions.

Golf is believed to be a corruption of the Dutch word 'kolve', which meant club. The Dutch played games with clubs in the Middle Ages but golf developed in Scotland in the 15th century. Meanwhile, the first recorded bowling green was laid out in Southampton in the 13th century.

Even for Medieval peasants life was not all hard work. People were allowed to rest on Holydays. On them, poor people danced and wrestled. They also played a very rough form of football. Men from two villages played on a 'pitch', which might include woods and streams! Injuries were common.

Furthermore, in the Middle Ages, people made skates from cow's shoulder blades and went ice skating. People also enjoyed cruel sports like cockfighting and bear-baiting. (A bear was chained to a post and dogs were trained to attack it).

Sport in the 16th Century and 17th Century

Although the days of armored knights were over the rich still enjoyed tournaments. The contestants dressed in armor and rode horses. They fought with wooden lances and swords. The rich also went hunting deer with bows and arrows. After it was killed the deer was eaten. The rich also went hawking and falcons were trained to kill other birds. However, in Tudor times rich people did not hunt foxes.

The Tudors also liked wrestling and 'casting the bar', which was like shot-putting but with an iron bar. They also played billiards.

Ordinary people still played a rough version of football. And cruel 'sports' like cockfighting and bear-baiting were still popular.

In Tudor times people learned to swim using bundles of bulrushes as floats.

In the 17th century, traditional games like bowls continued. So did games like tennis and shuttlecock. Wealthy people also played a game called pale-maille (Pall Mall in London gets its name from an area where the game was played). Furthermore, Charles II also made yachting a popular sport.

Sport in the 18th Century

In the 18th-century people continued to play tennis and a rough version of football. In the 18th-century horse racing became a professional sport. The Jockey Club was formed in 1727 and the Derby began in 1780. Also in the 18th-century cricket took on its modern form. The first cricket club was formed at Hambledon in Hampshire about 1750.

In the 18th century, many people still watched cruel sports like cockfighting and bull baiting. Rich people liked fox hunting. Bare-knuckle boxing was also popular (although some boxers began to wear leather gloves in the 18th century).

Sport in the 19th Century

By the early 19th century many people disapproved of cruel 'sports' like bull-baiting and cockfighting. Bull baiting was banned in 1835. Cockfighting was banned soon afterward.

During the 19th century, many sports became organized. The London Football Association devised the rules of football in 1863. The first international match was held between England and Scotland in 1872. Meanwhile, Australian rules football was invented in 1858. In 1867 John Graham Chambers drew up a list of rules for boxing. They were called the Queensberry Rules after the Marquis of Queensberry. In 1879 the rules for the modern game of tug of war were devised. Then in 1880, the Amateur Athletics Association was founded.

Several new sports and games were invented during the 19th century. Although a form of tennis was played since the Middle Ages lawn tennis was invented in 1873. Softball was invented in 1887 by George Hancock and basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith. Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan. Netball also began in 1895. Baseball evolved from an earlier game. It became an organised sport in 1845. The National League was formed in 1876. American football evolved in the late 19th century. The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920.

People have skated on ice for centuries but the first artificial water-based ice rink opened in 1876. Ice hockey became an organized sport in the 1870s. The International Ice Hockey Federation was formed in 1908. Modern croquet began in the 19th century. Modern badminton also developed in the late 19th century. Meanwhile, the first women's cricket club in Britain was formed in 1887.

At the end of the 19th century bicycling became a popular sport. The safety bicycle went on sale in 1885 and in 1892 John Boyd Dunlop invented pneumatic tires. Bicycling clubs became common.

Polo is an ancient game. In the 19th century, the British learned to play polo in India and they brought it back to Britain. The first polo club in Britain was founded in 1872.

In 1891 the first World Weightlifting Championships were held. Then in 1896, the Ancient Greek Olympic Games were revived. The first Olympic Winter Games were held in 1924. Meanwhile, the first Tour de France was held in 1903. In 1954 Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in less than 4 minutes.

Ralph Samuelson invented water skiing in 1922.

Last revised 2022

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By Tim Lambert Sport In The Ancient World Egyptian Sport People have always played sports. In Ancient Egypt, people went swimming. They also enjoyed boxing, wrestling, and archery. They also played a game that involved standing on a boat and trying to knock the opposing team into the water with a stick.

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Most common non school agency to develop was the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).

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The first YMCA was conceived in industrial London in 1844 when a farmer-turned-department store worker and his friends gathered to organize a refuge for young men seeking escape from the hazards of the streets. Today, the Y still harkens back to its roots in creating safe, enriching spaces for communities across the globe.

The formative years of the YMCA were ones of inspired growth. We saw the organization's mission spread to cities across the U.S., lifting people up and strengthening communities.

Once again, the Y played an instrumental role in times of crises during the 2000s, providing essential services and support when and where it was needed most. We also adapted to the evolving landscape of health and well-being with new programs and partnerships designed to support generational changes in young people and modern-day families.

The Y has grown exponentially over the span of our rich history, but our mission of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all has remained constant.

Our vision continues to evolve as we strive to increase our impact in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility in the U.S. and across the globe.

For more than 170+ years, the Y has been building spirit, mind and body for all. We know that strong people build strong communities - because we are all better together.

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When George Williams founded the first YMCA in Industrial Revolution-era London, he sought to create a supportive community to help young men like

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Governance: The system of rules, processes, and practices that guide the decision-making and actions of a sports organization.

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NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

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NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

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nonprofit organization

national coordinator for high school sports

comprised of three components

other organizations affiliated with NFHS:

NFHS coaches association

NFHS officials association

NFHS music association

NFHS speech, debate, and theatre association

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promote participation in a particular sport for children

little league baseball = best known national youth league organization

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four levels of organization: local, district, region, and international

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"Rules also require that every child plays in every game" 

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"Rules also require that every child plays in every game" 

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("Principles and Practice of Sport Management")

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Each year, Little League® provides its constituent leagues with current Little League rules, regulations, and policies that outline and define the operation of the program. It is important for all Little League volunteers and parents to be familiar with the most up-to-date version of Little League's Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies. These rulebooks, published for all divisions of Little League Baseball®, Little League Softball®, and the Little League Challenger Division® provide the structure and support for local leagues and Districts to provide a meaningful Little League experience for all children in their community.

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Little League Rules, Regulations, and Policies

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Little League provides its leagues with current little league rules, regulations, and policies that outline and define the operation of the program.

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School Athletic Director/League Director

Officials and Judges

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Above is an article about a day in the life of a high school coach. The article goes through the ups and downs, as well as the challenges and rewards one particular coach gets within his career in this age group.

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A day in the life of a high school basketball coach

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Adolph Caldwell makes the roughly 30-minute drive from his home in Cayce to Dreher High School every day, arriving around 7 a.m. Caldwell, who is Dreher's boys head basketball coach, gets up at 6 a.m. When his team holds morning weightlifting workouts, he is forced to wake up even earlier.

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As a couch of a younger age group, many challenges arise within the area of winning, safety, opportunities, and professionalism.

Most recent concerns in regards to managing youth teams have been surrounded by head injuries.

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Knowing the signs of a concussion as a parent is a key intervention to prevent worsening of the injury or longer healing times. Concussions affect not only sports performance, but school performance. These ages are a critical time for educational learning within school systems and it is important to prioritize.

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Concussions are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that affect your brain function-at best temporarily. Scientists have followed professional athletes throughout their careers and reported on the detrimental long-term effects of TBIs.

Over the past 20 years, we have witnessed a rapid transformation in how everyone, from the scientific community to sporting organizations, to athletes themselves and legislative bodies, views sport-related concussions (SRC). Thankfully there is progress in TBI studies and causes as well as treatments.

Concussions in young athletes are both avoidable and preventable. Young athletes can avoid traumas or concussions by playing safer and using proper equipment and techniques.

Similarly, concussions in teenage athletes seem to be commonplace, especially in football, soccer, among other sports, where falls and contact happen often and repeatedly. Unfortunately, concussions happen in female and male athletes, as teens or children, and are more likely to occur in those that have experienced even one concussion.

Consider this article a heads up in concussion training and a guide to preventing TBIs from a young age.

Concussions in Young Athletes

It is common to have multiple concussions in athletes. Often athletes need to practice the same drill repeatedly before it's mastered, thus, opening the door to potential concussions if practiced improperly. Those who have experienced concussions had a 3-5 times greater risk of additional concussions than those who never experienced one.

According to the NCBI, over 12 percent of young athletes experience concussions in their athletic careers. Further, female athletes have a 1.5 times higher concussion risk than their male counterparts.

Sports that have a statistically higher rate of concussions:

● Martial arts

● Boxing

● Wrestling

● Football

● Track and field

● Cheerleading

It might surprise parents or coaches to read this list. However, all sports and activities have the potential for concussions and other sports-related injuries.

How Do Concussions Affect Athletes?

Concussions in young athletes are not uncommon. Everything from poor spatial management to a misstep can cause an athlete to fall and injury themself in some way. Even the best athletes of any age are at risk for injury, so it is a matter of time and circumstance.

Concussions in teenage athletes can affect future performance both in school and on the field. Any TBI can affect an athlete's growth and development in the classroom affecting their ability to focus or concentrate.

Boxers and wrestlers are known to have delayed motor skills as their careers progress, and reduced cognitive function. What would it look like to avoid that altogether?

What Parents Need to Know About Concussions

Again, concussions in young athletes are preventable. Studies show that young athletes are more susceptible than adults to concussions. Further research suggests that there is a more prolonged disturbance of the brain than previously thought, meaning the damage is more impactful than suspected.

Sometimes symptoms of a concussion are latent or subtle. Often they last for days but can last for weeks or longer. What should parents look for?

Symptoms of concussion include:

● Brief amnesia

● Headache

● Confusion

● Headache

● Tinnitus

● Vomiting

● Fatigue

● Blurry vision

● And more

Parents, coaches, and teachers should be aware of changed behaviors and potential symptoms. Any change in attitude, mood, or performance should be the first flag to look for before investigating further. When in doubt, seek professional assistance and insight.

How to Avoid Concussions in Youth Sports

Concussions in teenage athletes or younger can be avoided or at least minimized. To start, coaches and parents can encourage proper play and ensure proper technique and equipment usage.

Education might be the most crucial first step in preventing concussions in youth sports. Teaching athletes and coaches about what to look for in concussions can help everyone know when to stop and recover. For example, if they do not know blurred vision or dizziness is a symptom, they might not know when to stop.

Trust that athletes know their bodies best when they err on the side of caution.

Here are a few ways to empower the athlete to avoid concussions or injuries in sports:

● Teach athletes what to look for in a TBI or injury

● Regularly check equipment for malfunction or tears

● Build an arena of awareness so athletes are comfortable talking about injuries or potential injuries

How to Diagnose a Concussion in Your Child

Again, it may be hard to determine if your child has a concussion or maybe a mild injury. Symptoms vary from incident-to-incident and child-to-child.

If you are unsure, always consult a professional. A reputable doctor will evaluate your child and determine if additional computerized neuropsychological testing needs to be performed. These tests help determine reaction time, memory, and concentration-and they do not hurt.

Professionals suggest performing a baselines test before each season so that if any event occurs, parents can compare the results.

Every concussion is a significant event. Repeated head traumas in athletes can cut their careers short and limit their potential. Unfortunately, only trained medical professionals that specialize in concussion training can diagnose a concussion or rule it out.

The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey is one of the best NJ sports concussion centers in the northeast. It provides baseline testing before any injuries are present and helps athletes diagnose any problem with more accuracy. The team at OINJ is trained in diagnosing a concussion and prescribing and performing any follow-up testing. Contact OINJ today for more information.

This article was reviewed and approved by an orthopedic surgeon as we place a high premium on accuracy for our patients and potential patients.

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what parents need to know about concussions

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Concussions in Young Athletes | The Orthopedic Institute of NJ

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When concussions happen to young athletes, parents have every right to be concerned. If you live in NJ, here's what you need to know about your young athletes' concussions.

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school and youth organizations = non profit enterprises

Some parents are unable to afford the expensive budget of sports resulting in decrease sports participation of their child

Transportation to the sports practices becomes an issue when parents are trying to work for children to be a part of the team

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The US is one of three counties in the world to use the metric system.

The only sport that has embraced the metric system is track and field.

The metric system has been a controversial topic in the track and field community.

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Many studies have found that homeschooling athletes can be very beneficial to their performance in professional sports. The controversy behind this though, is that this time is critical for education. Is it worth taking time away from learning to focus on training?

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Kids' Sports Psychology | Mental Game Skills for Young Athletes

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling Young Athletes | Kids’ Sports Psychology

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As homeschooling is growing, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative to public or private schooling.

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LGBTQ students have been more targeted, resulting in a more difficult time getting involved in sports. The article states how many LGBTQ members choose not to participate in sports with fear of discrimination. Only 1 in 3 LGBTQ members reported participating in sports teams.

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Many sexual abuse cases are seen today within childhood sports. Cases continue to show up within the community and have caused changes with how coaches respond and treat their athletes

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"The molesters are almost always men, and in youth sports most, though not all, of the victims, are boys."

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"The molesters are almost always men, and in youth sports most, though not all, of the victims, are boys."

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The Sad and Dark Side of Coaching - CoachingBest

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With the recent emergence of the 'me too' movement, more evidence of physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse - not just female but also male athletes - is surfacing.

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Winning is the biggest goal for schools and sports organizations

Rules can get blurred when the desire to win is so high

Many teams have been altered do to this inability to follow sport regulations

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Athletic directors are key positions in making university sports properly function. This article explains a detailed job description on an athletic director at Ohio State University.

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Athletic directors and administrators play essential roles in schools and institutions of all sizes. With millions of students participating in school sports each year, athletic directors ensure student-athletes, coaches and staff have the support and resources they need to achieve at a high level and learn through athletics.

Taking part in school sports has been linked to a variety of positive emotional, social and physical outcomes. Project Play, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program, states that physically active children get up to 40% higher test scores, are 15% more likely to go to college and have lower levels of depression.

Because of these positive benefits, athletic directors at the K-12 level have the potential to have a lasting impact on young people through the work that they do, creating a solid foundation for the rest of their lives.

What Does an Athletic Director Do?

The daily life of an athletic director varies depending on the size and grade level of the institution in which they work. Still, some athletic director duties remain consistent. A successful athletic director must have a firm understanding of everything from legal issues to event planning. While athletics is the core of the profession, a plethora of knowledge in other areas is required.

Athletic directors oversee all aspects of athletic programs associated with the school. This can include hiring coaches, ordering equipment, marketing events, budgeting and more. Many athletic directors also participate in fundraising and work directly with students. At the K-12 level, athletic directors may also coach or teach physical education courses at some point in their careers.

Some athletic director duties can include:

Addressing legal issues: As with any role in education and administration, legal issues may arise. Athletic directors must have a firm understanding of the laws and regulations they must follow.

Managing risk: There are inherent risks in playing sports and running large events. Developing plans to mitigate these risks is part of an athletic director's duties.

Marketing programs and events: Interscholastic athletic programs can't make much difference if no one joins or supports the teams. Publicizing programs and creating community outreach campaigns can be an important athletic director role.

Budgeting: No matter where you choose to work, budgeting may be challenging. Not only must athletic programs operate within an institution's budget, but sometimes revenue goals are tied to athletics.

Hiring: Athletic directors are responsible for hiring and developing a diverse and capable coaching staff and dealing with personnel issues as they arise.

Scheduling: Planning practices, coordinating with other schools, assigning referees and ensuring transportation can all fall on an athletic director to oversee.

Given the diversity of duties athletic directors have, it comes as no surprise that dynamic individuals with a wide range of skills and attributes do well in the field. Athletic directors must be able to make decisions, organize vast programs, be consistent and put in the hard work to make programs successful. Some vital skills that athletic directors must possess include:

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Financial administration

Event management

Marketing

Policy development

Earn Your COSMA Accredited Athletic Administration Masters
Explore OHIO's online MAA degree
Athletic Director Career Outlook

Studying athletic administration can lead you many places, allowing you to tailor your career to your interests and goals. Athletic directors can work in multiple areas of education, from elementary school to the university level. They are needed in public and private schools, as well as in organizations that support child development such as nonprofits and religious organizations.

The role of athletic director gives you a chance to make an incredible difference in the lives of students, but it also provides stable employment and a good salary. Employment in entertainment and sports occupations is projected to grow 13% from 2021 to 2031. This demand should result in 95,500 new jobs over the decade in various settings. Those who pursue master's degrees and certification as athletic administrators may find it easier to compete for jobs and top salaries.

Earn an Athletic Administration Degree

Enrolling in a master's-level athletic administration degree is a great first step to transitioning from your current role to this in-demand career. All degrees are not created equal, and many don't provide the blend of expertise and flexibility that educators need to pursue higher education and continue to work.

Ohio University's online athletic administration degree is a great option for those with the desire to stand out among the competition. With five decades of experience in sports education, OHIO delivers the field-specific coursework, application-based learning and valuable industry connections students need for success.

Faculty in the online master's in athletic administration program have extensive experience in the sports industry. Most have worked as athletic directors, and several adjunct faculty members were directly involved in the creation of the NIAAA Leadership Training Institute. Many continue to teach leadership training courses at national and state conferences. Their valuable industry insights inform coursework and class assignments to ensure you develop the most applicable skill sets for your K-12 athletic administration career.

When you finish this accredited 20-month program, you'll have earned credit towards certification through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Leadership Training Institute to pursue credentials such as:

Registered Athletic Administrator

Certified Athletic Administrator

Certified Master Athletic Administrator

Enhancing your MAA degree with these industry-recognized credentials will help you stand out in the job market as a professional ready to lead any athletics department to success. Find out more about OHIO's online athletic administration master's degree today.

The MAA degree isn't your only option when growing your athletic director career. Those interested in sports administration at the collegiate or professional level should explore OHIO's Online Master of Sports Administration program, which can be completed in a hybrid format.

Your Future Starts Here
Online Programs
Call Us

740.924.5725

to speak with a knowledgeable Enrollment Counselor.

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A Career as an Athletic Director: Description, Duties and Degree

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Athletic directors and administrators play essential roles in schools and institutions of all sizes. With millions of students participating in school sports each year, athletic directors ensure student-athletes, coaches and staff have the support and resources they need to achieve at a high level and learn through athletics.

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financial changes

world series changes

rivalries dissolving

new members

coaching changes

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The first every intercollegiate athletic event was between Harvard and Yale. The event was a crew race and was located right here in Massachusetts. Soon after, other sports began to follow this idea of intercollegiate competitions. Baseball was the next sport to participate in this idea, then football, and many more soon after.

The events and competitions originally began student run and took place in the 1800s. No coaches were involved in the events, but as they became more popular, more fans and spectators came to watch.

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As competitions between intercollegiate athletics grew, students who ran the events realized that more help was needed in order to properly operate the events. The first coach was hired in 1864, William Wood. He was the coach of the Yale crew team and hired to help the team win.

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"Yale hired William Wood to train its crew, making him the first professional coach in American college athletics" (nytimes).

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Shoe-won-on-the-Fourth-you-Bett. Artist: Thomas Nast his Thomas Nast cartoon celebrates an Independence Day victory of an American crew, Sho-wae-cae-mettes (nicknamed the "Shoes"), over their British rivals at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England. In sixteenth-century England, betting on which passenger boat would arrive first at its destination gave rise to organized competitions, which were held annually from 1715.

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Football was seen as a very dangerous sport when first beginning. With the high risk of injuries, administrators were deemed to get involved in the athletics. Princeton university was the first college to form an athletics committee as a result of football at the school. Soon after, other faculty members got together to create higher branches of the committee, and official representatives.

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The foundation visited 112 colleges to identify multiple cases of different kinds of abuse. The reports stated that the president and faculty of the staff carried responsibility for control over the college athletics.

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Sports were originally oriented for men and the extent of sports for women remained in physical education class. The first collegiate sport for women was introduced by Senda Berenson of Smith College. Although trying to create equality for men and women in the world of sports, changes were still made to make an appropriate game suitable for women.

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Senda modified 13 rules to the mens game of basketball to accommodate the women playing. These changes were set to make the game less strenuous and more inclusive.

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Senda Berenson Abbott 1868-1954 American physical education teacher Source for information on Berenson Abbott, Senda: Notable Sports Figures dictionary.

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NCAA: The primary rule-making body for college athletics ("Principles and Practice of Sport Management")

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The NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, is composed of three divisions. Division I is the highest level of college sports and includes many well known universities and programs. Division II is less demanding than DI. There are less rigorous year round commitment, but still relatively intense. Division III allows the athlete to focus on academics as much as the sport. The sport is the least demanding and offers a well rounded college experience.

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If you want to know all about the NCAA divisions, you've come to the right place.

According to the NCAA, there are 363 Division 1 schools, 313 Division 2 schools, and 442 Division 3 schools.

How many NCAA divisions exist?

The NCAA has three division levels: Division I, Division II, and Division III.

To give you a better idea of the size and how these college divisions compare, about 187,000 student-athletes compete at the Division 1 level.

More than 124,375 student-athletes compete in Division 2 and Division 3, with just over 186,000 student-athletes on its various rosters. And that's just the NCAA divisions.

There's also the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The NAIA has 250 schools and, of course, many options at the junior college level for high school athletes. All divisions share some similarities, but each has aspects that make them unique.

Student-athletes and parents should note that for the small percentage of high school athletes that end up playing at the D1 and D2 level, only about 57 percent of D1 athletes receive some type of athletics aid and D2 athletes fare just a little better at 60 percent that get athletics aid.

Division I: Your sport, your life

What is a D1 athlete?

A Division 1 (D1) athlete is a student-athlete who participates in a college sports program that is a member of the NCAA Division 1. Division 1 is the highest level of college sports competition in the United States and includes many of the largest and most well-known universities and athletic programs.

What is D1?

D1 is short for Division 1. Division 1 programs offers the highest level of competition between the NCAA's three divisions. Most Division 1 programs are found at large schools with big athletic budgets.

How many D1 schools are there?

There are 363 NCAA D1 schools across the U.S. Division 1 schools have the largest athletic budgets and provide more scholarships compared to the other division levels.

There are many reasons athletes try for Division 1 colleges. Who wouldn't want to compete at a large university in front of big crowds against some of the best athletes in their sport?

But playing in a D1 sport is not all glory. Training and practices take up most of your time. You won't be able to have a part-time job, an internship, or vacation during spring break. You may even be volunteering when you're not training, practicing, or studying.

Every moment of your day is accounted for. Many athletes stay on campus during the summer and take their most challenging classes then because they can devote more time to them. Some student-athletes feel separated from their classmates because they aren't training as heavily as they are.

You live, breathe, and sweat your sport because that is what it takes to compete at the D1 level.

If you're interested in D1, view NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 1 College for student-athletes.

What does D1 mean?

D1 stands for Division 1. It is the toughest division to get into and compete in. If you are on the roster of a Division 1 team, you are a Division 1 athlete.

It's considered the most challenging division because you spend most of your time training at the gym or practicing. You take classes and study, but never as much as you train and practice.

Division I and the Ivy League 8

Some of the country's oldest and most prestigious schools make up the Ivy League. They are:

Brown University

Columbia

Cornell

University of Pennsylvania

Harvard

Princeton

Yale

Dartmouth

They rank among the top 20 NCAA Division 1 schools within the NCSA Power Rankings. And according to the NCAA, more than 8,000 student-athletes compete every year for these schools.

Most choose the Ivy League for its ultra-high level of competition in both athletics and academics. If an Ivy League school is on your target list, note that these schools do not award academic or athletic scholarships.

Financial aid is based on needs determined by the financial aid office at each school. Some schools will change their financial aid options yearly based on your grades and sports performance.

Division II: A more balanced approach

If you want a more balanced approach to college, consider a D2 program. Being a Division 2 athlete also requires a lot of training and practice, but less than D1.

There are still the demands all student-athletes face, but it is not as intense and rigorous as the year-round total commitment of a D1 athlete.

Additionally, you're more likely to be rewarded with aid. 60% of D2 athletes receive athletic aid.

If you're interested in D2, view NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 2 College for student-athletes.

Division III: A well-rounded college experience

If you want to focus on academics as much as your sport, a D3 program is your best bet. This doesn't mean you don't train or practice. But it's less demanding and intense than it would be at a D1 or D2 school. Academics are just as important as athletics in a D3 school.

A D3 program offers you a more well-rounded college experience. You'll have a better chance to make friends outside your sport and feel more connected to your classmates.

View NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 3 Colleges for student-athletes.

The surprising D3 differences

D3 is slightly different from D2 and D1. One difference is that all D1 and D2 athletes must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the NCAA. Each school sets Division 3 eligibility requirements instead of the NCAA.

Regarding scholarships, D3 students receive non-athletics aid through grants and needs-based scholarships. But that doesn't mean they don't do well. Approximately 87% of D3 athletes graduate from college within four years. See what D3 colleges offer full scholarships.

Watch the video below to compare all divisions.

Is there a NCAA D4?

Currently, there is no Division 4. In 2013, there was talk of adding a fourth division. CBS reported what D4 could have been like. It's unknown why the plans for a fourth division didn't move beyond talks.

Why an NAIA school might be your best bet

It may surprise some, but the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has been around longer than the NCAA. With 250 primarily private, smaller schools, more than 60,000 student-athletes compete at NAIA colleges in various popular sports for the 2022-23 academic year.

Many consider NAIA to be on par with NCAA D3 schools regarding life/sport balance and level of competitiveness. The NAIA awards close to $800 million in athletic scholarships every year. That, along with more aggressive recruiting, is driving more talent to these schools and increasing competition. Today, top-level NAIA schools are like competing on an NCAA D2 team in terms of competition level.

If you want to play sports and have a chance to do well in college, the NAIA may be your choice. Learn more about the NAIA and how it differs from the NCAA below:

Don't ignore junior colleges

Between the three NCAA divisions and NAIA schools, it's easy to overlook junior college athletics as an option. But junior college is a good choice, too. According to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), about 60,000 student-athletes participate in 28 different sports at 500+ schools nationwide every year.

Many don't consider a junior college because there are some common misconceptions about what junior colleges can offer student-athletes. However, today's junior colleges have a lot to offer, especially regarding scholarships and other cost savings.

Junior college is the best path to getting a four-year college roster for some athletes. For others, it's a chance to stay close to home, earn college credit, and continue their athletic career. Here are four reasons why junior colleges can be an excellent option for student-athletes:

Looking for more reasons to consider attending a junior college or pursuing junior college athletics? Here are a few more advantages of a junior college that other division levels may not have.

They're more affordable

Junior colleges are less expensive than public and private four-year colleges and universities. This is due to a few factors. One has to do with the fact they are two-year schools which are cheaper to run. Another is that they often don't have dorms to upkeep.

Junior colleges also tend to be more generous with academic and athletic scholarships. Plus, you have more time to save for a four-year school.

It's more practical than taking a year off

It is tough (if not impossible) to get recruited to play at a four-year college after taking even one gap year between high school and college.

But junior colleges offer remedial classes, which can get you up to speed on some of the basics and make four-year college courses easier.

Every major requires history classes, math, science, and English. You can knock those out in junior college. That way, you'll be ready to tackle the major-related courses at your transfer university.

Recruits can make an impact right away

Junior college athletics coaches look for players that can hit the ground running and may even recruit for starting roles. They know that since you've been a student-athlete at a junior college, you know what it takes to compete.

You won't be a benchwarmer. You'll be hitting the field hard.

Increase your chances of getting recruited at a four-year college

College coaches like to recruit JUCO athletes because they're a safer bet than their high school counterparts. Coaches know these athletes have a track record of balancing college academics and athletics while maintaining their eligibility.

While nearly everyone starts out with D1 as their goal, it comes down to what type of college experience will suit your child. The good news is that with four NCAA divisions, NAIA schools, NCCAA schools, and junior colleges, there's something for every type of student-athlete.

NCCAA: Christian Schools

The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) was founded in 1968 and has nearly 100 schools with over 23,000 student-athletes competing in 26 different sports. About 50% of member schools are dually affiliated with D2, D3, or NAIA, giving their student-athletes the benefits from those organizations along with a Christ-centered experience and competition opportunities within the NCCAA.

Earn a degree from an institution that can help your spiritual journey. NCCAA schools incorporate Biblical educational components and provide chapel opportunities.

How to gauge your talent to find your best division

One of the first steps in the recruiting process is to accurately gauge your talent level and get an understanding of the divisions you might be suited for athletically. However, each day, we talk to athletes who don't have a good grasp on what's realistic for them.

And we get it! It's tough to predict what level you'll be at in three or even two years. The good news: There are plenty of ways to figure out where you stand athletically. The bad news: It's still going to require that you honestly evaluate yourself. Let's check out some of the best ways to get a better understanding of your true athletic talent.

Watch college games at every division level

Watch college athletes closely and compare your current skill level to the competition. If you can, visit local schools and universities and see it live. And be realistic! If you need to improve drastically to get some playing time on a team, check out a game at a different division level and see how you compare.

The head baseball coach at D3 Webster University Bill Kurich explained during a panel discussion,

"Go watch a Division 1, a Division 2, a Division 3, or an NAIA game." He added, "One of the best things I did-I played at Quincy University-I went and watched them play. I sat in the stands and said, 'You know what, I can play here; I can do this.' I also went and saw Illinois State play the University of Northern Iowa when I was in high school, and I thought, 'Well, maybe not.' Not that I wasn't as good, but I wasn't going to play... And I knew I wanted to play every day."

When you're watching a game, ask yourself these questions to help you figure out if this is the right level for you:

Could you compete with these athletes today? If not, are you on track to be at that level as a senior?

Would you get playing time if you joined this team? Is playing time important to you?

Can you picture yourself competing on this team and for this school?

Review rosters of schools at different division levels

There's a lot of helpful information you can get from a college sport's roster. To find it, go to the school's website and find the roster of current team members. Typically, you can find it by searching for the athletic program and then your specific sport. Each athlete will most likely have a short bio that talks about their high school and collegiate accomplishments. Here are a few key things to look for:

Check out the body types of the athletes in your position. How do you stack up to their posted heights and weights?

Are you competing in the same tournaments and showcases as the current athletes?

Review their list of high school accolades (e.g., All-State, All-City, team MVP or captain), and consider how your current compilation of accolades compares.

For individual sports like track & field, swimming, etc., pay particular attention to the athletes' current stats. Compare that to your current numbers

Keep an open mind as you're looking through schools' rosters. If you never imagined yourself competing at a D3 school-but those are the athletes who most resemble you-it's worth it to continue investigating what that division has to offer.

Hint: There are countless benefits to attending a D3 school. Learn more about D3 colleges and universities.

Get evaluated by a third party

In many cases, it can be difficult to objectively evaluate yourself. Especially on something as personal as your athletic talent. That's where third parties come into play. Experts can either evaluate you in person or via your highlight film. Make sure your highlight film is up to date.

You can ask your current high school and/or club coach to evaluate your talent level. Recruiting experts like us can also help. NCSA College Recruiting evaluates athletes in 37 1 different sports. Another avenue to investigate is evaluation camps. As the name indicates, they are camps for camps in which coaches help high school athletes gauge their talent and give them improvement suggestions.

When getting a third-party evaluation, here are a few questions to ask the evaluator:

What level do you think I could compete at right now?

How much would I need to improve to get to the next level?

What are my strengths? What weaknesses should I work on?

Compete against elite athletes

Some high schools and clubs compete against tough teams who notoriously turn out college athletes. For athletes who already compete against the elite, every game is an opportunity to level set and see how they compare to other athletes in their recruiting class.

Some athletes play for smaller teams and don't necessarily get a chance to compete against other college-bound athletes. If that's the case for you, find camps, showcases, summer leagues or club teams to play against the best high school athletes.

How to decide which is best

Getting a better understanding of your talent is a great place to start when figuring out your best school. However, don't forget that a great match is about where you fit athletically, academically, and socially. You may have the talent to compete at the Division 1 level, but that doesn't mean that will be the best fit for you academically and socially. Keep all three factors in mind as you build your target list of schools, visit campuses, and do your research.

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The College Divisions Explained (D1 vs. D2 vs. D3) | NCSA

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Learn the differences between the NCAA college divisions and what it means to be a D1, D2, or D3 athlete.

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Member conferences of the NCAA provide many benefits to the institutions. The member conferences have a big say in the NCAA rules and regulation, directors, and allows other people to have a say.

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Athletic scholarships are a relatively new idea and has been added on since the beginning of the NCAA. Not only scholarships but budget and funding opportunities. These financial advancements help to progress the financial issue seen among sports.

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assistant athletic directors specializing in:

business manager

media relations

social media

ticket sales

fund coordinator

marketing director

sport program administrator

event coordinator

academic affairs director

compliance coordinator

student positions

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"A job in college athletics is hard to come by because many people are trying to break into this segment of the sport industry" ("Principles and Practice of Sport Management")

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Finances: the price of college athletics has continued to increase leading to the next issue

Should athletes be paid or not

Sexual abuse from coaches

Low hiring rates for minorities and women

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The awful story of Sandusky is unfortunately something that is seen very often in sports. It is something that is tried to cover up to save the reputation of the school or team that was apart of it, but creates trauma and deteriorates the victims mental wellbeing.

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Timeline: The child sex abuse case of Jerry Sandusky

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Ten years ago, former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with 10 felony counts in connection with his child sex abuse that spanned decades.The Collegian looks back

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Shrewsbury High School, home of the colonials, is where I went to school. I was a member of the crew team, which was a rare sport to find. In Massachusetts, there are only 19 high school crew teams.

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Shrewsbury High currently has 34 varsity teams, 17 junior varsity teams, 3 freshman and 3 middle school sport programs that compete at a D1 state level.

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Shrewsbury's athletic program provides student athletes opportunities that help develop and promote leadership skills, individual responsibility and active citizenship. The program continues to grow both in terms of student participation and the number of sports offered. We have an experienced and reliable coaching staff committed to helping students develop as athletes and individuals.

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Westfield State University, home of the owls, is a very different athletic program than my high school was. I have not participated in athletics here at Westfield, but found it interesting to compare the two schools athletic departments.

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The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association is a part of the Shrewsbury High school Athletics. The mission statement is to provide leadership and support of interscholastic athletics and allows them to enrich the educational experiences of all participants.

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On the schools website, there is a resource for the Shrewsbury Public Schools concussion policy. The policy states that student athletes that get a concussion are able to fully recover with proper healing. This means that in absolutely no circumstances are students allowed to continue playing, as long as the student self reports symptoms to the coach. The goal that the school works towards is making sure the students know the signs and symptoms of a concussion so they are able to self report.

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All members of the Shrewsbury High extracurricular activities must take an online course providing the member with proper information on identifying a concussion, as well as risks of not properly treating a concussion. Players must be symptoms free for 48 hours before returning to the activity. On the Shrewsbury high website, they have instructions for each day to follow for proper treatment and healing of the injury.

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The Shrewsbury High School Athletic Department is a good example of a very professional - like athletic department at a lower level. With such demanding practices and competitions, the administration plays a big role in making sure that the student athletes education comes first. The principal may remove or suspend a student from athletics at any time if necessary.

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Westfield State is a D3 school, meaning that athletes have an adequate and balanced college experience including school, sports, and socialization.

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In college, an issue that is not as often seen in High School athletics is hazing. This is a form of bullying that has had to put laws against doing as it became so popular. The student athlete handbook it attached.

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Please report any inappropriate behavior or concerns about activities.