Being on a team, many find themselves tied to their teammates. You're together all the time: living together, traveling together, and spending every game and practice together. You probably even have similar class schedules to accommodate your team schedule, so you likely will be going to class and studying with teammates. 

Related: Social Factors You Need to Consider When Picking a College

Making friends outside of your team may seem challenging, but it is worth it. It's important to make friends outside of your sport because you will truthfully need a break from being around the same people all the time. Here are some ways that you can make new friends who aren't your teammates: 

Join Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

• This is a committee that ALL athletic programs have, and it was created to represent athlete interests in administrative affairs
• You get to be a representative for your team and get to meet people from other teams 

Related: The NCAA Student Athlete-Advisory Committee (SAAC) | “Incoming Freshman Take a Look”

Talk to people in class 

• Make friends in your classes and get to know them
• Being friends with classmates gives you built-in study group
• Your non-athlete friends can also help you out if you miss class for your sport

Try to live with athletes on other teams your freshman year 

• If you cannot directly live with other athletes, try to live in a suite with other athletes
• Living with someone is the easiest way to get to know them
• This is how I met many of my friends in college; my roommate and suitemates were on different teams from me

Go to the trainers

• You should already be going for treatment and ice baths anyway, so this doesn't take any extra time
• Athletes from multiple sports come together in the trainers' room, so it's a great way to make friends

Related: When to See Your Athletic Trainer

Join clubs 

• If you have an interest in something outside of your sport, join a club
• This is a simple way to make friends who have similar interests as you 

Join sororities/fraternities (Social or Professional) 

• Social: This one depends on where you go to school
  • Some athletes join sororities/fraternities for fun to meet more people
  • Joining a sorority/fraternity with similar goals and interests is a win-win
• Professional: Most schools have professional sororities/fraternities to help their students gain connections 
  • Examples: Alpha Kappa Psi (Business),  Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership)

Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on December 27, 2021, by Andrea Leitner