The below article, written by Zak Cheney-Rice, discusses participating in college athletics from a different angle:

http://mic.com/articles/85789/here-s-what-happens-to-the-98-of-college-athletes-who-don-t-go-pro

Though it's true that there's both a physical and mental void once you graduate and no longer have weekly games or daily practices, there are plenty of ways to stay involved in athletics. Many student-athlete graduates tend to stay in touch with their teammates and visit home matches, at least within the first few years of graduating. Others tend to fill the void by joining club teams and weekend leagues; many graduate college athletes even pick up a new sport to invest their time in. Some athletes, who are lucky enough to get the opportunity, go on to assistant or graduate assistant coaching positions in college or high school.

So if you're a high school athlete about to play in college, chances are the thought of life after athletics hasn't crossed your mind yet. While there are plenty of ways of staying involved in athletics, it's important to make the most of the four years of eligibility you have and that starts with choosing the right college athletic program for yourself.

Updated on 8/1/19 by Joe Pounders

* Originally published on October 7, 2015, by Keirsten Sires