Mastering the Game: The Ultimate College Recruiting Guide for Multi-Sport Athletes

There are only a few places where being a jack-of-all-trades is ideal –  and sports is one of them.

Being an athlete takes extreme dedication, innate skill, and lots (and lots) of practice to make it big. And in this day and age, we’re seeing the rise of a new way to sharpen and refine your skills year-round;

Playing as a multi-sport athlete – and coaches are catching on.

With an extensive range of talents and a dedication to playing sports year-round, coaches are actively recruiting students and players with a multi-sport background, and there are multiple reasons why.

What is a Multi-Sport Athlete?

A multi-sport athlete is an individual who participates in more than one sport at a competitive level. As athletes, they are completely versatile, with a range of elite skills and abilities that propel them into challenging themselves in different sports. Multi-sport athletes are often respected and sought after for their ability to play across multiple disciplines.

Multi-sport athletes work with the advantage of many (many) more hours of practice and year round access to coaching. A well-rounded multi-sport athlete might play 2-3 sports that challenge different areas of mobility and agility.

For example, an athlete playing basketball and hockey would have skills in running, dribbling, shooting, endurance, precision, and the opposition of playing in heavy equipment vs. no equipment. Each of these skills balances different muscle groups and movements, helping athletes also stay in top form.

Benefits of Working with Multi-Sport Athletes

Practicing as a multi-sport athlete keeps players strong and agile on the field, but there are also benefits that come from these types of training that apply off the field as well. Multi-sport athletes also showcase a few extra talents:

• Mental toughness: 

Participating in more than one sport is a challenge that naturally builds mental toughness and resilience, which is crucial to college-level athletes who are balancing training, playing, studying, and a healthy balanced lifestyle. This resilience can translate into a competitive edge on the field or court, helping players stay focused under pressure and perform at their best.

• Versatility: 

Multi-sport athletes have unique skills and abilities, and a heavy dose of drive, staying dedicated to their athleticism and improving a variety of skills year-round. With a broad range of competitive experiences, these are well-rounded players and performers on any team.

• Injury Resilience: 

Participating in multiple sports helps athletes develop a full spectrum of major and minor muscle groups, ultimately leading to better overall fitness, cardiovascular health, and injury resilience. Preventing injury is especially crucial for year-round players at a college or professional level.

• Team Dynamics:

Multi-sport athletes understand the importance of communication, cooperation, and trust on any team and are often the first to contribute to leveling up the team spirit. Solid team spirit leads to better team dynamics and a more cohesive team on and off the field.

How to Get Recruited as a Multi-Sport Athlete

There are many advantages to being a multi-sport athlete, including increased physical fitness, improved mental agility, and the opportunity to develop a broader range of skills in addition to a certain competitive edge. Coaches and recruiters are looking for these multi-sport skills, and highlighting them is a great way to stand out.

Here are StellaPop’s tips for standing out for coaches and getting recruited as a multi-sport athlete:

1. Focus on Your Best Sport: While being a multi-sport athlete has its advantages, most professional teams will be looking for athletes who excel in one particular sport. Focus on developing skills in your best sport first, then bring your second or third sport to a high level.
2. Showcases and Competitions: Showcases and competitions are a great way to get noticed and put your name on coaches’ lists. Attend as many events as possible in the year leading up to your next step, and make sure to stand out as professional and personable in front of scouts and coaches.
3. Networking:  Building relationships with coaches and scouts can make or break your career when it comes to getting noticed. Introduce yourself to coaches and scouts, shake their hands, and come prepared with your highlight reels and contact information. Attend camps and clinics, and be sure to follow up after the event to keep your name top-of-mind.
4. Create a Highlight Reel: A well-edited highlight reel can showcase your athletic abilities and make a strong impression on coaches and scouts. Make sure your reel targets your top sport and showcases top plays in others.
5. Keep Your Options Open: While it’s important to have your personal dream in mind, don’t limit yourself to just one sport or team. Be open to all opportunities and teams, and keep an open mind about your options.
6. Stay Dedicated: Getting recruited to a professional team as a multi-sport athlete requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Stay focused on your goals, work hard, develop your skills, prioritize your attitude and work ethic, and never give up on your dreams.

Getting Recruited to Different Sports as a Multi-Sport Athlete

Excelling at a few positions can be key to getting noticed by recruiters, but focusing on a few key skills can help you niche down:

• Basketball: versatility, ball handling, shooting, and rebounding
• Football: strength, speed, agility, running, catching, and tackling
• Soccer: technical skills, dribbling, passing, and shooting
• Baseball/Softball: hand-eye coordination, power, accuracy, hitting, fielding, and throwing.
• Hockey: speed, handling, shooting, accuracy

Remember, regardless of the sport, the key to getting recruited as a multi-sport athlete is to focus on your strengths, showcase your versatility, and work hard to develop your skills.

And if you need a little help with any of the above, StellaPop can help!