If we were to compare the college campus to the animal kingdom, the college athlete would be the equivalent of the Lion: top of the pack and revered by many. It’s not unusual for college aged women to be drawn to the “king of the jungle.” After all, a college athlete guy is likely in awesome shape, ambitious and has a bright future – what’s not to like?! However, the fantasy of dating a college athlete and the reality often don’t line up. Ladies, if you’re chatting with a college athlete online, here are a few things to consider.
- No matter what he says, his sport is his #1 priority –
Before you decide to date a college athlete, you need to be aware that this guy devotes a lot of time to his sport – and we’re not just talking a couple of hours a week. Think: four hour workouts in the morning, hour long weight lifting sessions at the gym, on top of regular practice. He may be really, really into you but you have to be prepared to share his time with his sport. His schedule is really restricted, so while dating isn’t impossible, if you’re looking for a boyfriend who can be super spontaneous and hang out at the drop of a hat, dating a college athlete probably isn’t for you.
- He has a lot of feelings about his sport –
If he has a bad day training or at practice, it affects him – deeply. When this happens, expect him to be in a bad mood or feel like his day is completely ruined. I know it’s easy to say, “But it’s just baseball/hockey/basketball/football – what’s the big deal?” but for this guy it isn’t just a “big deal” – it’s his life. He’s worked really hard to get where he is and spends a huge chunk of time working on his passion. It’s his raison d’etre. Naturally he has a lot of feelings about it. If you’re dating a college athlete you have to be prepared to take this on, because whether you like it or not, it will have some effect on you and your relationship.
- If you’re not into sports, that might be a problem –
If your main motivation behind dating a college athlete is because you want someone with a nice bod and high earning potential, but have no interest in sports – you’re kind of missing the point and are likely going to run into problems. This dude lives, breathes and sweats his sport. If you’re not interested in what he does – or willing to learn more about it, there’s a good chance one or both of you will eventually become bored.
- His idea of a night out is probably different than yours –
Although the stereotype of a college athlete is a handsome jock who constantly has women hanging off of him, this isn’t always the reality. Although there will definitely be women who flock to him, the truth is that your college athlete probably doesn’t go out very much because his schedule is really intense and involves a lot of early mornings. He also doesn’t do any kinds of drugs because he’s subjected to regular testing (a big check-mark in the “pro” column!) So, don’t be surprised if his idea of a “night out” usually involves hanging with his teammates (you’re going to have to get used to the fact that he spends a lot of time with these guys) or spending a quiet night in with you watching some Netflix.
However, this isn’t to say that dating a college athlete isn’t possible. Although it’s important that you keep your expectations in check by considering the points above, dating a college athlete also comes with its share of pluses:
- He’s incredibly goal oriented and knows how to commit to something long-term-
Motivation, ambition and follow through are all extremely attractive qualities in partner. Sports help cultivate these attributes. No one wants to date a slacker. Your college athlete guy is driven to achieve his goals – both in sport and life.
Your college athlete knows quite a bit about commitment – if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have made it this far in his sport. Although his schedule may be totally crazy, and dating him, challenging, this guy knows what it’s like to go after what he wants and stick with it – another admirable quality in a guy!
- He has a really nice body and looks great in a uniform –
Those 4am workouts pay off. Need I say more?
With that said, when considering whether you should date a college athlete the most important person you consider is you. Given what you know about his schedule and commitments, will dating him make you happy? Be honest. Also keep in mind that it’s so easy to get swept up in the momentum of someone else’s dreams that you lose sight of your own. Before you date a college athlete – or anyone – make sure that you have a support network of good friends and a happy, fulfilling life independently from anyone else. Not only will you be much happier long term, you’ll have so much more to bring to the table when you meet the right person.
