It is not uncommon for college students to continue playing competitive sports despite knowing they are not going pro. To some, this may seem like a waste of time, but in short, it is not. If fewer than two percent of student-athletes go pro, there must be a reasonable explanation for why they are still playing the sport.

Sports have been a way for me to express myself better than when I am just going about my day regularly. The adrenaline and competitiveness show a different side to a person, bringing out traits such as passion, confidence and communication. Many people just have a love for a certain game and don’t want to quit playing after high school, so they go play in college even though they aren’t going to the next level of play.

There are over 250,000 student-athletes in college who aren’t even at the D1 level. For reference, the NCAA estimated that 0.5 percent of those 250,000 student-athletes go pro, or roughly 1,250 athletes.

Not only is “the love of the game” a factor, but college sports also provide these young individuals with many skills that they can use later in life, with time management being an example. Student-athletes have to balance classes, studying, practice, games, media and many other obligations that come with that role. If it weren’t for the sport that they are playing, many of the athletes wouldn’t know how to manage time effectively for their professional lives.

Being a part of an athletic team or organization is so much more than just playing a few games throughout the year; it also brings traits such as discipline, teamwork, mental toughness and resilience. Each of these traits prepares the student-athletes for their careers beyond professional sports.