What Those High School Athletes AREN'T Telling You (But Wish They Had Known!)
The Inside Scoop You Won't Hear on Social
When you see those high school athletes with their team photos and championship posts on social media, it all looks pretty perfect, right? But there's so much more to the story than those highlight reels!
We interviewed dozens of high school athletes about what they wish they had known before starting their high school sports journey. These honest confessions might surprise you—and they'll definitely help you feel more prepared!
Secret #1: Nobody Feels Ready That First Day 😳
"I was TERRIFIED on my first day of volleyball tryouts. I was sure everyone would be better than me, that I'd mess up every drill, and that the coach would wonder why I even showed up. But guess what? Almost everyone felt the same way! Even the girls who'd been playing for years were nervous about the new coach and teammates." —Jade, 11th grade volleyball player
The Truth: That first practice or tryout is nerve-wracking for EVERYONE, even the returning players! Coaches expect new players to be learning and don't expect perfection from freshmen.
Pro Tip: Find out if your high school offers summer conditioning or pre-season camps. These more relaxed sessions help you get comfortable with the facilities, meet some teammates, and learn basic drills before the official season starts.
Secret #2: Your Body Will Change (And That's Good for Sports!) 💪
"I hit my growth spurt right before freshman year and suddenly felt super awkward and uncoordinated. Skills that used to be easy became challenging because my body proportions changed. But by sophomore year, I was faster and stronger than ever because I stuck with it through the awkward phase." —Marcus, 12th grade basketball player
The Truth: The middle school to high school transition often coincides with major physical changes. You might temporarily feel less coordinated or more tired as your body grows. This is NORMAL and temporary!
Pro Tip: Be patient with yourself during growth spurts. Focus on proper form and technique rather than speed, and communicate with your coach if you're experiencing growing pains or fatigue. Many coaches will modify training to help you through these phases.
Secret #3: You'll Need to Level Up Your Recovery Game 🛌
"In middle school, I could play hard all day and feel fine the next morning. In high school, practices are so much more intense that I had to get serious about recovery. Now I have a whole bedtime routine with stretching, foam rolling, and making sure I get enough sleep." —Taylor, 10th grade soccer player
The Truth: High school training is significantly more intense than middle school sports. Your body needs proper recovery to avoid burnout and injury.
Pro Tip: Start developing these recovery habits now:
Get 8-10 hours of sleep (yes, really!)
Hydrate throughout the day, not just during practice
Learn basic stretching routines
Eat nutritious foods that fuel performance
Take rest days seriously
Secret #4: Mental Skills Matter As Much As Physical Ones 🧠
"I was always one of the fastest runners in middle school, so I thought high school track would be easy. But when the races got harder and the pressure increased, I struggled mentally. I had to learn how to push through discomfort and manage my race-day anxiety before I could reach my potential." —Zoe, 11th grade track athlete
The Truth: In high school sports, mental toughness often separates good athletes from great ones. Skills like focus, resilience, confidence, and emotional control become incredibly important.
Pro Tip: Start training your brain along with your body:
Practice positive self-talk
Visualize successful performances
Learn basic mindfulness techniques
Set process goals (things you can control) not just outcome goals
Keep a training journal to track your mental progress
Secret #5: Your Role Might Change (And That's OK!) 🔄
"In middle school, I was always the star player and top scorer. When I got to high school, suddenly I was coming off the bench. It was a huge adjustment for my ego! But I actually became a better all-around player because I had to develop new skills to earn my minutes." —Jamal, 12th grade basketball player
The Truth: Many middle school standouts find themselves in new roles in high school. This doesn't mean you're not good—it means you're playing with a larger talent pool and have the opportunity to develop new dimensions to your game.
Pro Tip: Embrace versatility! Ask your coach what specific skills would help you contribute to the team. Sometimes developing a specialty (like being an awesome defender or having a particular skill) can be your path to playing time.
Secret #6: Friend Groups Will Shift—In Good Ways! 👯♀️
"I was nervous about making friends in high school, but my team became like my second family. What surprised me most was that I became friends with upperclassmen who I never would have met otherwise. Those senior mentors taught me so much about high school beyond just sports." —Emma, 10th grade swimmer
The Truth: High school sports create unique social connections that cross grade levels. These "built-in" friendships make the transition to high school much smoother.
Pro Tip: Be open to friendships with teammates of all grades. Those senior athletes have navigated exactly what you're going through and can offer invaluable advice about everything from classes to college prep to team traditions.
Secret #7: Time Management Becomes Your Superpower ⏰
"Nobody warned me how busy high school sports schedules are! Between morning workouts, after-school practices, weekend tournaments, and trying to keep my grades up, I felt overwhelmed at first. I had to learn to use every minute effectively and plan my homework around my training schedule." —Sophia, 11th grade volleyball player
The Truth: High school sports require serious time management skills. The good news? Athletes often have BETTER grades during their sports seasons because they learn to use their time efficiently.
Pro Tip: Start using a planner or digital calendar now to track all your commitments. Break big assignments into smaller chunks that can fit into the time before practice or on bus rides. And don't procrastinate—unexpected schedule changes happen all the time in high school sports!
Secret #8: Coaches Want Different Things Than You Expect 🧐
"I thought high school coaches were just looking for the most talented players. But my coach told me he actually values coachability, work ethic, and being a good teammate way more than natural ability. Some really talented players got cut because they had bad attitudes." —Tyler, 12th grade baseball player
The Truth: High school coaches certainly value skill, but they're also building a PROGRAM, not just a team. They look for athletes who will represent the school well, support teammates, and contribute positively to team culture.
Pro Tip: Show coaches your "intangibles"—be on time, listen actively, encourage teammates, show gratitude, and always give maximum effort. These qualities will get you noticed even if you're still developing your technical skills.
Secret #9: Parents Need to Adjust Too 👪
"My parents were super involved in my middle school sports, but in high school, they had to learn to step back. My coach wanted players to communicate directly with him rather than having parents intervene. It was actually good for me to learn to advocate for myself." —Mia, 10th grade soccer player
The Truth: High school sports culture expects more independence from athletes and a different role for parents. The parent-coach dynamic changes significantly from middle school.
Pro Tip: Start practicing those adult communication skills now! Learn to talk directly with coaches about playing time, ask questions when you don't understand something, and take ownership of your athletic experience. Your parents will still be your biggest fans, but you'll be in the driver's seat.
Secret #10: The Best Memories Often Happen Off the Field 💭
"Everyone thinks the best part of sports is winning championships or hitting game-winning shots. But honestly? My favorite memories are the team dinners, bus rides, hotel room hangouts at tournaments, and inside jokes with my teammates. Those connections last way longer than any trophy." —Leila, 12th grade volleyball player
The Truth: The camaraderie and shared experiences of being on a team often become the most treasured aspects of high school sports—even more than the competition itself.
Pro Tip: Embrace ALL aspects of team culture, not just the games. Attend optional team events, participate in traditions, and be present in the moments between the moments. These are the memories you'll cherish long after high school.
Secret #11: You'll Discover Strengths You Never Knew You Had 💫
"I was always super shy in middle school, and I worried about speaking up in high school. But being on the basketball team forced me out of my comfort zone. By junior year, I was a team captain leading pre-game talks! Those leadership skills have helped me in everything from class projects to job interviews." —Aiden, 12th grade basketball player
The Truth: High school sports develop character traits and life skills that extend far beyond athletics. Many athletes discover talents and abilities they never knew they possessed.
Pro Tip: Be open to personal growth and stepping into new roles. The skills you develop through sports—teamwork, resilience, leadership, time management—are exactly what colleges and employers look for later.
What the Seniors Want You to Know 🎓
We asked high school senior athletes what single piece of advice they'd give to incoming freshmen. Here's what they said:
"Try out for that sport even if your friends aren't doing it. I almost didn't play lacrosse because none of my middle school friends were interested, but it became the best part of my high school experience and led to my college scholarship." —Kayla
"Take care of the little injuries before they become big ones. Don't try to be tough by playing through pain. I lost half my junior season trying to be a hero instead of addressing a small issue early." —Jackson
"Record your stats and highlights from the beginning, even if you don't think you'll play in college. I scrambled senior year to put together film for recruiters because I hadn't been keeping track." —Miguel
"The four years go by SO fast. Take pictures, keep a sport journal, and soak in every moment—even the hard practices and tough losses. You'll miss it all when it's over." —Olivia
Your High School Sports Journey Starts Now
The transition from middle school to high school sports might seem intimidating, but now you have the inside scoop! Remember that everyone—even those seemingly perfect varsity athletes—started exactly where you are now.
Be patient with yourself, embrace the journey (including the challenges), and trust that your high school sports experience will help shape you into a stronger, more confident person both on and off the field.
Your future teammates can't wait to meet you! 🏆
High school athletes: What other "secrets" would you share with middle schoolers about to start their high school sports journey? Drop your wisdom in the comments below!
