There are many misconceptions about D3. It is not the “JV division.”
When it comes to college athletics, Division 3 can get a bad rap. There are no athletic scholarships given to athletes. Some believe this makes it is less prestigious than Division 1 and 2.
However, having played volleyball at both the Division 2 and Division 3 level, I can stand firm to the fact that D3 gets it right when it comes to college athletics. With a competitive atmosphere and a bigger emphasis on academics, it is the best option for athletes who want to have the overall college experience that they won’t want to forget.
Student-Athlete Approach
Like I said, a downside to NCAA D3 is the absence of athletic scholarships awarded to students, but many D3 schools offer academic scholarships that are far superior to the other NCAA divisions, and even NAIA. Despite not receiving any athletic money at Peace, my current D3 institution, I am only paying slightly more than I did at my previous D2 school.
The reason for no athletic scholarships at the D3 level is because of the bigger emphasis on academics over athletics. At my previous school, I missed a countless number of classes for games. This rigorous traveling schedule caused me to not be able to perform at the highest possible level I could in the classroom.
With D3, there is far less traveling during the week, and I only missed two days of classes last season. I was able to achieve my academic goal of making the Dean’s List with distinction. I’ve never cared more about my grades than at Peace, because I know it will pay off when I receive my academic scholarships.
The academic-scholarship-only aspect of D3 is invaluable: Better Grades = More Scholarship Money.
Less Rigorous Off Season
There are also very specific rules from the NCAA that are in place when it come to the off season in D3 athletics. This includes voluntary strength and conditioning sessions, and only a certain number of practices.
For instance, my team is not allowed to have a formal practice in the off season until after spring break, and our weight lifting sessions are optional.
The rules allow D3 athletes to have more free time, and become more involved in other campus activities. I am able to attend many on-campus events, and be involved in clubs.
There is even an opportunity for athletes to have real jobs and internships in the off season. For example, many girls on my team currently coach youth volleyball in the area.
As you can see, the rules are a good thing actually. It allows the athletes to feel like students for once, while also giving them the option to train hard as they please.
More Motivated Teammates
You have probably heard the term “walk on” before. They are the athletes at the D1 and D2 level who do not receive any athletic scholarship, and have to prove themselves in order to have a place on the team.
At the D2 level, I often felt that there were some players on my team who were only there because of their athletic scholarship. There was a sense of showing up to practice not because you wanted to but because you were “getting paid” to do so.
Well at the D3 level, everyone is considered equal. There is no walk on or scholarship athlete. There is no player that is superior to another because of scholarship money. It is an even playing field for all athletes to succeed.
This makes D3 athletes more motivated and excited to play their sport, because there is no athletic scholarship that is facilitating them to show up to practice and weights. Overall, I have never been on a team who has worked as hard or has loved volleyball as much as my team at WPU.
From having a job to studying abroad, there are many things that D3 athletes can do that D1 and D2 athletes cannot. It is also just as competitive as the other divisions. In most D3 sports, the upper tier schools are just as talented as the middle-upper tier D2 schools and lower-middle tier D1 schools.
The D3 level is also just as competitive, and the games are just as much fun to watch as the other levels. Check out this trick play from D3 Trine University’s Women’s Softball team.
For athletes wanting the true college experience, D3 is by far the best option. I am very glad that I made the transition to the D3 level.
Don’t forget to check out my other blog posts, and follow the Speaking of Athletes Twitter page!
Speaking of Athletes 