Transitioning from college sports to professional volleyball was a dream come true for me, but it also came with a set of challenges and revelations I wasn’t fully prepared for. While college athletics are often viewed as extremely high level, going pro is an entirely different ball game. In this blog post, I’m sharing the key lessons I learned the hard way, and the things I wish I knew before stepping onto the professional stage.
The Shift from College to Pro: Team Success vs. Personal Career
In college, you’re invested in team success above all else. It’s about contributing to the greater good, putting in the hard work, and focusing on a collective goal—winning a national championship, or at least leaving a legacy as a team player. As an underclassman, you’re looking up to upperclassmen who set the tone, and as an upperclassman, you’re leading the younger guys by example.
When you turn pro, the dynamic changes. The focus shifts from team success to personal career growth. It’s no longer about winning titles with your teammates; it’s about proving yourself, building your brand, and securing your future. The pressure to perform can feel overwhelming at times, especially when you realize that individual achievements are often what determine your contract and longevity in the game.
I really enjoyed the innocence of playing for my team in college, where personal glory took a backseat to the collective pursuit of victory. But in the professional world, the stakes are different. The focus becomes much more on your own success, and the culture around you is often more business-oriented than team-oriented.
The Reality of Leadership: From Learner to Leader
In college, you’re part of a hierarchy: as a freshman or sophomore, you’re the learner, soaking up the wisdom of your older teammates. But as you move up in the ranks, you begin to take on more responsibility. Leading a team isn’t as simple as it seems, especially when you realize that professional athletes are not necessarily looking for the same guidance you might have needed as a young player.
In the pros, you’re surrounded by grown men, many of whom have families to support, or are simply focused on securing their next contract. Team motivation isn’t always as automatic as it was in college, and it can be difficult to inspire others to care about team success when they’re just trying to make a living. The weight of leadership in this context can be heavy, and it takes a different mindset to help guide your teammates while also keeping your own performance in check.
Pro Sports: More Job Than Game
I wasn’t ready for how much being a professional athlete feels like having a full-time job. Sure, it’s the job many dream of, but it comes with pressures that extend far beyond the sport itself. In college, it was still about the love of the game. There were pressures, yes, but the environment was more supportive, and the team aspect made it all feel like a shared experience.
Going pro, however, shifts the focus significantly. You’re no longer just training to win games—you’re training to keep your job. It’s a career, not a hobby, and the financial implications of your performance are always looming in the background. You learn quickly that every practice, every match, and every minute you spend on the court is a part of a much bigger picture. Motivation must come from within, and the reality of it is that you can’t rely on others to push you the same way you might have in college. It’s all on you to make it happen.
Coaches and Trainers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
In college, you’re surrounded by coaches and strength trainers who are vetted, highly educated, and experts in their fields. These are professionals who have your well-being and development at the forefront of their minds. In professional sports, however, this isn’t always the case. I’ve encountered coaches and strength trainers whose expertise didn’t necessarily align with the level of professionalism I had grown accustomed to in college.
In fact, sometimes you’ll find yourself working under club presidents who have no real knowledge of the sport they’re managing. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when decisions are made based on business interests rather than player welfare.
What I learned the hard way, is that you need to be your own advocate. If something doesn’t feel right—whether it’s a training routine, a recovery plan, or how you’re being treated—speak up. Unlike college, where coaches are usually motivated by a genuine desire to help you grow, pro teams can sometimes operate more like businesses, and the people at the top may not always have your best interests at heart. Protect yourself and don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.
Results Over Everything
When you make the leap to professional sports, you quickly learn that results are the only thing that matter. In college, there’s room for development, mistakes, and growing as a player. But in the pros, your performance is directly tied to your job security. Teams are businesses, and businesses care about one thing: results. If you’re not producing on the court, your position is at risk.
Unlike in college, where there might be more leeway for players to have off days or rough patches, in professional sports, consistency is key. You don’t get the luxury of learning on the fly for long. A bad season can lead to being benched, traded, or even out of a job entirely.
Playing for a Job, Not Just Fun
This might be one of the biggest differences I noticed. In college, the only stakes that are at risk are your season ending early or you being benched. Sure, some players will go on to the pros, but in the moment, college sports are about fun, learning, and growing. In the professional world, however, many athletes are there to provide for their families, pay the bills, and secure a future for themselves and their loved ones. The stakes are higher, and the environment is less about pure love for the game and more about career survival.
Some players may be fighting for a big contract, while others are simply hoping to make enough to get by. This change in mindset is so evident, and it can shift the atmosphere in the locker room, on the court, and in the stands.
Team Success and Club Expectations
One thing I wish I understood better was the relationship between team success and treatment by the club. In college, if you’re winning, everyone’s celebrating. It’s about the shared joy of victory and the bond between teammates. But in the pros, winning equals perks. The better the team performs, the better you’re treated by the club—more attention, more perks, better resources, and sometimes, even financial rewards.
But if your team is struggling, don’t expect anything extra from the club. You’re still expected to perform, but the reality is that businesses care most about the bottom line. If you’re not winning, you’re not bringing in revenue, and that can have a real impact on how you're treated as a player.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey
While the shift from college to professional sports can be tough, it’s also an opportunity for immense personal growth. You go from playing for the love of the game to playing for your livelihood. The pressures are higher, the competition is fiercer, and the stakes are more significant than ever before. But as challenging as it can be, it's also incredibly rewarding.
If there’s one piece of advice I could offer to any athlete transitioning to the pros, it’s this: be prepared for the mental and emotional shift. It’s no longer just about playing; it’s about thriving in a world where results matter above all else. Be smart, take care of yourself, and always remember why you started—because at the end of the day, the journey is still about the game we all love.
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