Reasons Why College Players Look to Transfer

September 12, 2013 | By Eric Rebhuhn
94981548

1. Coach: Many players are recruited for a period of time and decide on going to a particular university based on the coach. The coach has spent time calling them, watching them play at tournaments, meeting their parents, as well as ultimately making them an offer to come and play for their team. But most things change once the player has come to the university, gets settled in, and shows up to day one of practice. At that moment, the player who has gotten all of this attention looks around at the team and realizes that they are just one of the players. The attention the player was receiving in the recruiting process is long gone, as the coach’s focus is getting the team ready for the season and it’s on to the next player. This change often has a huge impact on whether a player looks to transfer.

2. Financial: Players are looking for scholarship if they have spent many years traveling around playing national and international tournaments in addition to spending thousands of dollars on private coaching. Based on this, the player feels that a scholarship is the fruit of their labor. Players and parents are often looking for the best deal; therefore not looking at location of the university, coach and team reputation, and ultimately, if the university is a good fit all-around.

3. Team: Tennis is an individual sport and players often have a hard time adjusting to a team concept. Certain players bond with other players based on many factors that might include coming from the same country, the same state, are close in age, etc. The team usually has a captain who is responsible for helping new players make the adjustment as a freshman to the collegiate level of play. This concept seems like it would work, but many times, new players have an adjustment period that sometimes never ends.

4. University: Making a decision on where to go to a university sometimes takes years, but in other cases, it takes just a few minutes. Depending on the situation, players make the best decision for that particular time. After one or two years of taking classes, living on campus, traveling with the team and making new friends, a player will know if they are at the right school. Unfortunately, many things occur and the university is not as exciting as it once was, and factors may come into play which will cause a player to transfer.


Eric Rebhuhn
Oneononedoubles banner art resize
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition