The Key Differences Between Division I And Division III Athletics

By Christy Flom on March 23, 2015

When colleges are recruiting high school athletes, these athletes, when good enough, can have the choice of pursuing multiple colleges in different divisions. The two major divisions athletes choose between are the Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) levels.

As a high school athlete who had many friends pursing college athletic careers, it confused me as to how different friends of mine would make their decisions. Some people were set on playing in the big arenas, at large DI schools, while others purposefully pursued smaller DIII schools.

I learned quickly that an athlete’s decision on where they attend college is extremely individualistic with each person weighing certain factors differently than another.

For example, there is Brooks Nevrly, a men’s volleyball player at a small DIII school in Illinois, Dominican University. Men’s volleyball is a growing sport in all collegiate divisions but players still have various opportunities to play at the DI and DIII levels.

After being recruited by numerous schools in both divisions, Nevrly made the decision to stay in Illinois, the state where he grew up and attended high school.

Dominican University Men’s Volleyball Team. (Photo by Cindy Royko)

“College volleyball is different because there are not a lot of teams so the difference in skill between divisions is not as big as you would say football or basketball,” Nevrly said.

Being able to play the sport he loves no matter what level it is and having his parents be able to attend his games were also big factors that influenced Nevrly’s decision.

On the other hand, there is Nicole Elmblad, a women’s basketball player at the University of Michigan. Elmblad said she has always had the desire to play a sport at the DI level.

“I remember telling my parents when they would ask me what my goals were that I just wanted to play at the highest level possible, whether that was in basketball or hockey before I had decided which sport,” Elmblad said.

Between these two athletes lie the many differences between DI and DIII sports. From the number of hours devoted to practice each day during both the season and offseason to tutors and sponsored attire, DI athletes seem to receive more perks for their hard work through their schools.

DI athletes receive shoes, practice gear and travel suits for the season at no cost while Nevrly pays for his own shoes and practice gear, and he is unable to keep his bags and travel suits.

DI athletes at many schools also receive free tutors through programs at their schools. At the University of Michigan, it is through the academic success program that tutors are available. At many DIII schools, like Dominican Univiersity, tutors are available to all enrolled students, with teams setting up their own systems of tutoring for the players to collaboratively help one another.

Finally, many DI athletes get their last names printed on their jerseys, whereas DIII athletes do not. While this may seem like a small difference, it is notable nonetheless because it is always nice to have a personalized jersey as a college athlete.

This is not to say that DIII schools receive no perks, they are just different. Examining student class schedules is one way to identify the benefits of going to a smaller DIII school.

While both levels are expected to try to schedule their classes around practices, Nevrly highlighted how if there is a class that a student has to take and it is only available at a certain time that interferes with practice, then a student can miss sections of practice to attend class.

At Michigan, athletes enroll in classes through early registration so that they can take classes that fit within their team schedules. Different than at Nevrly’s school, however, Elmblad highlighted how practices are usually only flexible for seniors that have had to put off taking a class because of conflicts. Otherwise, underclassmen are usually asked to find another class that would work or wait to take it until the spring or summer.

Another “perk” of going to a DIII school is that it is also a slightly smaller time commitment. Elmblad devotes roughly four hours a day to basketball during the season for practice on the court, lifting in the weight room, watching film, and recovery components like cold tubs and stretching.

In the offseason, they still spend around 2-3 hours focusing on basketball and improving individual aspects of their game like shooting and ball handling.

In comparison to the three hours that Nevrly dedicates to volleyball every day during his season and the two hours every day during his offseason, that extra hour every day may be necessary at the DI level but it can also be strenuous for athletes to then complete their homework and socialize during their college years.

With all of these differences in mind, it is important to remember two bigger differences, as well. The amount of money available to DI teams and the pressure placed on the athletes and coaches are two large aspects of DI sports that differ from DIII athletics.

DI schools can afford the bigger football stadiums and newer facilities partly because of larger alumni groups, and partly because DI administrators dedicate more funds to the success of their athletic programs than DIII administrators.

Brady Hoke in the beginning of his short career at the University of Michigan. (Photo via Flickr.com)

As for pressure, take a look at the history of Michigan’s football coaching staff. From Rich Rodriguez to Brady Hoke to now Jim Harbaugh, one distinguishable note here is that if a coach is not exceeding the standards set by a university, dealing with the pressure of fans, administrators and donors of a big DI team can be a curse instead of a blessing leading to an eventual exit from being the head coach at that school.

With athletes, March Madness is the perfect example at this time. Kentucky is still the No. 1 ranked team and had been undefeated all season. Under national spotlight, these students are under tremendous pressure to excel in each and every game as they have just as many people hoping they lose as there are people hoping they win the entire tournament.

These are only the basic differences between the two divisions, as many other differences vary specifically based on the schools themselves.

All in all, the opportunity to play a sport in college is a huge deal and athletes deserve the benefits awarded to them at all levels for their hard work and dedication to their teams and schools.

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