People say your life as a college softball player is about two things: books and ball. According to a recent survey of NCAA D-I athletes, a softball player basically works a full-time job while going to school. She spends 37.1 hours per week on athletic activities, including workouts, practices, and games (source). In addition, she's required to keep her grades up in order to remain on the team, maintain her scholarship, and stay in school, period.

A softball player's day is scheduled from morning until night, even in the off-season (which is during the fall semester—August to December). There are morning weight-lifting and running workouts, afternoon team and individual practices, weekend games (both away and at home), and time spent in the training room, icing down sore muscles.

In between all of that, there are classes and required study hall hours. If you aren't fully committed to the sport, chances are the regimen will bum you out. But a player who longs to eat, drink, and poop softball before heading into college will likely thrive under the stress.