<p>I am applying ED to Haverford, and I would love to play basketball there. I am a starter and the captain of my high school team, which is one of the best private school teams in New York City. I have improved a lot from last year, and have a great work ethic, and will work hard over the season and next summer. My question is: how hard is it to make the Haverford basketball team?</p>
<p>HC’s policy is inclusive so all students who are interested in joining a varsity team can do so. If your question is whether you will start or play on a frequent basis in official games, that will then depend on your skill level but it sounds like you have a great shot. Good luck!</p>
<p>You may also want to check out this series from the NYT. It looks at athletic recruiting at division III schools and HC in particular.</p>
<p>[The</a> New York Times > Sports > A Series: The Athlete’s Edge](<a href=“The New York Times > Sports > A Series: The Athlete's Edge”>The New York Times > Sports > A Series: The Athlete's Edge)</p>
<p>Contact the coach and do so now, it will help you get a good picture of your potential to place for HC. Being a leader on a competitive HS team is the right level to play for most college teams.</p>
<p>HC Alum - as an alum, I trust you have more authority on this matter than I, but it seems odd to me that anyone interested in a sport can play varsity at Haverford (this is not the case at most DIII schools) - especially since Haverford fields competitive teams in several sports.</p>
<p>It is odd but HC is somewhat of a quirky place!</p>
<p>All joking aside, in my post, I made a distinction between joining a varsity team (being a member of the team, fully participating in practices, maybe playing in the occasional scrimage or conference game for a little bit especially if it is a blow out), vs starting/ frequently playing in official games. If students have an expressed interest and motivation to learn, improve or play in a sport, why shouldn’t the student be allowed to join a team? The athletic teams are there for the benefit of the students for those who feel such experiences are important to their growth/development. The teams should not be there primarily for the benefit of the college. </p>
<p>Do coaches at other DIII schools really tell motivated students interested in joining a sports team that they (the coach) do not want to work with less skilled individuals to improve their abilities? There are just too many things wrong with that…</p>
<p>[Haverford</a> Coach Throws It All Away for the Joys of Teaching - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Haverford Coach Throws It All Away for the Joys of Teaching - The New York Times”>Haverford Coach Throws It All Away for the Joys of Teaching - The New York Times)</p>
<p>I was one of those far from exceptional high school runners who arrived at Haverford and was swept along by the program and Toms teachings, said J. B. Haglund, who as a senior in 2001-2 won the Division III championship in cross-country, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. I remember one day seeing Marcus OSullivan on the track doing a Tom workout, and I remember that Tom spent as much time working with the slowest kid on our team that day as he did with Marcus.</p>
<p>Whoever you are, if you want to come and work hard, Tom has time for you. He says this over and over: The team is only as strong as the commitment of the least-accomplished person on the team. </p>