Tips for Student Athletes
Few people in America are busier than today’s student-athlete. For many student-athletes, their sports/school commitments start at or before 6:00am and often don’t end until well past 6:00pm. If it’s game day, 2-3 hours can easily be added to the schedule.
The stresses associated with being a full-time student and participating in team sports are well known. We’re instructed endlessly on ways to improve our athletic performance, but little is done to help student-athletes overcome the daily strains associated with their hectic lives. Fortunately, there are tools that help:
GET ORGANIZED:
First, when it comes to school work, know what is expected and when it’s due; keep a calendar or diary noting critical due dates for assigned home work. Jot down practice and games schedules as well so you’ll know ahead of time when you’ll be busy. A daily scheduling calendar with the days broken down into one-hour increments is a great tool for organizing your day and keeping track of what lies ahead.
BE PROACTIVE:
Prioritized school assignments based on due dates and the time needed to complete the work. Examine your calendar for free time and make notes in the open time slots detailing which assignment you’ll use that time to work on. Determine beforehand any resources you’ll need to complete your work (books, materials, partner participation) and make arrangements ahead of time to ensure you are prepared. Most importantly, keep your commitment to yourself and spend the allotted time working on the project you promised yourself you’d be doing. An hour wasted is one you can never get back!
COMMUNICATE:
Despite your best efforts there might be times when you get behind. If you see problems on the horizon, this is the time to talk to your teachers, parents, and coaches about how to address it. More often than not, teachers will work with you if you tell them ahead of time that you’ve got conflicts that might prevent you from completing an assignment on time. If you wait until the due date to inform anyone, it is a rare teacher that will cut you any slack! Coaches and parents can be a great resource in helping you work with your teachers to ensure you stay on track.
COMMIT TO YOUR STUDIES:
In the descriptor “student-athlete”, note that it is “student” that comes first. Participating in school sports is a privilege stemming solely from your status as a student. On the other hand, meeting your academic requirements is a solemn obligation that you have to your parents, teachers, coaches and, most importantly, yourself. Plain and simple, academics must come first and should take priority in your goal setting and time management strategies. Good coaches with your best long-term interests at heart will affirm this and will help you to achieve your goals both on and off the field. While your studies should always take priority over sports, we believe that with effort and commitment a dedicated student-athlete can excel in both!