Athletes On and Off the Field: Balancing Sports and Academics

Student-athletes have a lot on their plates. They need to balance everything from attending practice and traveling to games to spending time in the classroom and getting their schoolwork completed. Being a successful student-athlete requires quite a bit of discipline, as well as solid time management.

So, how can you ensure that you keep all of your various, proverbial “balls in the air” while in college? Here are some tips to help you balance everything and still enjoy the whole college experience. 

Set Up a Schedule

It’s important to follow a schedule when you’re trying to ensure that you attend practices on time and get your homework done. Set up a system that you know you’ll be able to follow and stick with. Include blocks of time for practice, class attendance, homework, and yes, socializing: after all, even student-athletes need to have fun! Once you’ve determined your schedule, keep it somewhere that you’re likely to be reminded of it—whether it’s on your phone, your laptop, or even a whiteboard on the wall. Then, make sure to follow it to be successful. 

Plan Ahead 

Planning ahead, instead of procrastinating until the last minute, is one effective way to keep your life in balance. First, consult your syllabus to determine what work you need to complete and by what deadlines. Since you’ll know when you have practice and sporting events, break your projects down into smaller chunks and arrange them into your schedule. Now you’ll know what to work on and when, which will make meeting those deadlines easier. 

Do Your Work Wherever Possible

Sometimes, even the best plan goes awry. When you have to get a last-minute assignment done and also attend practice, what can you do? Easy. Take your work with you. You might have a few minutes here and there while sitting on the bench, waiting before or after practice, or any other break that you may get. During those moments, work on your homework or reading. While you won’t be able to focus on it all at once, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish by taking a minute or two here and there. 

Take Time for Yourself

Burnout is very common among student-athletes. At a certain point, it may seem as though your entire life revolves around school and sports practice. When this happens, you need to take some time for yourself. It may seem hard to do, given the fact that you’re extremely busy, but taking a few hours a week to do something fun, like socialize, play video games, or anything else that you enjoy can go a long way towards keeping you mentally in balance. 

Consider Attending Dean College

If you’re looking for a college to attend where you can successfully be both an athlete and a student, then consider Dean College. We’re a small school with a big campus feel, as well as numerous athletic teams, activities, and more to keep our students busy. Plus, our wide variety of majors gives you plenty of options for your future career after your student-athlete chapter comes to a close. Want to learn more? Come visit us!