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The National Collegiate Athletics Association has revealed that the number of student-athletes competing in championship sports in the 2021-2022 period has skyrocketed to more than 520,000, setting a new record in history. The numbers suggest a growing trend in students actively participating in sports while currently enrolled in courses. With the challenges of having to maintain academic excellence while dealing with the demands of athletic games, however, can student-athletes succeed in their studies?
Reasons to Become a Student-Athlete
Many people wonder why students play actively in sports and train hard for competitions, considering that these activities and relevant events can distract them from their studies. Well, it turns out that there are several good reasons to become serious student-athletes.
- Student-athletes have access to dedicated athletic scholarships in addition to merit-based or needs-based financial assistance through grants and scholarships available to everyone.
- With the various on-campus services and support available specifically for them, student-athletes can greatly engage in their favorite sports while still effectively managing their academic commitments.
- Being a student-athlete can boost career opportunities (or college applications in the case of high school athletes) because it highlights strong work ethics and dedication.
- Student-athletes can expand their network beyond their academic circle, as they can build relationships with coaches, teammates and other individuals in the sports community.
- Student-athletes develop a sense of pride and accountability while they represent their school in sports events and encourage a sense of school spirit among fellow students.
- Sports can serve as stepping stones for students who aspire to a career in this field.
Of course, there are also a variety of benefits to just engaging in sports, such as:
- Physical, mental and psychological wellness
- Interpersonal skills
- Team camaraderie and long-lasting friendships
- Leadership opportunities
- Time management skills and discipline
Take note, though, that schools typically require student-athletes to maintain a specific GPA. Students do not typically take their academic commitments for granted while maintaining their athlete status.
Is There a Specific Major to Choose as Student-Athletes?
The national average of college students who change their degree major that they’re initially enrolled in is around 70%. So whether you’re a high school student deciding on what program to attend in college or one who’s already in college but thinking of changing major to suit your student-athlete status, here are some things to ponder.
- According to the NCAA, only less than 2% of student-athletes continue to become professional players. Most students will rely on their academic successes in order to prepare them for life after college.
- Although the student-athlete lifestyle can be much more manageable if you choose an easy major, it’s still best for you to choose a degree program that best suits your long-term personal and career aspirations.
- Avoid enrolling in or shifting to a degree program just because your teammates or your favorite athletes are taking them, especially when you’re not even interested in such a program.
- If you’re really into sports and seeking a career in this field, you might want to consider a major relevant to athletics, such as Physical Therapy, Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, and many others. Don’t hesitate to talk to your academic advisor for insights and advice on the major to attend.
To ensure finishing your major program on time despite being active in sports, consider making a five-year or four-year plan. Assess your program and consider various factors such as:
- The number of credits you need to graduate
- The minimum credits you need per year in order to maintain your student-athlete status
- The specific courses available in a semester
- And many other details
10 Actionable Tips for the Academic Success of Student-Athletes
Have a well-organized daily/weekly planner.
Time management has a significant impact on students’ academic performance, with studies revealing there’s a positive correlation. One of the best ways for student-athletes to instill effective time management habits is to make use of a planner where you can block your schedules to the hour, if necessary. Your planner can be either in a pen-and-paper or digital format.
First, plot the major schedules that relate to your student-athlete life, such as:
- Class hours
- Tutoring sessions
- Training and practices
- Game events
- Long commutes
The rest of the time is then allocated for other activities like the following:
- Completing homework
- Preparing for exams
- Extracurricular activities
- Eating meals
- Sleeping
- Socializing
By maintaining a well-managed schedule, you’ll avoid losing your free time to doing nothing.
Set clear and open lines of communication with teachers and peers.
Being an athlete while attending school involves constantly balancing between sports and academics. Given the limited time available each day, decisions in both fields require trade-offs.
It’s for this matter that communicating with your teachers is important, especially when it comes to training, practices and off-campus sports activities. In this way, your teachers will have ample time to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your schedules to ensure you are on track with your academics.
Maintaining open lines of communication with your classmates is also important so that they can help you be updated with the lessons, assignments and any changes to class schedules.
Identify priorities and set realistic goals.
With demanding schedules in both sports and academics, it’s essential that students clearly identify their priorities to allocate their time efficiently and perform tasks effectively. In any case, sports commitments shouldn’t overshadow academic responsibilities. Besides, many schools require student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA in order to continue participating in sports.
Establishing long-term and short-term goals can further enhance your academic success while fulfilling athletic commitments. By breaking down bigger goals into smaller, manageable ones, you can make your progress more achievable and measurable.
Below are some practical tips on identifying priorities and setting goals:
- Assess your athletic and academic commitments to comprehend the scope of your responsibilities and time constraints
- Prioritize commitments based on their importance and impact on both sports and academics
- Set specific goals that relate to your priorities. These goals should be realistic, clear and measurable
- Seek insights and advice from your teachers, mentors and coaches on realistic goal-setting
- Have a journal to keep track of your goals’ progress, setbacks and lessons learned
- Review your goals regularly and adjust depending on your progress and changes in priorities
- Celebrate milestones and achievements, no matter how small, to motivate you and maintain a positive mindset
Write down questions when studying or taking notes.
If a lesson is confusing you while taking notes during class or while studying, make sure to jot down your questions so that you avoid forgetting them when leaving for training or a game. By doing so, you can be highly time efficient during tutoring sessions or class discussions because you already have your agenda listed, ensuring that your questions are addressed.
Make use of campus and study resources.
Get to know the variety of valuable resources that your college or university provides specifically to student-athletes, such as the following:
- Tutor services
- Study groups
- Writing centers
- Time management workshops
- Study skill programs
- Library and online learning resources
- Career counseling
- Faculty athletic mentors
- Sports medicine services
- Mental health support
These resources are generally available for free, so don’t hesitate to reach out to the school officials to use them.
Make use of your downtime for academic activities.
In between academic, sports and personal activities, student-athletes will have downtimes in their schedules that can be utilized for academic pursuits. Some examples of these downtimes are the following:
- Free time in between classes
- Mandatory study hall sessions
- Waiting for transportation
- Long commutes between home and school
- Travelling to training/sports venues
- Rest periods during training sessions
During these downtimes, you can do some productive academic pursuits such as:
- Listening to educational podcasts or recorded lectures, which you can also do when running or working out
- Watching educational videos or lectures
- Reviewing and organizing notes
- Reading articles or textbooks
- Completing homework, if convenient
- Creating and updating to-do lists
- Communicating with peers about class-related or study-related matters
Completing small and focused academic tasks during your downtimes, even if they’re just short, is better than wasting your time doing nothing.
Don’t take sleep and rest for granted.
Mental and physical exhaustion is always a part of student-athletes’ lives, and thus, it’s essential to ensure getting a full night’s sleep to help your body and mind recover in the morning.
It’s also worth noting that when you’re extremely tired during downtime, consider resting rather than doing mind-draining academic activities. Below are more suggestions to help your mind and body recover during short downtimes.
- Doing deep breathing and mindfulness exercises to reduce stress. You can remain focused with the help of relevant apps.
- Performing yoga or light exercises
- Doing quick stretching exercises, warm-up and cool-down routines
- Reading for pleasure with a book unrelated to sports or academics
- Engaging in casual conversation and social activities with friends
- Since laughter is a stress reliever, consider watching a funny video or engaging in activities that make you laugh
- Taking short walks and getting fresh air
- Spending time outdoors with nature
Make time for self-care practices.
Aside from sleep and relaxation, student-athletes should nourish their mind and body by cultivating personal wellness habits such as the following:
- Maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet
- Exercising regularly outside of structured training
- Scheduling regular checkups with healthcare professionals
- Setting clear boundaries between athletics and academic commitments to avoid one from adversely affecting the other
- Engaging in hobbies or activities that promote joy or relaxation
- Incorporating regular, quick breaks during study sessions
Build and maintain effective organizational practices.
One of the last things you don’t want to happen is to miss your deadlines and assignments. So make sure you develop and sustain the habit of effectively keeping track of important events or tasks in both academic and sports fields.
- Use your daily/weekly planner so that you have centralized documentation on your schedules, reminders, tasks and other important matters.
- Utilize color-coding schemes to enhance visual organization and conveniently identify academic and sports activities.
- Take time to create (and review) daily or weekly to-do lists to ensure no task or assignment is overlooked.
- Stick to a consistent routine that includes training sessions and dedicated study periods.
- Break down large assignments or tasks into smaller, more achievable chunks.
Keep a strong support system.
The toughest challenges in academics, sports and life in general can be more manageable to deal with when you surround yourself with a strong support system comprising family, friends, coaches and teammates. This reliable support network can help you stay focused on your goals and endure the challenges you need to face.
- Foster open communication with people who matter, and build a supportive environment by sharing your goals, successes and challenges.
- Communicate with academic advisors who can guide you on course planning and academic resources.
- Foster honest communication with your coaches and teammates regarding your academic schedules and challenges that could affect your sports participation.
- Help family members understand your commitments and inform them of your schedules so that they can provide emotional support.
- Network with alumni who have successfully balanced sports and academics to gain valuable advice
- Be a part of support groups and communities where student-athletes encourage one another or share insightful experiences.
Juggling academic responsibilities with athletic commitments can be tough for student-athletes. With these ten tips for academic success, however, you can breeze through your educational goals while still enjoying your favorite sports.