How Can You Balance Your Athletics and Academics?
Now that you've found the right college fit for you, it's time to deliver a strong performance in the game and in the classroom. As you pursue your major in college and take on school work within your college courses you may struggle in finding the right balance between academics and athletics.
Freshmen tend to have the hardest time adjusting to this balance considering they are still adjusting to the transition from high school to college. However, with a positive attitude and proper planning, student-athletes can successfully achieve a harmonious balance between academics and athletics.
Master Your Time Management In College
Time management is at the top of this list because of its importance in achieving a balance in your daily life as a student athlete in college. Just like college sports, strong time management takes dedication and consistency in practice.
Quick Tips For Managing Your Time As A College Student-Athlete
Prioritize What’s Important To You
If you plan your personal, school ,and sports schedules in advance perhaps around your course syllabi and practice/game schedules), you can organize free time with friends without worrying about other obligations. It’s very important to enjoy your free time and maintain a healthy lifestyle to maximize daily living.
Reach Out For Help When You Need It
It's always a good sign if you have the capability to know when to reach out for help if you should need it. This is generally a signal that you are mature enough to understand your current limitations and that its ok to reach out and call upon those who have more experience than you. It many ways this is a great way to learn and grow.
Find or Create A Study Group
It's always a good sign if you have the capability to know when to reach out for help if you should need it. This is generally a signal that you are mature enough to understand your current limitations and that its ok to reach out and call upon those who have more experience than you. It many ways this is a great way to learn and grow.
Use Every Opportunity To Study
Most colleges have a large percentage of student-athletes in attendance. That said, there will be various resources available to use as a student athlete. On-campus, you may find tutoring services, writing centers, librarians, and many other resources to help you succeed in your academics. In some athlete student programs, there are even professors who act as mentors who partner with athletic teams across campus to foster supportive relationships with student-athletes. Often, these resources are free, so do not hesitate to reach out and use them.
Utilize Your Campus Resources
Most colleges have a large percentage of student-athletes in attendance. That said, there will be various resources available to use as a student athlete. On-campus, you may find tutoring services, writing centers, librarians, and many other resources to help you succeed in your academics. In some athlete student programs, there are even professors who act as mentors who partner with athletic teams across campus to foster supportive relationships with student-athletes. Often, these resources are free, so do not hesitate to reach out and use them.
Learn From Your Academic Mistakes
Here's a hypothetical, you received a low test score or had an off day at practice; it is important to reflect on what happened, pick yourself back up with some motivation, and keep going. This can be hard to do, so remember that no great success is achieved without some failure. By learning from your mistakes the first time, you will prepare yourself for next time and find yourself growing to be a better student-athlete than you were before.
Optimize Your Weekends
The weekends are a great time for you to take a mental and physical pause from your academics and athletics. Taking a break and resting your mind and body is imperative for a student athlete. However, if you wanted to utilize the weekends as a means to get ahead of your upcoming week so that you have more confidence going into the week, then that is a great way to stay on-track in college.
Set Your Target Goals
Just like you have a set of goals in your athletic journey, you need to have a set of goals for your academics. Planning ahead and setting realistic delay, weekly, and monthly goals will keep you organized and allow you to focus on each goal with your full attention. This is a great way to be successful as a student athlete who is trying to balance their athletics and academics.
Reach Out To Your Teachers
Maintaining strong communication with your professors goes hand in hand when utilizing your resources. Keep in mind that your professors want you to succeed just like your team coach; let them know in advance if you are having difficulty in your studies. If you fall behind, show them that you are serious about your academics by making up assignments and tests in a timely manner.
Schedule Classes That Fit Your Athletic Schedule
When planning ahead and creating a list of goals to achieve the proper balance as a student-athlete, it's always best to start by referencing your class schedule and practice schedule to see which classes would work best to optimize your performance and allow you to thrive within your athletics and academics.
Are You In The College Recruiting Process?
EXACT Sports has worked with hundreds of D1, D2, and D3 college coaches from around the country and we know the Do's and Don'ts of college recruiting. Now that you've learned what it would be like to be a college student athlete, here are some reasons to believe in EXACT's college exposure platform.
Why Choose EXACT College ID Camps?
EXACT’s College Network
When it comes to choosing a college ID camp, you want to make sure that you’re choosing a camp that offers you access to a large network of NCAA coaches. EXACT does exactly that, opening you to a large pool of experienced college coaches from across hundreds of colleges.
One-on-One College Evaluations
How do you improve without feedback? At EXACT ID camps, all our coaches are professionals who understand that each player is distinct and uniquely gifted. As such, we give individual feedback that prepares you for the next level.
Personal Connections
At EXACT ID camps, you get to meet and greet college coaches, giving you an opportunity to build your college connections ahead of your arrival in college.
Specific Training for Goalkeepers
We understand that the role of the goalkeeper in soccer is crucial and distinct. So, we offer position-specific training to goalkeepers. You also put all you’ve learned into action and receive helpful feedback during college-style training and games.
Mental Performance
Beyond the foundational training that every college ID camp offers, EXACT teaches you how to deal with adversity, stay focused, and remain confident and composed despite opposition during competitions.
College Training Sessions
At EXACT, our training sessions simulate college practice sessions and games. They are also handled by experienced college coaches. That way, you’re best prepared for college sports and are sure to settle in seamlessly when accepted into college.
Compete With The Best
You get a chance to meet and compete with the best players in the USA and around the globe. Without a doubt, this improves your sports skills as well as social interactions, making you even more attractive to colleges.
Kickstart Recruiting
At EXACT, we understand that you’re in a college ID camp because you someday want to be on a college team. So, we bring in college coaches who have handled collegiate sports recruitment time and time again. These coaches give you an insight into how college recruitment really works in person at the EXACT college ID camp. With insider information at your fingertips, you stand a better chance of being recruited to the right college for you.
