As fall sports begin and the new school year starts up, so does the stress of balancing good performance in school and on the field. Every student athlete knows the constant struggle of keeping both grades and performance up during a sports season, so I have put together some tips to help you succeed.
The most important thing to remember (although we athletes may not want to admit it) is that your schoolwork is more important than practice. If you do poorly academically, you won’t be eligible to participate in your sport. Use homework help and your teachers! Talking to teachers is one of the most helpful things you can do if you are falling behind or just didn’t understand a lesson. Even if you only go in for 5 minutes after school, seeking help is much more beneficial than just ignoring a problem and hoping it makes sense in the end. It is especially important to focus in class earlier in the year, because the rest of the year’s curriculum is usually based on the earlier topics. Last year, while struggling with a class, I began to use the help room during my lunch period. This small extra step dramatically increased my grade and made the class a much more enjoyable experience. Outlining a clear plan for the work you need to do can also help you greatly. Being organized and on top of all your assignments and practices can help you feel more in control, and will make it easier to plan ahead to make sure all of your work is in on time.
If you are someone who gets distracted often, or you find yourself playing Candy Crush 25 minutes after you paused your work to respond to a text, think about putting your phone on the other side of the room on silent while you complete your homework. On the computer, it can be a little harder to avoid distractions. Download an app onto your computer that prevents you from visiting certain sites for a set time period, like FocalFilter and StayFocused. Multi-tasking might seem possible, but the quality of your work will be lower if you don’t put all your focus to it.
A large part of sports is mental well-being. To maintain good mental as well as physical health during your sports season, it is important to sleep a lot and replenish your body. The stress that athletes put on their bodies and minds after a full day of school and practice is huge, but it can be relieved by going to bed at a reasonable time and making sure you get a good 7–9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep is very important and you should plan for it in your schedule. An hour of sleep will save you more than an hour in the long run. Another very important part of replenishing your body is to make sure you eat lots of food and keep a balanced diet, as well as drink lots of water (suggested eight cups a day). These tips will help keep your body in good shape to support you through sports and school.
When you join a sports team, you agree to work your hardest and keep your team high on your priority list. This means you must try to do your best. You need to be prepared to make sacrifices, and although they may seem annoying and unnecessary, they will pay off in the end, and will set you up for a great season. If you pay attention to these tips, you’ll find yourself having a good year academically as well.