Balancing Act: Varsity and Study

A lot of college and high school students go to school for advance learning and play sports at the same time.  This makes the campus life more fun, however, often times students gear more towards sports than in study.  No matter what the circumstance is, academics should always be the priority.  

You can’t give up your school for games.  Remember that you even have to give up the sports you love just to catch up on the missed subjects.  But here are a few effective tips on how you can manage both your school time and sports without sacrificing your academics.

1.  Do not spend too much time with the varsity team.  You can practice after school but not the whole afternoon.  Never cut your study and homework time just to practice sports.  Finish your homework; review the lessons you had in the morning and go over it the next day especially if you have exams coming.  One of the most common mistakes athletes commit is they play the whole afternoon and go home tired so they just put off their homework. Study first before play.  

2.  Pay attention when inside the classroom.  Athletes often daydream about their games and it hinders their focus towards the discussion.  Jot down notes and do your homework on time.  When your grades are doing well, the better you play too.  You really don’t have to study all the time but when you have a study routine, the more free time you’ll have and you don’t end up cramming.  Bear in mind that even coaches appreciate players who do well in class.  

3.  Learn to prioritize.  You must know when you have to call it quits.  This sounds a little sad and harsh but if your grades are falling behind because of your game then you have to give priority to your academics first.  Quitting sports does not make you less of a person.  It actually hones your personality and maturity.  School is a long term priority which will make or break your future.  Sports can always come later in your school life.  Try to catch up with your grades and just join the varsity team again next year.  You can play the rest of your life after college if you really want to join a league.  It’s harder to pursue a college degree or even a high school diploma as you get older so make the most out of your time in school while you can and play later. 

Just follow these few tips and you will surely get what you want out of your college and varsity life.  Remember that your education should be your top priority.  Soon you will realize the sense of accomplishment you have if you do better in school.  Once you learn how to manage your academic activities then you can start going back to being a school athlete.  Choose to be wiser first.  Who knows, you’ll meet the criteria for scholarships for college students too.


By: Cleo Capili