Balancing sports practice and school work.

For student-athletes, time management is important because both schoolwork and practices are essential, which makes their lives busier.

On Aug. 10, the new semester begins, bringing a new grade level and new challenges for students. Students need to make a new plan for the coming school year. 

By the time school is over, instead of going home,student-athletes go straight to practice or matches. This also means that they will have less time to rest and do their homework.

To  figure out how students manage their time after practice, I asked my classmate.

“It has been a problem for me, especially as I am turning into a sophomore. I got more homework and some extracurricular activities to do. I try to finish the homework as soon as I get home from practice. Sometimes I also finish some assignments during school time,” said Jennifer Huang, a sophomore on the golf team.

We get more and more work to do as we enter higher grades. But the time is limited. Some students get home around 6 p.m. The whole day has been tiring for them. Thinking if they still have a lot of homework due tomorrow…

So, how can we solve this problem? I asked another student-athlete.

“Maybe the teacher can give student athletes more flexible time to finish their homework,” said Sally Gong, a sophomore on the golf team.

There are several opinions that students have, and they can be considered in the future.

Even though it is challenging for students to manage their time, having a fixed training schedule helps and encourages them to plan their day more efficiently.

Also, playing sports is a good way to relax and can help you be more focused on your study. Participating in sports activities not only enhances the physical health of an individual but also has other significant effects on students’ lives, especially on their academic performance. 

Terry-McElrath and O’Malley mentioned that “participation in organized sports experiences has the unintended benefit of improving academic-related outcomes.” “It is also believed by most educators that athletic participation reduces the probability of school dropout. These activities can maintain, enhance and strengthen the student-school connection” 

In conclusion, being a student-athlete is busy but beneficial. Managing your time effectively can make big improvements. Discussing with the teachers or planning a clear daily schedule can reduce stress after practice. Participating in sports not only helps students build a healthy body besides heavy schoolwork and also develop discipline and time management skills.

References

Terry-McElrath YM, O’Malley PM. Substance use and exercise participation among young adults: Parallel trajectories in a national cohort-sequential study. Addiction. 2011; 106:1855-1865. 

Holloway, 2002 [6] (Subia, Gener S. “High school athletes: Their motivation, study habits, self-discipline and academic performance.” (2019).