Balancing Classes And High School Sports

When you’re involved in high school sports, one of the most challenging things in your life will be walking that fine line between your classwork and your athletics. It’s important to note that this isn’t something that vanishes in college, either. College athletes still have to keep their grades high in order to compete. 

But how do you go about balancing the two? There are a few tips that can help. Not all will be easy, but the reality is that paying attention to them will help you get the best results in your lessons and in the high school sports you compete in. Here are some things to remember. 

•    Learn to set a schedule for studying and for training. If you know that practice is at a set time each day, know that coming home is followed by a shower and homework. The key is to get into a groove here – we’re creatures of habit, and once you have a clear schedule that you follow regularly, you’ll be more inclined to stick with it. 

•    Know when to sacrifice social activities. You shouldn’t shun your friends and family, but sometimes you’re simply not going to be able to go to the same things your friends do. You have to keep your future in mind and understand that thriving in class and on the field means making sacrifices sometimes. That means being able to turn down invitations to events if they’re going to disrupt your goals.

•    Get help when you need it. If you’re having trouble with a particular subject, don’t ignore it or hope it will get better on its own. Find a tutor or mentor who can offer you some guidance. Too many times, student athletes end up with low grades because they spend too much time trying to understand something. Get help and you’ll get better at the subject faster, giving you more time for practice. 

•    Combine the two pursuits if possible. If you can listen to an audio file on your mp3 player focused on the subject you’re studying while taking your daily run, for example, you can learn while you take care of part of your workout. There are numerous ways to combine the two for better results if you know how to do it. 

In short, you need to be able to become a master at time management and the fine balancing act that occurs in the lives of every student athlete. Balancing your classwork with high school sports may seem difficult at first, but with practice and attention you can do it.