Life as a student-athlete is a balancing act

.....At the collegiate level, balancing practices, matches and tournaments with schoolwork is not an easy task. This is where Jon Dever, the director of academic services for intercollegiate athletics, and his staff come in. Dever helps make this task of balancing both worlds as a student-athlete bearable.

“What we try to do is take student-athletes and balance out their practices and academic schedules in a way that promotes their success in a classroom,” Dever said. “And, ultimately, success in life.”....

....The NCAA has a handbook, “Mental Health: Managing Student-Athletes` Mental Health Issues,” that lays out different topics primarily about an athlete’s mental health, such as the stresses that come with balancing everything on a daily basis.

According to the handbook, “A student-athlete may be experiencing stress because of the transition of being away from home, living in a dorm, or from academic performance in term of ‘making grades’ and becoming or staying ‘eligible.’”

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Bethany`s Notes
Notes: Being a student athlete does requiring balancing one`s time. Some sports have a `lighter` season or less days to practice while other teams are in season all year. As a coach I have found that student athletes tend to do better in the classroom while in season. The season provides structure and a sense of urgency in getting tasked accomplished.