11 answers
Gabriella
Student
Ashland, Kentucky
1
Question
Asked
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What are some strategies that can help me effectively balance both schoolwork and sports in college?
I am currently committed to Malone University for basketball, and I'm very nervous that I will get stressed out especially my freshman year because of how busy I will be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
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11 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer, TRIO Program Administrator
1009
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I had a few hurdles, when I initially went to college and also pursued athletics. But several things I learned included the following:
To be a successful college athlete, you must be able to balance your commitment to your sport with excellent academic performance by managing your time effectively.
This includes becoming proficient at utilizing campus resources, Many athletic programs have all kinds of educational resources to help athletes. This includes advisors, who specialize in helping the athletes get into the right classes and balancing those classes with competition and practice schedules.
These advisors also assist with setting clear goals for academics. If the athletes need help, they normally are provided access to tutors and other academic support staff, to assist with classes. So definitely utilize all the academic resources the athletic department has for you
You must also be willing to cultivate your leadership and teamwork skills.
This means being able to communicate with coaches and professors, take care of your physical health through consistent training and recovery, and manage your personal brand and reputation.
And definitely, make sure that you understand and meet your institution's academic requirements to maintain your athletic eligibility. I knew athletes, who did not track their progress or grades, and ultimately became ineligible during their tenure at the college that I attended.
To be a successful college athlete, you must be able to balance your commitment to your sport with excellent academic performance by managing your time effectively.
This includes becoming proficient at utilizing campus resources, Many athletic programs have all kinds of educational resources to help athletes. This includes advisors, who specialize in helping the athletes get into the right classes and balancing those classes with competition and practice schedules.
These advisors also assist with setting clear goals for academics. If the athletes need help, they normally are provided access to tutors and other academic support staff, to assist with classes. So definitely utilize all the academic resources the athletic department has for you
You must also be willing to cultivate your leadership and teamwork skills.
This means being able to communicate with coaches and professors, take care of your physical health through consistent training and recovery, and manage your personal brand and reputation.
And definitely, make sure that you understand and meet your institution's academic requirements to maintain your athletic eligibility. I knew athletes, who did not track their progress or grades, and ultimately became ineligible during their tenure at the college that I attended.
Thank you so so much for responding! This helps so much! I need to study up on the academic resources that Malone offers. I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Nicole Blocker
Project Manager
2
Answers
Woodstock, Georgia
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Managing your time well is key to balancing school and sports. Start by creating a weekly or monthly schedule. Use a calendar or your phone to set aside specific times for studying and practice. Adjust your schedule based on what you need to do, like exams or assignments.
For example, if you have an exam coming up, set aside 20-30 minutes each day for studying. You can do this before bed or by waking up a bit earlier. By the end of the week, you'll have spent 150-210 minutes studying. Make this a habit each week.
Focus on short, 30-minute study sessions for homework or assignments. This way, you gradually improve your skills. Stick to your schedule to ensure you have time for sports and other activities. Try this plan for a month and see how it helps.
Design a calendar with your dedicated school work/study time.
Keep track of how well you are doing sticking to those times.
For example, if you have an exam coming up, set aside 20-30 minutes each day for studying. You can do this before bed or by waking up a bit earlier. By the end of the week, you'll have spent 150-210 minutes studying. Make this a habit each week.
Focus on short, 30-minute study sessions for homework or assignments. This way, you gradually improve your skills. Stick to your schedule to ensure you have time for sports and other activities. Try this plan for a month and see how it helps.
Nicole recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so so much! This is truly so helpful! I love how you told me exactly how much time to spend on studying because I do struggle with that so I think this will really help! I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Semala Telegba
2
Answers
Updated
Semala’s Answer
Hello Gabriella! Great question. First thing is to keep in mind , which of the two are the most important, in the since of having a career and the finances that you need in life. Achievements in sports are stuck in the moment that the goal is reached. They become mere memories. School work are tools that can shape and maintain a better future. You may have to manage sports around your school work because the world is changing and education in the leading fields are needed and expected. Thank you
Wow! This is an amazing way to put it! Thank you so so much! I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Violetta Voronina
Contract Manager
6
Answers
Laurel, Maryland
Updated
Violetta’s Answer
Hi Gabriella!
This is a great question and I guarantee you are not alone! Something that helped me is the calendar app. I used it for game schedules, assignments due and any social activities. It put me in a great habit of still using it now. What I would recommend is block out 15 min a day here and there just to get a mental reset or take a walk/mental break. It's normal to be stressed out but the calendar will help you keep track of everything. You will learn to prioritize things, too. One thing that helped me is I do the small tasks first to get them out of the way, which gives me time to focus on bigger tasks. If I have a 10 question True/False quiz, I will get that done and spend more time focusing and writing my 10 page paper. You have plenty of resources- the homework agenda app is helpful too!
Wishing you the best of luck!
This is a great question and I guarantee you are not alone! Something that helped me is the calendar app. I used it for game schedules, assignments due and any social activities. It put me in a great habit of still using it now. What I would recommend is block out 15 min a day here and there just to get a mental reset or take a walk/mental break. It's normal to be stressed out but the calendar will help you keep track of everything. You will learn to prioritize things, too. One thing that helped me is I do the small tasks first to get them out of the way, which gives me time to focus on bigger tasks. If I have a 10 question True/False quiz, I will get that done and spend more time focusing and writing my 10 page paper. You have plenty of resources- the homework agenda app is helpful too!
Wishing you the best of luck!
Thank you so so much! This is truly so helpful! I get stressed very easily and my planner helps me stay organized so this is such a great idea! I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Tashayla Best
Business Contract Management
1
Answer
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Tashayla’s Answer
Hi Gabriella,
Sending you well wishes and good vibes for your upcoming college career. It’s always good to set a schedule for yourself. Be sure to set your priorities early and determine/factor in a realistic amount of time needed per priority per week to achieve your goals. Know that you are not a machine - so leave a little flexibility within your schedule if you need to make adjustments for any class / training or take some time to yourself to avoid burnouts and unnecessary stress.
Also, find a relaxation technique and/or activity that works for you and your schedule. The mind and body need rest. It can be hard to allow yourself to rest when you maintain a busy routine. However, knowing the most effective way(s) to wind down can help you relax regularly when you are suppose to do so.
Sending you well wishes and good vibes for your upcoming college career. It’s always good to set a schedule for yourself. Be sure to set your priorities early and determine/factor in a realistic amount of time needed per priority per week to achieve your goals. Know that you are not a machine - so leave a little flexibility within your schedule if you need to make adjustments for any class / training or take some time to yourself to avoid burnouts and unnecessary stress.
Also, find a relaxation technique and/or activity that works for you and your schedule. The mind and body need rest. It can be hard to allow yourself to rest when you maintain a busy routine. However, knowing the most effective way(s) to wind down can help you relax regularly when you are suppose to do so.
Thank you so so much! This is so helpful! I really need to work on resting and carving that time out. I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Amy Lloyd
3
Answers
Updated
Amy’s Answer
Gabriella,
Great job on taking steps to manage stress and balance your studies and basketball. Start by creating a schedule to help track your activities and manage your time.
Here are some tips:
1. Get a calendar, either on your phone or a physical one. Add your class schedule, practice times, sleep, meals, and other essential activities.
2. Schedule study time in smaller chunks to stay focused. Write down specific tasks like "finish writing paper" or "study for calculus test." This helps you stay organized.
3. Remember to include breaks. College is also about having fun and meeting new people.
4. Set aside time each week to plan ahead and review what worked and what didn't. This helps you build a habit of planning.
Stay flexible. You might not always stick to your schedule perfectly, but keep trying. It will get easier with practice.
Good luck!
Amy
Great job on taking steps to manage stress and balance your studies and basketball. Start by creating a schedule to help track your activities and manage your time.
Here are some tips:
1. Get a calendar, either on your phone or a physical one. Add your class schedule, practice times, sleep, meals, and other essential activities.
2. Schedule study time in smaller chunks to stay focused. Write down specific tasks like "finish writing paper" or "study for calculus test." This helps you stay organized.
3. Remember to include breaks. College is also about having fun and meeting new people.
4. Set aside time each week to plan ahead and review what worked and what didn't. This helps you build a habit of planning.
Stay flexible. You might not always stick to your schedule perfectly, but keep trying. It will get easier with practice.
Good luck!
Amy
Thank you so so much! This really helped me! I haven't thought of number 4 before and I really like that idea. I really appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
shawn bryan
Coontract Management
6
Answers
Folsom, California
Updated
shawn’s Answer
Hi Gabriella, it's great that you're thinking about this. You'll have a lot of schoolwork, especially if you're taking 15 units. Expect to spend about 40-45 hours each week on classes and homework. It's like having a full-time job. Plus, you'll have basketball practice and games with your coach. Stress is normal, but you can manage it. Make sure to get good sleep every night, take naps when you can, and eat well. This will help you stay energized. Sometimes, friends might want you to hang out instead of studying. It's okay to say, "I can't go, I have a lot of homework." Be comfortable with that saying stuff like that. Your college years will fly by and your hard work will pay off. You'll look back on a game well played. Good luck. You can do it.
Thank you so so much! I truly appreciate it! Thank you for being real with me on how much time will be spent studying. I appreciate that. This is great advice!
GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Mark P
Business Coordinator
2
Answers
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Updated
Mark’s Answer
Way to go, Gabriella, on choosing Malone University! Balancing school and sports in college can be tough, but with the right plan, you can do great in both. Speaking as a parent and someone who has juggled schoolwork and sports, I found that time management is key. Your sports schedule is usually fixed, so plan your studies around it like you would for a practice or game. Remember to include extra time for travel and preparation, just like any other event.
When studying, I preferred tackling harder subjects in the morning because I'm more alert then. However, my kids found it easier to handle tough assignments later in the day. One of my daughters even used travel time for reading and studying to make the most of her free moments.
Creating a schedule is a great first step. It takes discipline and a bit of personal adjustment to get it just right. Make a plan, stick to it, and keep checking what works for you. Adjust as needed, and you're sure to succeed. Good luck!
When studying, I preferred tackling harder subjects in the morning because I'm more alert then. However, my kids found it easier to handle tough assignments later in the day. One of my daughters even used travel time for reading and studying to make the most of her free moments.
Creating a schedule is a great first step. It takes discipline and a bit of personal adjustment to get it just right. Make a plan, stick to it, and keep checking what works for you. Adjust as needed, and you're sure to succeed. Good luck!
Thank you so so much! This is so helpful! I truly appreciate it! I really need to focus more on time management. GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Pam Johnson
Project Management, Operations
10
Answers
Suwanee, Georgia
Updated
Pam’s Answer
Hi Gabriella!
The fact that you are already thinking about this is a great start! I would say to utilize time on the bus to away games to knock out some work. Have a noise cancelling head-set on with white noise or relaxing music so you can concentrate without hearing your teammates. Stay super organized and don't wait to finish an assignment the night before it's due if it's a night when you have practice or a game. I learned a long time ago that if I have 5 days to do something, I should try to knock it out on day 1, so I don't have to stress out about it for 4 days!
Sleep is so important, especially for athletes, so trying to be as efficient as possible with your time will be important so that you can still go to bed at a reasonable hour instead of staying up until 2:00 am doing schoolwork! You're also in the same boat with all of your teammates, so ask them for suggestions too!
Best of luck to you!
The fact that you are already thinking about this is a great start! I would say to utilize time on the bus to away games to knock out some work. Have a noise cancelling head-set on with white noise or relaxing music so you can concentrate without hearing your teammates. Stay super organized and don't wait to finish an assignment the night before it's due if it's a night when you have practice or a game. I learned a long time ago that if I have 5 days to do something, I should try to knock it out on day 1, so I don't have to stress out about it for 4 days!
Sleep is so important, especially for athletes, so trying to be as efficient as possible with your time will be important so that you can still go to bed at a reasonable hour instead of staying up until 2:00 am doing schoolwork! You're also in the same boat with all of your teammates, so ask them for suggestions too!
Best of luck to you!
Thank you so so much! This is truly so helpful! You gave me a lot of great ideas! I truly appreciate it! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
QUINIA PORTIS
Project Management
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
QUINIA’s Answer
I can certainly understand the feeling. Knowing the basketball will consume alot of your time as well as carving out time to do homework. I always encourage people to give themselves a little grace in understanding things will be different. Use your resources that you have such as task reminders and calendar reminders. Knowing when as assignment is due is the important piece because you can then carve out time too work on assignments. Last and most importantly, prioritize your task. If this means knocking out a little at a time, its okay to do that. If it makes more sense to take a day or two and lock in on assignments, that's okay too. Good luck on your journey!
Thank you so so much! I truly appreciate it! Thank you for understanding because it really is so hard. Thank you for the advice! GOD loves you!
Gabriella
Rebecca Hager
5
Answers
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Wow, congratulations on the commitment! My daughter is also an NCAA athlete and she has found using visual aids to manage time very helpful. She likes to use a Dry Erase Board to write down the important tasks for the day and an organizer to organize any schedules. As an athlete you already have the foundation for time management which is great. Your team will be super supportive as well so you'll have other people going through the same experience that can offer support. The most important thing to remember is - use your time wisely and responsibly, there is plenty of fun time but don't get carried away. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy this next chapter!
Thank you so so much! I truly appreciate it! This is so helpful! I was actually just thinking of buying one of these! GOD loves you!
Gabriella