Luke Stankavage plays for the varsity basketball team at Ardrey Kell High School in North Carolina. A two-time All-Conference and All-District record holder, he balances his athletic success with academic success. Luke Stankavage has maintained a 4.4 grade point average and was invited to join the National Honor Society.
Balancing daily practices, academics, and travel poses a challenge for many high school athletes, but there are things you can do to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Below are a few strategies.
1. Communicate with teachers. Being a student athlete involves the occasional absence from class. Teens who maintain good communication with their teachers can inform them of their sports schedule and expected absences. This shows they are serious about their academics, and gives teachers the opportunity to let them make up tests and assignments in a timely way that accommodates their schedule.
2. Stay organized. Getting and remaining organized is hugely helpful to athletes when balancing their athletic and academic pursuits. Having a planner to record school and sports activities, like due dates for projects and planned games, helps students to more effectively manage their time.
3. Use the weekends. Weekends provide a chunk of time during which student athletes can prepare for their upcoming week. This may include reading chapters ahead of time, or preparing for or completing projects or papers. Such activities make the week easier and give students more time to take on sports activities.
4. Don’t procrastinate. A new assignment given at the beginning of the week may not be due until the end of the week, but that doesn’t mean students should wait until the night before to complete it. Rather, student athletes must prioritize homework and studying, and finish any assignments as soon as they are received.
Balancing daily practices, academics, and travel poses a challenge for many high school athletes, but there are things you can do to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Below are a few strategies.
1. Communicate with teachers. Being a student athlete involves the occasional absence from class. Teens who maintain good communication with their teachers can inform them of their sports schedule and expected absences. This shows they are serious about their academics, and gives teachers the opportunity to let them make up tests and assignments in a timely way that accommodates their schedule.
2. Stay organized. Getting and remaining organized is hugely helpful to athletes when balancing their athletic and academic pursuits. Having a planner to record school and sports activities, like due dates for projects and planned games, helps students to more effectively manage their time.
3. Use the weekends. Weekends provide a chunk of time during which student athletes can prepare for their upcoming week. This may include reading chapters ahead of time, or preparing for or completing projects or papers. Such activities make the week easier and give students more time to take on sports activities.
4. Don’t procrastinate. A new assignment given at the beginning of the week may not be due until the end of the week, but that doesn’t mean students should wait until the night before to complete it. Rather, student athletes must prioritize homework and studying, and finish any assignments as soon as they are received.
