Tips For Student-Athletes
A student-athlete's job is not easy. The demands of academics do not always coincide easily with the duties of playing a sport. Successfully combining practice and games with classes and homework makes time management just as much of a commitment as anything the player does on or off the field.
But time management is not as easy as it may sound, especially in college. In high school, there is a set schedule. School starts at a certain time and ends at a certain time. Although there might be practice or a game, students generally know when they will have time to concentrate on school work. In college, however, the schedule is different every day. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays might only include a morning class while Tuesday could have the student in session from morning until night. On Thursdays, there might be no class at all. Moreover, the demands of playing a sport increase exponentially. Between daily practices and work outs, road games with significantly longer drives, suddenly the time a student-athlete was counting on for homework is gone.
Jen Vasta and Jimmy Corey know all about the demands of a student-athlete at the collegiate level. The two juniors made successful transitions from high school to Centenary College, located in Hackettstown, N.J. They are both two-year starters in their respective sport, Vasta as the point guard for the women's basketball team and Corey as a midfielder for the men's soccer team.
Vasta is a two-time All-Conference honoree, including First Team honors this past season. In 2009-10 she earned ESPN the Magazine/Cosida Academic All-District 2 Third Team accolades and twice was named to the CSAC All-Academic Team. Corey, also a two-time CSAC All-Academic Team recipient, has six goals and three assists in two seasons. This past season the two student-athletes were named Centenary's Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year Award winners and they discuss how to succeed in the classroom while dealing with the duties of being an athlete.
BE READY FOR THE TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE
COREY: "The biggest change between high school and college for me was the work load and the sports commitment. The work load for studies was much higher than it was in high school and sports became a year-long commitment. The toughest part of the transition was time management. There is no set time to sit down and do homework. In high school you could do your school work when you get home. In college, it is whenever you have time in between class, practice and games."
VASTA: "The toughest aspect of the transition was not only the increase in the level of difficulty but also the pace. On the court and in the classroom, you have to be devoted to doing all the work, physically and mentally."
TIME MANAGEMENT
COREY: "The most important thing to do is to plan out what work you have, when it is due and when you will have time to do it. It is also important to find the medium between studies and playing sports. Studies are very important and should come first. Practice and games take a lot of time but there are far more hours of free time. I always find time to review my class material before I find myself on the field."
VASTA: "Get a date planner! It is not professional to run on the court with project due dates scribbled on your hands and arms. In addition, planners aid in the avoidance of double-booking a game night with a research paper. Also, do not procrastinate! We are all capable of occasional all-nighters, but the combination of continual physical activities and perpetual schoolwork may become overwhelming. Therefore, do the work when it is assigned!"
STUDYING ON THE ROAD
COREY: "There is nothing wrong with taking school work on the trip. It all comes down to time management. I cannot read anything on the bus, so instead I make sure I set aside time to study before or after traveling."
VASTA: "Capitalize on all opportunities! A long bus ride is an ideal time to study. The bus serves as a confined study hall. However, for those with weak stomachs, such as myself, I would recommend an alternative studying method, such as a book on tape or making sure you plan for time to study before you leave or after you get back."
PRIORITIZE
COREY: "School work always comes first. I am a student-athlete, but the student aspect is the most important."
VASTA: "Although it pains my coach to hear it, studies are my first priority. My sport is a great activity in which I strengthen my physical, social and leadership skills, but it is simply a hobby. Conversely, my education is the foundation of my future career."
ADVICE
COREY: "Do not cram the night before the test! I was always told to spread it out over a few nights studying small portions each night, so it does not seem like too big a task."
VASTA: "You must be committed! With a devotion to both the sport and school, you will achieve a successful athletic and academic college career. But you should be aware of your limitations and not push yourself too hard. The key is to possess a keen awareness of your limits and potential. With this understanding, you will be capable of not only evaluating but also executing."
FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM
COREY: "It is important to maintain a balance between school work, your sport and having fun. If you love what you do in all aspects of your life, that will help you get far. Sometimes there is a limited amount of time for social life because studying and sports are both big commitments. But at the same time, there are always times to have fun!"
VASTA: "Time management helps in this regard, as well. If you plan correctly, your social life will be unaffected by your sport and school work. I recommend scheduling classes with friends and arranging study groups. By surrounding yourself with friends while completing schoolwork, it makes schoolwork more fun."
Editorial content provided by Trevor Rutledge-Leverenz, Sports Information Director at Centenary College (N.J.).
