5 Keys to Success as a Student-Athlete

Training, practice and determination create champions. And if you’re a student-athlete, you’re very familiar with this formula. You’ve dreamed of stepping onto the podium just like your role models. No doubt you are also accustomed to busy training schedules and long days of practice and school which are followed by long nights of studying, all the while juggling your athletic dreams, family requirements and school responsibilities. Talk about a tough balancing act! And getting into a great college where you can shine on the court and in the classroom is all part of the game plan. Will it be a challenge? Absolutely. But it’s possible to reach your athletic goals and the college of your dreams. We’ll draw you a road map to academic success with:

5 Keys to Success for a Student-Athlete

Tip 1: Watch the Clock
As an athlete, you know how important time is. And managing the clock can mean the difference between winning and losing. Organizing your time is a critical skill for academic success as well. Because there often aren’t enough hours in the day, scheduling your day is a key piece of being successful. One great way to stay on top of time is to create a schedule for sports and school and stick to it. List your goals and then plot them in your schedule monthly. For school, start with a list of important assignments or projects and then list the steps it will take to complete them before the due date. Knowing what your goals are and charting your course puts you on the path to achieving them!

Tip 2: Focus on Success, and Failure
Learning why you didn’t win is often the key to winning in the future! While it’s important to not dwell on your failures or mistakes, it’s also important to evaluate what went wrong to see if you can prevent it from happening again. This rule also applies to academics! Do you know what your academic strengths and weaknesses are? Knowing your struggles is the first step to overcoming them. Whether you’re unorganized, lose track of time, or struggle with test-taking, overcoming your academic challenges takes awareness and focus. Make a list of the areas you want to strengthen and find a few resources to help you win over them.

Tip 3: Get the Right Fit
Knowing what you want to accomplish is the first part of success, and finding the right path is the second. Just as you can’t take the field without proper equipment, you won’t do well in school without the right tools. Do you know how you learn best? Do you want to be NCAA-eligible? What are NCAA regulations? What style of school is the right mix for you and your family: online or textbooks? And if you dream of a career after your sporting days are over, you’ll want to be sure to take the right classes to get you there. Not sure of where to go with this? Let us help! Find out more about flexible, customized homeschool programs that help you reach NCAA requirements here.

Tip 4: Test Your Limits
As an athlete you’ve been taught to push yourself, to go to the end of what you think you can accomplish and then give a little more. Testing the limits is part of finding out what you’re made of and how far you can go. That same drive that you apply to your sport can take you far in school and a future career. But only if you’re on the right path and know what’s possible. Find out all of your academic and school options before boxing yourself into a traditional school that can’t give you the flexibility and portability you need!

Tip 5: Get Good Coaching
A good coach is always there, by your side, through the successes and failures. Coaches nurture champions. This is true for academics as well. You need a school or program that fully supports you and provides the help you need to accomplish your goals. Do your teachers or homeschool program box you into time requirements that hold you back? Are you left with questions that impact your future? If so, it’s time to find a better coach. The academic program you need will include expert advice in important areas like NCAA, college applications, AP or Dual Enrollment, and more.

Ready to learn more about securing your future as an athlete? Download our free eBook 5 Keys to Success for Student Athletes today! The eBook includes resources and printable handouts that you can use to ensure your success!