Balancing Sports and Academics as a Student-Athlete

Photograph by Rampage student photographer Jaxon Bast.

Being a student-athlete is a full-time job that requires high-level time management and proper ordering of priorities. You can’t give too much time to sports or too much time to academics, because that is a recipe for disaster.

The most successful student-athletes are the ones who successfully balance their schedule. These athletes attend every practice, weight-lifting session, game, and film session, while also attending every class, submitting all assignments on time, and passing all quizzes and tests. 

Most athletes at Bluefield University have demonstrated this balance and shown they know what it takes to be a successful student-athlete. They have figured out a solid system that allows them to have successful academic and athletic careers. 

For example, Tremaine Baker, an All-Conference left tackle for the BU football team, has had success in both the classroom and on the field. Time management was an important point he made when speaking about the success he has had. 

“The hardest thing I had to deal with is time management,” Baker said, “because before I had a lot of time for a social life, which made me wait until the last minute to do things.”

Procrastination, Baker said, can lead to failure for student-athletes, but fortunately he has found a way to overcome it. 

“My advice to young students is to do your work ahead of time instead of waiting until the last minute,” Baker said. “I would also recommend they manage their schedule better by picking days that can be their mandatory work or study hall days.” 

Baker said he also sets specific days aside to focus on homework and studying. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are usually the days he studies and does homework. He also has days scheduled specifically to focus on athletics. 

“I’m in the gym at least 60 minutes a day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,” Baker said. “Then I have practice two hours a day Tuesday through Thursday, and Friday is a walk-through and Saturdays are game day.”

The system Baker uses has allowed him to be both a successful student and athlete. His teammate, starting defensive lineman Jack Charlton-Perrin, who is also an All-Conference player for BU, has enjoyed similar success on and off the field. Charlton-Perrin credits his success at managing both sports and academics to his ability to have his priorities in order. 

“You have to know your schedule well,” Charlton-Perrin said. “You have to be aware of big tests or assignments a few days in advance in order to give yourself time to plan around practice, workouts, and games. You cannot afford to waste time when doing your homework. Be efficient with the time you have.”

Charlton-Perrin said he maintains a balanced schedule that involves both studying and practice.

“I spend 7-14 hours studying a week,” Charlton-Perrin said, “while also spending a couple of hours in the weight room and a couple of hours at practice in a day.”  

Overall, he isn’t a victim of procrastination and prioritizes his school work just as much as he prioritizes his athletics. 

“You have to get your assignments done on time and stay consistent,” Charlton-Perrin said, “because once you fall behind in the classroom it is very difficult to catch up when you have an average of four hours a day devoted to your sport as well as any current employment.” 

Like Baker and Charlton-Perrin, Jake Mendoza, a senior goalkeeper for the BU soccer team, has experienced similar success on and off the field; however, he admits he is still figuring out what works best for him as he balances sports and athletics. 

“I have a difficult time managing my time correctly,” Mendoza said. “I oftentimes wait until the last minute to complete assignments until after practice or games.”

Mendoza recommends not becoming a victim of procrastination as it can result in a lack of performance on the field and in the classroom. 

“Try to get ahead on your assignments,” he said, “so you can focus more on performing on the field to be a better attribute to the team.”

Mendoza finds that his schedule involves more athletics than academics, yet he has still been able to be successful in the classroom because of his ability to manage his time. 

“I spend about 5-10 hours a week on homework and around 20-25 hours a week at practice or in the gym,” Mendoza said. 

His ability to dedicate specific times during his day to completing his homework or study has allowed him to finish assignments on time. 

“I usually allocate specific times during my day to allow myself to do only homework,” Mendoza said. “I often get more assignments done that way.”

Baker, Charlton-Perrin and Mendoza are all models of student-athletes that can actively balance both responsibilities. They have set foundations that have eliminated the risks of failure. Though they love the sports they play, they understand the importance of what the classroom can offer them as well. This is what it takes to be a student-athlete that can actively balance both athletics and academics.