Throughout the school year, managing sports and school simultaneously can be difficult. As a student’s high school career goes on, Advanced Placement courses become available, adding a lot of pressure to many students. More students begin taking difficult classes on top of multiple sports.
Most students who participate in sports have practices and games right after school, giving them minimal time to get ready and get to their practices. For students that have away games after school, the time crunch is even shorter. Adding in homework to a busy schedule can be difficult, as getting home from away games can take long amounts of time.
“Time management is a big factor in balancing school work and sports and I think that if you manage your time well and plan out what you’re gonna study each day it definitely helps keep a balance,” Walpole High School soccer player Alexa Larkin said.
Performance in sports often affects how students perform in school. If a student plays poorly in a previous sports game they might feel a sense of defeat and failure which can negatively affect them the next coming school day. Sports put a lot of pressure on students and separating one’s schoolwork and performance in a sport can be difficult.
“If the game does not go like it’s supposed to it can cause you to lose motivation because you’re so caught up in the moment; it makes you only think about that and do nothing,” Walpole High School field hockey player Ella Dacey said.
Playing sports as a student can also lead to depression. Having multiple sports going on can leave students with little to no social time. Socialization is crucial in a student’s teenage years, and constantly going to tournaments and games over the weekend can cause students to be left out of hangouts. Most teens feel left out and overly worked during sports season
Realize before a burn out how you’re feeling and talk to someone. Another way for students to feel better when taking on multiple activities can be taking mental breaks when needed. Being able to take a minute in your day to take a breath and regain a better mental state can help reduce stress.
