Time Management With Sports

Are you currently in a sport or are looking to join one but unsure of the time commitment? For many IMSA students, sports (whether they’re in the fall or spring) are a big part of their lifestyle outside the classroom—it’s a great way to meet new people and expand your comfort zone a bit more. However, managing academics with sports may be challenging at times. This article will discuss a few ideas on how to manage your time to help find a schedule that fits your needs with such extracurriculars. (Please keep in mind that these are merely suggestions and starting points on time management and can vary depending on individual circumstances.)

Looking Ahead to Meets

A big part of sports is attending the competitions and meets. They can be after school on weekdays or take place during the weekend. Either way, it will be a solid 4-5 hours away from your time at IMSA. While they may require a bit more time, meets are an amazing way to interact with people from other schools and learn more about your sport. However, if you can’t attend a meet, it’s important to notify your coach at least one week (depending on the sport) in advance so they have time to adjust the lineup accordingly, which leads to our next topic.

Communication

Communication is incredibly important when it comes to sports (or any clubs or organizations in general). By keeping your teammates and coaches informed about your current situation, they will have a better understanding of your potential absences and can even help to offer advice for your struggles as a student-athlete. More importantly, though, you can adjust and juggle any other commitments along with a sport, allowing for more freedom after the school day.

Asking for Help

Whether it’s academically or just in general, asking for help is always a great option. IMSA’s peer tutoring program and writing center tutors are excellent resources to catch up on school work or to ask about certain concepts. Forming study groups is another good idea—you’ll be able to connect with people with similar interests and work through problems together. As a student-athlete, it’s sometimes a good reminder that academics should be taken care of before participating in athletics. 

Get Sleep!

Although this is an often overlooked point, getting enough sleep is one of the most important factors in a strong athletic and academic performance. Especially at IMSA, it may be difficult to get that full 7-8 hours of sleep, but try to get as much as you can—it will help!

Again, these are merely starting points in your athletic and academic journey at IMSA and even beyond. Everyone has their own methods of managing their time, so don’t be afraid to experiment with which way works best for you. (And don’t ever forget the power of a good nap!)