SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The worlds of academics and athletics can be demanding and competitive in their own right, and with classes just around the corner, it’s important to find the right balance.
Being an athlete is never easy especially when you are a student athlete. 22News spoke to Elite 413 Basketball about how they encourage students to excel in the classroom and on the court. Student athletes have a lot on their plates from balancing training and games to managing assignments and studying for tests.
Springfield-based basketball teams take home international championship trophies “I work hard in school and then after that, I go to basketball practice or I just train outside by myself,” said 413 Elite basketball player Christopher Allen.
Being a successful student-athlete requires quite a bit of discipline, solid time management and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it.
“I was not the best high school student so my advice to them is get to help. Go to your guidance counselors, go to your advisors. If you have a teacher, a favorite teacher, talk to them on the side at the end of his class and ask for extra help, but mostly just focus on the books,” said Joseph Mean of the 413 Elite Basketball Team.
“I’ll go to school, get my work done. If I need any help, I stay late and ask for help after then just go to the gym after to get some shots up,” 413 Elite basketball player Jirell Evans said.
Many students have big dreams of playing on a national stage but before you can have the chance to win those championship rings you need to put the time in the classroom. Coach Jovan Ruiz at 413 Elite Basketball says that it all starts with having a good support system.
“To be honest it’s just having a good support system behind you, having someone to believe in you, give you advice, and push you towards any goal you want.”
You can also set yourself up for success this year by creating a schedule, finding time to get your homework and studying done, and to and from your practices on time is crucial. Instead of procrastinating on those assignments, break them down into smaller chunks and arrange them in a way that works for you.
Vicky Williams, the co-founder of 413 Elite Basketball explains, “Education you can’t lose. That’s always braided in your brain so that’s the best thing for these kids to learn. Education first and sports second.”
Burnout is also very common among student-athletes. so before the start of classes set yourself up for success by managing your responsibilities to meet your expectations.
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