The rewards and responsibilities that full-time student athletes experience while meeting both athletic expectations and enduring taxing academic schedules often go unnoticed by coaches, teachers, parents and even other students. As society continues to normalize unrealistic work-life balances, many continue to wonder why young people assume the daunting task of becoming a student athlete.
Teachers and parents fail to understand the work and effort that student athletes constantly put into their lives. Kinsley Beck (11), a year round, multi-sport athlete, practices after school, on weekends and breaks, and throughout the entire school year. Beck elaborates, “During soccer and track season, I practice almost every day that I don’t have a game/ meet.” In addition to this Beck shares, “ For track, I train every single day (including weekends and off season)… During flag season, my practices are three hours long, five days a week, including days off of school.” Beck manages to balance all of these practices, games, and meets while maintaining her grades and extracurriculars. Similarly, Kenna Key (12), captain and middle blocker on Sierra Vista women’s volleyball team shares that when in school season, “our volleyball team practices every day, besides game days. We are expected to arrive right after school, and don’t typically get home until about 4-4:30.” However, for the volleyball players game days are typically more “hectic” with the team pre-gaming immediately after school until 2:15pm and then either setting up the gym for a visiting school or boarding a bus to drive to their next game. After the game, the team typically arrives home anywhere between “8:30- 9 pm”, with games occurring one, two, and on rare occasions, even three times each week.
The examination of a student athlete’s life reveals obstacles ranging from stress to fatigue. Taryn Ah Mow (9), a setter and defensive specialist on Sierra Vista’s varsity women’s
volleyball team describes these challenges, “I am expected to complete my work and go to practice within a span of 5 hours. A lot of times work piles up, leaving me very busy and overwhelmed. I also have to juggle my personal life along with the task of being a student athlete, which also adds to my load. I am constantly on my toes, making sure I maintain good grades so I can shine on the court.” This strain tends to compile on students and leave them stressed and overwhelmed. Additionally, Chalen Mapes (10), a point guard on the basketball team, distance track runner, and member of Sierra Vista’s cross country team shares the “biggest con is I don’t have much free time in season.” In addition to this, Beck reveals she struggles with “the amount of time you have to commit to the game, training, and practices.” While Key describes the constant “fatigue and injuries that I have to fight through the next school day.”
Although the life of a student athlete includes problems such as stress, lack of free time, and fatigue, many students choose to sacrifice their social lives and even mentality for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, furthering their education. For many people, education has become unaffordable and unattainable; with in-state college tuition currently upwards of $9,750 and out-of-state tuition at an astonishing $28,386, according to educationdata.org. Going to school as a student athlete significantly brings these prices down after scholarship money and further grants. According to Bold.org, division one and two sports reward an annual average of $14,270 for men and $15,162 for women. On top of this, specific schools grant their athletes even more scholarship money as well as housing and board discounts making college significantly cheaper and more affordable.
In addition to more affordable post-secondary education, many students join sports looking for a sense of community. Key reveals, “the biggest pro of being a student athlete is my team. I love my team, and watching some younger girls grow and get more fired up means more
to me than winning a game.” Beck conveys her love and “the sense of community it brings. Being on a team and spending so much time with people who have similar interests has helped me build some of the best connections I have.” Many teenagers find friendships and bonds difficult to create and struggle to find ways to maintain these bonds. According to i9 sports, “not every child is comfortable in social situations… by participating in sports, children are able to strengthen existing friendships and create new ones.” On top of this, Kong Academy reveals “participation in team sports and clubs can be a game changer for children struggling with social awkwardness.” Participation in sports leads to an increased sense of belonging and community for students who may otherwise struggle.
While the reality of a student athlete’s life may seem busy and overwhelming on surface, under the layers lies a lifestyle that, for some, serves as a rewarding and gratifying way of life– giving students the opportunity to create memories, friendships, and achievements many would otherwise never come across.
