Kennedi Hooper & Makayla Reeves

I, Makayla, sat contemplating whether or not I should drop this AP class. Despite my efforts of studying harder, doing test corrections, and talking to my counselor, I was still failing. Due to me failing, I couldn’t participate in my next track meet. I had to decide whether I wanted a GPA booster or continue to participate in a sport that could potentially get me college scholarships. As a current student-athlete in high school, I worry how difficult it will be to balance my sports and academics in college. 

“Athletes spend about 18 hours a week in practice, but do not spend much more time on academics.” Giving student-athletes easier access to mental health care, study resources, and time off from their sport will help maintain good grades. As a student-athlete, we have tremendous pressure on our backs. Athletes may experience a number of roadblocks to success: difficulty maintaining their athletic performance, overtraining, lack of peer support, and negative self-talk. 

“According to KCC, about 33% of student-athletes experience a mental disorder.” Athletes fear if they don’t exceed a certain point, they will let their coaches, teammates, and/or family down to the point they might lose their scholarship, which can take a toll on their minds. Though about thirty-three percent experience a mental disorder, “only 10% of those athletes seek help, according to a recent study done by TimelyMD.”

Allowing athletes to have a break from their sport helps them focus on something other than their sport. According to Alexander Eser in athletics, “46.8% of individuals identified burnout as a significant psychological concern.” Having a break allows athletes to decompress their mental and physical bodies. 

Providing athletes with resources such as tutoring, study groups, and academic advisors can help them catch up on their work. This allows them to seek help for difficult assignments, helps them stay organized, and helps them manage their time efficiently. When investing in these resources, athletes can achieve their full potential both in the classroom and on the field. It sets the stage for long-term success in their athletic careers and beyond.