As the new school year commences, many students are looking forward to sign up for fall sports. Athletes may find themselves buried between classes and practices and get overwhelmed.  Coming as a freshman in the fall of 2014, I joined the girls’ tennis team in the spring but was not very good at organizing my school work and sports. As a junior this year, I have become much more proficient in managing both sports and school, so there is not as much of a difference of how much work I have to do during the tennis season and after.

In freshman year, I was told that high school is four great years of anyone’s life that can be used to explore many different sports and other activities. But when I entered the reality of it all, I was apprehensive to try out for any of the teams because I did not want it to interfere with my academics. I eventually decided to join the Girls’ Tennis Team which was the best decision I made. With help from upperclassmen, I was able to find a balance between classes and tennis.

Not only is being part of a team recommended, it is also very fun and fulfilling. Although managing sports and academics can be tough, it is surely possible to do both.

Academics first

When signing up for any sport, it is important to keep in mind that academics should always be the first priority. If you’re planning on missing a test, be prepared to possibly take it during practice. No teacher will accept your, “But I have practice after school” excuse, I say this with many second hand experiences.

Many athletes find time for homework before practices or after dinner.

Plan out your schedule

It is a good idea to check how much commitment a sport needs and how much time you plan to dedicate to it. Some sports require players to go to practice everyday with no unexcused absences while others may be a little more lenient.

Practices will most likely be held everyday after school and sometimes even weekends, so it is important to plan out your schedule. Sometimes games and practices can be moved to different times so keeping an updated schedule can be very beneficial.

If you plan on signing up for a sport that does not have practice right after school like me, (practice for me started at 4:00) I suggest to start your homework right after school so that you have less to work on later. Most of the time I got very tired after practice and I was not motivated at all to start my homework.

Be proactive

During away games, it is really helpful to start homework and/or study during the bus rides there and back. It can even be more worthwhile if you and your friends get your work done together. I find it easier to get most of my homework started on the way to a game because the ride back is more relaxing for me.

Having study groups with friends from the team can be fun and productive. The sports teams at WA usually have a mix of players from different grades, and having upperclassmen help you is one of the best ways to keep track on academics.

High school is a great opportunity to try out different sports but it can be tough to have a balance between academics and athletics. Using these tips can make it easier to get through the school year without missing anything worthwhile.