Many young athletes give up their sports careers because they cannot balance their athletic and academic (university) obligations. Even athletes who manage to complete their education while pursuing sports often find it almost impossible to balance their professional and athletic careers later. However, abroad, many athletes face and successfully cope with the challenges of a dual career.
A dual career means simultaneously building a sports career while developing oneself through education or employment. Balancing these responsibilities is not easy and requires strong support and good organization, but it is not impossible. How can this be achieved?
- Be transparent
If you are not enrolled in a sports program at school, it is important to talk to your class teacher and the school’s counseling service or department head and explain all your commitments. If you already have a schedule of competitions and training camps, it would be good to show it to them. It’s possible that your educational institution won’t be able to accommodate you — but maybe it will. In any case, give it a try! You have nothing to lose.
If you have a job, talk to your supervisors, explain your sports commitments, and arrange your working conditions in advance. If your supervisors are not supportive of your sports career, it’s something you need to know ahead of time.
- Ask for help if you need it.
Some things we cannot do on our own. This is not a defeat, but a reality. Duties, tasks, and responsibilities become easier with good and effective support.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. Ask your teachers for additional explanations, classmates for notes and clarification if you missed something, friends for conversation, and family for help with preparing meals, organizing equipment, or just for emotional support. A good support system can work wonders. Build it to make things easier, more enjoyable, and more successful!
- Make a schedule
Although a schedule may not seem cool, it is very helpful. When tasks are written down and organized, it becomes clearer what can be accomplished and in what time. Writing things down opens mental space for other matters because the brain is not burdened with remembering everything. Additionally, when you record all your tasks, it becomes clearer what you can realistically achieve and what is too much to expect from yourself.
- Track how well you followed your schedule
Simply creating a schedule is not enough. We must also stick to it. At the end of each day or week, take a little time to mark what you accomplished and what you didn’t have time for. This will help you make a better schedule in the future and manage your tasks more efficiently. Additionally, you may realize that certain time is slipping away and could be used better (for example, becoming aware of your screen time on social media).
- Take care of yourself
Of course, take care of yourself and your mental health. Good nutrition, quality sleep, and enough rest are essential prerequisites for a successful dual career. If you notice that you are consistently sacrificing your sleep and rest, something needs to change. Balance is the key to everything.
The fact that a dual career is possible is proven by many examples in our environment. For instance, Franka Vidović is successfully building a sports career in squash while studying at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. Ante Budimir, alongside his sports career, is studying economics. Many other athletes simultaneously pursue higher education or develop business ventures and build their personal brands. Our Dora works with us and is also a national rowing team member. Although it may seem that there are few athletes like this, they actually exist everywhere.
We repeat: a dual career is full of challenges, but with good organization, support, and determination, you can be successful both in sports and beyond. It may not be easy, but every small step forward brings you closer to your goal — both on the field and off it — and this will give you extra strength to keep going.
