Sometimes, balancing the commitments athletes have at school or university with daily training sessions can be a big problem. We believe that many of you have found yourselves in a similar situation. We are aware that the regular education system doesn’t exactly favor athletes, and in most cases, there are no significant privileges, unless you were lucky enough to enroll in a sports high school or a school with a special sports class. In most cases, it ends with a decision: either sports or school. However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. There are ways to balance these commitments.
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide advice that will help everyone because each athlete must find the way that works best for them. Over time, some realize which things come more easily to them and which are more difficult, and how to juggle numerous obligations.
How to balance your responsibilities with your child’s responsibilities?
If you are a parent of a child athlete, we believe it is a real challenge to balance all of your child’s obligations along with your own. However, it doesn’t always have to be a big nightmare. What you need is organization and determination. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to share some of the responsibilities.
Have you thought about connecting with other parents and helping each other? If you are already driving your child from school to training, why not arrange for one day you to drive the kids to training, the next day another parent, and the third day a parent of another child, and so on. Just imagine how much easier that would make things for you.
Regarding your child, help them create a weekly schedule together. If the commitments are unpredictable, then plan each evening what you need to accomplish the next day. Of course, school and school responsibilities should be prioritized, but careful planning can help you achieve more. Wise people say that it’s better to spend time planning now and save time later. Don’t forget to plan healthy and balanced meals and never skip breakfast.
Create some routines that you can apply every day, and then adjust according to the commitments you have that day. By planning weekly or daily schedules, you send a message to your child that balancing school and training is possible, and you teach them invaluable habits they will later adopt on their own. Most importantly, your child needs to enjoy what they are doing, and then all these obligations will be much easier for them.
If your child goes to training unwillingly and always comes up with excuses, consider whether that sport is right for them and what the source of the problem might be. You can always take a short break from training; if the child misses it, you can either return them to the sport or allow them to try something new. You are there to be an unconditional support for your child, and that is something you should never forget.
Adult athletes
Older athletes who are attending high school or university face perhaps even greater challenges. Academic obligations are more extensive and demanding, and training sessions are more frequent and intense. If you have reached this level of involvement in sports, we believe you have determined that this sport is right for you and that you do not want to give it up. And it definitely should not be an option! If you truly enjoy what you do, you will find time for everything. You probably know the training and competition schedules in advance, as well as your school or university schedules. What you now need to balance are studying and leisure.
Try to estimate in advance how much time you might need for a particular homework assignment, seminar, or exam. If you run out of time, it could create stress and panic, further reducing your effectiveness. It’s better to allocate a bit more time than you think you’ll need, which you can then use for rest and leisure. Your planning skills will determine how much time you have left for fun and relaxation. You can always learn these skills or seek expert help from someone you know is good at it. We understand that balancing commitments is a challenging task for everyone, regardless of the sport you practice, the level of sport you are at, or the level of education you are pursuing. However, believe us, we have seen many examples of elite athletes who have managed to balance education and sport. They succeeded not because they were superhuman, but because they understood how fragile and short-lived their careers can be. Therefore, they were motivated and wise enough not to put all their ‘eggs in one basket.’
As you can see, the key to success is organization and careful planning. It’s better to spend time on planning rather than letting obligations catch up with you later. So don’t give up on the first obstacle; instead, give your best to succeed in what you want.
Sanja Petrić, mag. in Psychology
