On a recent KPB Podcast episode, a college coach told us that balancing academics and athletics was, in his view, the most difficult transition for high school players moving to the college game. We’ve heard some variation of this comment from many coaches. With more responsibility and ownership placed on students to learn the material and more time demands from baseball, it can be a tricky balance. As a student-athlete, you will have an abundance of resources at your disposal and it’s important to learn to ask for help BEFORE things get too difficult.
In college, the guys who perform on the field and in the classroom are the cool guys. The last thing a college coach wants to have to worry about is putting out academic fires in the middle of a season or losing a player to eligibility requirements. While everyone must learn their own system for balancing baseball and academics at the college level, almost all players agree that procrastination and failure to plan can spell big trouble. We rounded up a group of current and former college players to ask them how they stay organized while balancing baseball, school work, and everything else that comes with being a collegiate student-athlete. Here’s the advice they wanted to share with you:
“You just have to keep everything organized and planned out so that you know when you have deadlines or exams coming in school and you don’t miss them. There’s really no shortcut, you just have to push yourself to focus on getting the work done both academically and in training/practice. Find whatever tool helps you, whether it’s keeping a planner or calendar, using a tutor, etc.”
-D3 Pitcher/Infielder, Georgia
“Time management. Getting things done as soon as they are presented, especially during the season. Working together and attending study hall, establishing relationships with teammates and working together on assignments.”
-NJCAA/D3 First Baseman, North Carolina
“Don’t procrastinate. Make a calendar.”
-D3 Pitcher, California
“I stay organized. I write down all of the stuff I have going on that day. I also finish assignments as early as I can.”
-D2/D3 Pitcher, North Carolina
“It was difficult at times. Need to have a plan and make sure it allows enough time for both school & baseball.”
-D1 and D3 Pitcher, Georgia
“Set aside time to go to the library and be away from teammates, friends, girls, whoever. If you’re around them there’s constant unspoken social pressure to do stuff that isn’t in your long-term best interest academically and professionally.”
-D1/D3 Pitcher/First Baseman, Virginia/Georgia
“Planning, lots of pre-planned days down to the nose including meals, class, homework time, practice, games, when I should go to bed, shower time, there is no room for rough estimates, exact timing makes life super easy.”
-D3 Pitcher, California
“I have a schedule and stick to it. Do the work early and don’t get behind.”
-D1 Utility Player, South Carolina
“Make sure I schedule out the night before with what homework I have the next day and knowing how long it will take me after practice. Studying is important.”
-Pitcher, D3, North Carolina
“I had a lot of growing up to do. I moved across the country to go to school, so I didn’t have anyone to force me to do my work. It came down to prioritizing what was important, ‘Books before Ball’, that made it easy to figure everything out.”
-D3 Pitcher, Georgia
“You stay organized by making a plan. Make a plan, be flexible, and do whatever it takes to get what you need to get done, done.”
-D1 Pitcher, California
“I go to the library when I have free time and work for a hour or so to finish homework or get ahead. Baseball is easier because it is normally on schedule.”
-D3 Pitcher, North Carolina
“Do a little bit each day instead of all at one time.”
-D2/D3 Utility Player, North Carolina
Take the advice from these players and start to establish your own routines and strategies for balancing academics and baseball success. Not only will it set you up for a successful transition to college and make it easier when you get there, it will help you finish high school strong as well. Good luck!
