Balancing sports and school is a challenge many student athletes face. Having to go after some rough conditioning at practice and coming home, all you do is want to sleep. While you would think that sports negatively affect academic performance, surprisingly students say it helps them. Samuel Stastenko, a sophomore, says, “The coach always checks on our grades, and wants us to be passing our classes.” To play a school sport you need a 2.0 gpa, which causes athletes to have to keep their grades up. The pressure to keep your grades up for sports motivates you to do your homework,study, and pay attention in class. Sports also keep you disciplined and your schedule organized. One student does not feel sports help though. Tristan says “ No, not particularly. I think I do the same or worse, since I don’t get as much time to study.” But, Samuel also said he tends to focus more during school because of sports. “I think I do better because I’m more concentrated.” He believes sports keep you mentally healthy and physically. Sports keep you concentrated and mentally well for school work. Students do have different opinions though. Leo Federico says “I still do homework most of the time, but it can be hard to manage”. The time commitment to a sport can leave a student feeling drained and unmotivated. Having to go to practice for hours and conditioning can lead to a lack of energy for homework. Leo still believes sports help him concentrate. He states, “I think sports keep you focused and concentrated.” All the athletes mentioned that sports are a motivator to keep your grades up. Due to the fact that if you do not keep your grades up then you will not be able to play. All the interviewees reveal a common theme, sports can keep you motivated and focused on keeping your grades up but can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. 

For Tristan Lucerta,who is a sophomore volleyball player, juggling the balance can be hard. He admits that practices sometimes affect his homework. “I’m tired and I just don’t want to deal with it,” he explains. Tristan estimates that without sports he completes about 90% of his homework, but during the season that number drops to around 80%. He has also noticed about a five percent drop in his grades during the season. Missing classes for games can add even more stress, as it often means extra assignments to make up later and lessons missed.

Despite the challenges, the benefits of being part of sports organizations far outweigh the disadvantages. Having a busy schedule requires the student to make the best use of their time. It creates a routine for them, which helps them stay organized. Despite feeling tired, the pressure they have on them from the coach ensures they have good grades and keep them well above the required GPA. This is an added pressure that can motivate them academically.

However, the pressure is not only from coaches. The students mentioned feeling expectations from their parents as well. Parents want their children to succeed both academically and athletically, which can add another layer of stress. While this pressure can feel overwhelming at times, it often encourages students to push themselves harder. The experiences of these athletes show that balancing sports and school is not easy. It requires discipline, time management, and determination, but for many students, the rewards of teamwork, focus, and personal growth make the challenge worthwhile.