Athletes perform better when they dedicate their time to practice and preparation. The same is true for schoolwork. 

Getting good grades is just as important, if not more, as doing well in games or practice. Concentrating on schoolwork can be difficult; it can be easy to let your grades slip when the stresses of the season and the semester start to pile up. The best way to ditch bad study habits is to replace them with good ones.

By understanding the importance of studying and implementing a new study strategy, you will experience new confidence as a student-athlete and your performance will improve on the field as well as in the classroom.

The Importance of Studying and Achieving Good Grades
Studying can be time consuming, boring and may seem pointless at times. But just as an athlete needs to work through repetitive drills during training to perform well during games, students must put effort and time into their studies in order to do well in school and become educated adults.

As athletes begin to play at higher levels, maintaining an above-average GPA becomes increasingly important, not just for individual athletes but for the team as a whole. If an athlete does not maintain the GPA requirements set forth by their school or coach, they could be suspended from games until their grades improve.

Colleges and Universities that abide by NCAA rules and regulations require their athletes to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average).  That means that if one member of the team is slacking off and not studying or making good grades, the rest of his or her team will have to work even harder to keep their grades up. If an athlete’s GPA is lower than a 2.0, they will be put on probationary status and will not be eligible to play.

The NAIA rules and regulations require athletes to maintain a cumulative GPA higher than a 2.0, such as Hastings College, which requires their athletes to maintain 2.5. Whether a university or college requires their athletes to maintain a 2.0 or a 2.5, it is clear that maintaining good grades can be even more important for athletes than it is for other students.

How to Form Good Study Habits
It’s important to realize that an athlete’s success in high school and college is dependent on their ability to study effectively and efficiently.  Studying is like any other activity or skill; it takes time and practice to perfect. As an athlete who already has practice every day, sometimes twice a day, the idea of having to practice studying might seem overwhelming and frustrating. But, becoming a proficient studier should not take as long or require as much effort as it does to become a great athlete.

Here are some tips to make studying easier and more enjoyable:

• Find a quiet place to do homework and study
• Eliminate distractions
• Set up a homework/study schedule that is easy to follow and abide by
• Take detailed notes
• If possible, record lectures for reference while studying
• If studying alone is difficult, study in a small group
• Read, don’t skim information
• If something is difficult to understand, ask a teacher for help; that’s what they are there for.
• Be reasonable and responsible

Finding your studying stride might take a little while, but don’t get discouraged. Studying is extremely important for academic success, just as practice and preparation is important for athletic success. It can be time consuming, but once you develop a strong study routine, it won’t seem so tedious.

As a student-athlete you should always have a strong desire to out-perform, whether you are on the field, the court, the ice or in the classroom.