The stress on student-athletes is having negative effects on their education and mental health. Balancing their athletic careers and life outside of being an athlete only proves to become more challenging as they get older. Surveys have shown student-athletes have less free time for schoolwork, family, friends, and other activities, simply because they have too many other commitments. In return, student-athletes in college and high school perform inadequately in the classroom compared to their peers who do not play sports.

As stated in an article by Brandon Slade on time management, a study on the reality of student-athlete commitments found that 80% of student-athletes feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities at some point during their season. Balancing a healthy lifestyle, education, and athletic career leaves student athletes facing many challenges having a negative impact on all these aspects of their life.

Committing to long hours of practices, games, travel, lifts, conditioning, and other lessons take up most of their time already, leaving athletes struggling with time management and keeping up with everything else. Gabby Alfveby wrote an article on the workload of student athletes, stating that the average student-athlete spends 32 hours or more on their sport every week. Leaving over half of student-athletes spending more time on their sport than schoolwork outside of school. Most student-athletes in high school say that they are not happy with how they manage their time at home.

The huge time commitment and constant work are very physically demanding, leaving athletes exhausted and seeing huge impacts on their sleep and concentration. Physical and emotional fatigue are commonly seen in student athletes and have a negative toll on their mental and emotional health. Pressure is constantly put on athletes, being compared in wins and losses, numbers, stats, and how successful they are. Overtraining can cause an intolerable amount of pressure, resulting in loss of motivation, performance drop, and ultimately lack of enjoyment. According to the National Library of Medicine, over 80% of student athle tes feel regularly physically fatigued; either on a daily or weekly basis. A student athlete’s work is unforgiving and leaves them physically and emotionally worn out. With less free time, student athletes often struggle with or feel very socially isolated. About one third of student athletes say they aren’t happy with their social life.

While the challenges against student athletes are exceedingly difficult to face, the benefits are extremely meaningful. Playing a sport helps students to learn the importance of priorities, goal setting, commitment, and many more valuable life lessons. Many athletes say with their team they can forget everything else going around them and relax playing the sport they love with people that feel like family. Being a student athlete offers multiple benefits that extend beyond the wins on the field.

Altogether, the rewards of being a student athlete are valuable but the difficulties it comes with leaves many athletes wondering if it is all worth it in the end. The challenges will take a toll on everyone differently, but how everyone chooses to handle them is what will determine how precious the advantages are. For the benefits of being an athlete outweigh the difficulties, it takes a balance in all aspects of life. Being dedicated to friendships and relationships in their free time and making sure to get enough rest and days off. Working hard to balance their schoolwork with all the hours they spend on their sport. Student athletes become compelled to learn how to have a stable lifestyle or be accepting of the challenges that come with being committed to athletics, education, and personal well-being.

The negative effects on student athletes’ mental health and education are becoming more noticeable. Looking at and analyzing the high and low ends of being a student-athlete proves just how limiting playing a sport can be, but also how special they can be. By identifying the downfalls and finding equity in their lifestyles, athletes can really enjoy the positives that come with being a student-athlete.