At the University of Lynchburg, student-athletes often face the challenging task of balancing their academic responsibilities with performing at their full potential in their respective sports. While daunting, completing this task builds discipline and time management skills that are important to the student-athlete’s future success.
Mya Green, a graduate student setter on the Lynchburg Women’s Indoor Volleyball team, shared that balancing academics and athletics while in-season has helped sharpen her time management skills.
“Having a set schedule helps me dedicate specific times for homework and studying,” Green said. “When I am out of season, I have more free time, which makes it easier to procrastinate.”
Since athletic travel for games often requires athletes to miss class, Green also emphasized the importance of communication between professors and students.
“Professors here are very accommodating. I make sure to notify them in advance so they can let me know what I’ll be missing,” she said.
Jeremiah Costello, a sophomore outside hitter for the Lynchburg Men’s Indoor Volleyball team, shared that he has also seen an improvement in his academic performance during the season due to the steady structure it provides.
“There was better focus and discipline being in season, my focus is more dialed in with the pressure to perform both in classes and sports,” said Costello.
The Faculty Athletics Representative at the University of Lynchburg, Dr. Sean Collins, stated that overall, national and local statistics indicate that student-athletes perform as well as, and sometimes better than, non-athletes.
“The expectations to be a strong student exist in and out of season, and most find ways to succeed regardless of the schedule,” he said.
Collins also emphasized that effective communication between faculty members and coaches is crucial when classes are missed or students start to fall behind.
“The best prevention is preparation. Plan ahead, use office hours, and take advantage of study halls and support systems,” said Collins.
Here at Lynchburg, student-athletes are not just focused on building team success in matches, but also building habits and skills that will lead to success in and out of the classroom.
For more information on Lynchburg Sports, visit the Official Athletics Website.
