BALANCING BOOKS AND THE BALL: THE LIFE OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE

Tebello Monokwa

@tebello_monokwa

 

Balancing sports and academics is one of the biggest challenges that many university student-athletes face. Student-athletes must attend lectures, complete assignments, train regularly, and compete in matches — all while maintaining good academic performance. This lifestyle requires strong discipline, dedication and good time management.

 

Being a student-athlete teaches valuable life skills that go beyond the classroom, and the sports field. It forces students to become more responsible, organised and focused on their goals.

 

JP Britz, a rugby player studying towards an LLB degree, says discipline and planning are essential to managing everything. “Managing my time between training, competitions, studying and my job requires discipline and planning. I rely on a structured routine and clear priorities,” he says.

 

Britz explains that the most challenging moments often happen during competition periods and exams. “Training can be intense, competitions require travel and academic deadlines may happen at the same time,” he adds.

 

Soccer player Tshepiso, who is studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd), believes understanding priorities helps maintain balance. “Everything has a schedule, and when commitments clash, you have to decide what to prioritise,” he says. He also emphasises the importance of preparing early to avoid unnecessary pressure.

 

Another student-athlete, Mbalenhle Mthembu, who plays for the women’s faculty soccer team while studying BEd, says managing both responsibilities has been manageable so far. She studies early in the morning because it is the quietest time for her to focus on her work. “Training happens after classes and competitions take place at night, so it’s not too difficult to manage,” she says.

 

Student-athletes show that success is possible when passion and discipline work together. Their experiences prove that sports and education can complement each other rather than compete with one another. The athletes encourage students who want to follow the same path to stay disciplined, believe in themselves and remain focused on their academic goals. While sport is important, they agree that education should always remain a priority, because it prepares students for life beyond the field.

 

 

 

Edited by Isabel Burgers