What do names like Russell Ebert, Merv Mclntosh, and Jack Oatey have in common? Apart from arching their legendary status into the Hall of Fame, they juggled between their education and their bubbling football career.
These legends prove that football and education can go hand in hand while creating an all-rounded individual. Many aspiring Australian football talents are still battling academic workloads on and off campus. Others are forced to subcontract a paper writing service to ease off the academic pressures of submitting assignments on time.
Finding the right balance between your studies and football career means putting your social life on hold while showing total commitment to both sides. Every successful talent in the AFL devoted their time, resources, and effort to succeed on both fronts. How did they find a working formula? Let's break down some industry secrets behind these legendary careers in AFL.
Can You Balance Your Academics and Football Career?
The modern game is evolving and requires a new mindset to crack it. A common requirement to join the league is a college degree. Moreover, graduating with a bolstering career in Australian football makes reaching the top of the cream easier during selections.
Many football talents went through the higher education phase and still achieved greatness in their football career. An AFL career is not sustainably long and only takes one shot to reach the top. Therefore, when the opportunity comes knocking, you better be prepared.
But, it means you must make several changes and sacrifices to better your odds of a successful AFL career.
How to Find the Right Balance
Any focused student with a promising football career must find the formula that dictates their life for the next few years. Here are some practices these learners must be willing to undertake:
Plan School Hours
Start by properly organizing your schoolwork to ensure you're on top of all school commitments. Ensure you dedicate a certain amount of time to attending all your classes, completing homework assignments, and doing group work.
Knowing when to submit an assignment or when to attend a lecture makes it easier to allocate time for other activities. This is rather than encountering last-minute rushes to make final submissions of homework on D-Day. Create a schedule that incorporates allocated times for handling all your school commitments.
Plan Training Hours
After sorting all your school commitments, it is time to focus on your football hours. When will you train? How long is each session? What about sports day? These are some questions you must answer while creating a work schedule.
For example, you can fit your training sessions in the evenings after classes or on weekends during your free time. It prevents instances when you must fit in your homework during your workout. It creates an overall impression of an all-rounded individual who loves their talents and academics.
Note Deadlines
Your football career and educational life feature commitments with set deadlines for achieving them. Therefore, you must ensure each aspect of your life gets sorted in time.
For the academics side, there are multiple deadlines, such as applications, scholarships registrations, and financial aid. Therefore, you need to stay informed about these deadlines.
In your football career, some important dates to be aware of include recruitment, training and scheduling conditions, game and tournament schedules, and transfer application dates.
Make a List of Priorities
Devoting your life to your career and education means sacrificing other aspects of university life. Start by creating a list of priorities that benefit your academic and football career.
Some activities to prioritize for academic success include attending classes, completing assignments on time, and regularly studying.
For your sporting career, you must prioritize your football skill development through regularly practicing, training, and participating in team activities. Furthermore, you must prioritize your physical condition to ensure peak performance during your field time.
Some common deterrents in your bubbling football career include injury prevention measures such as warming up, warming down, conditioning, and recovery. Therefore, you must work on your physical well-being for an injury-free career.
Create a Support System
Dedicating your entire life to your academics and football career means handling tough times. Therefore, developing a support system to stay motivated while pursuing your football career is wise.
Keep your family members, friends, and coaches close to provide emotional support. Furthermore, build relationships with your teammates while working together to achieve a common goal. Ensure open communication with your coach to balance training and academic pursuits.
Furthermore, mental health is becoming a serious concern among young athletes. It is common to encounter mental pressures from balancing your schoolwork and young career. We recommend partnering with mental health professionals, such as counselors and sports psychologists, to maintain your mental well-being.
Challenges to Expect in Your Journey
Along your journey to become a talent in AFL, you must be willing to overcome some challenges. A strong mentality and preparedness are necessary components of a successful athlete. Here are some challenges to anticipate:
Fatigue and Burnout
Long hours on the training field and more time handling your academic commitments can affect your physical well-being. It is common to experience fatigue and burnout that impairs your performance in class and on the field.
Intense Commitment on Both Sides
The high level of competition in the AFL means students must train intensively to showcase their skills. Moreover, the academic burden continues piling up as you progress through the years. Therefore, expect to prepare for these tough days.
Limited Social Life
The life of a dedicated athlete can leave little time for socializing. Some days, you might feel some bouts of loneliness or isolation. But, always remember the long-term goals.
Pressure to Excel
Parental and coach pressures will mount, with both parties keen to see you excel. Therefore, take these pressures positively for wholesome growth.
Final Thoughts
Striking a balance between graduating with high honors and being recruited for the AFL calls for dedicated and passionate individuals. Be willing to take on physical and emotional pressures to achieve your long-term goals.
It is a hard journey, but you have a support system to guide you.
