Varsity teams on campus consist of many athletes, each with their own structured routines. Balancing student life with home can be difficult at times. That brings up the question, what makes an athlete’s routine unique from any other student on campus?
Yousuf Nema, 9th grade, is a varsity basketball player. Yousuf Nema’s daily routine usually consists of waking up, praying, eating throughout the day, going to school, doing homework, and doing some sort of athletic activities which can include basketball training or even going to the gym for at least 1 hour and a half. “After all of these tasks are completed, my day is complete, and without these tasks being completed, my day is incomplete,” Nema says.
Nema also talks about how at times in life, he has faced challenges with time management. He explains how being a varsity athlete comes with many challenges, obstacles, priorities, and commitments. He also mentions how at times, one can miss out on chances to hangout with friends, or go out, but he also emphasizes that those are things that just come with being an athlete. Nema says, “Time management is key, without it I can tell you, you will fail.”
Dr. Sharon Chirban says in an article on Amplify Wellness and Performance’s website, “Taking breaks to unwind and relax helps replenish mental energy, leading to better performance in both academic and athletic pursuit.”
Mouaaz Aly, 9th grade, is a varsity Soccer player. Aly’s daily routine is very similar to Nema’s, and consists of many of the same things. Aly’s daily routine consists of him waking up and praying. Then he eats breakfast, goes to school, does all of his work. However, then he plays soccer for at least 2 hours. Moreover, he mentions that in those 2 hours he is shooting the ball around, running, and passing. He also emphasizes on the fact that without these 2 hours, he doesn’t think he would be where he is today. “As a varsity player, I need to be ready to give up certain things and commit extra time and effort towards my goals. But it is all worth it in the end because of the relationships I build with my teammates and coaches,” Aly says.
