Balancing academics with athletic ambitions is a challenge for many young athletes worldwide. The Sport-Studies program, designed to help students excel both in the classroom and on the field, has gained significant popularity. It offers a unique opportunity for talented athletes to pursue their sporting dreams while continuing their education. However, questions remain: does this program truly strike the right balance between athletic performance and academic success, or does it risk tipping the scales in favor of one over the other?
Academic hindrance
Sports can sometimes hinder academic success due to the demanding workload it places on young athletes. Balancing intensive training sessions with academic responsibilities often leads to time constraints, fatigue, and difficulty keeping up with studies, which can negatively impact academic performance. Caleb Podo, an international basketball star from Gabon and playmaker for Orion Basketball Rwanda, explains: “It can be a hindrance if you don’t manage your time between training and school. If you don’t manage both well, you risk abandoning one in favor of the other.”
Some young athletes may prioritize sports over academics, believing their athletic career will secure their future. This immense pressure to succeed in sports often leads them to abandon their studies. Sharing his experience, Caleb Podo explains: “I chose short-term training over University because it is often expensive, time-consuming, and requires a lot of commitment. Staying in one country makes it easier, but constantly traveling adds to the burden.”
‘‘I think there is also a demographic barrier,” says MR MBA Handy in charge of Player Recruitment and Placement at the soccer duties agency. “It depends on where the athlete is in Africa.” Handy highlights the lack of consistent support for young athletes entering football academies, where poorly coordinated educational structures make it difficult to establish effective sports programs.
In some regions, the disconnect between education and sports authorities prevents the development of integrated programs that balance academic and athletic performance.
Socio-economic and cultural issues
Many young Africans face significant socio-economic barriers, such as poverty, that limit access to both education and sports. In some cases, families prefer their children to enter the job market quickly rather than pursue a sports career. Culturally, parents in Africa are more likely to emphasize the importance of education over sports. However, as Mr. Handy points out, “Sport in Africa is generally an engine for success, allowing some young players to escape precarious situations.”
Lack of motivation
The issue of motivation among young students in Africa can be attributed to several factors. One major challenge is the lack of clear career paths, which can leave young people feeling uncertain about their future and questioning the value of higher education. “I think they find more enjoyment in playing football or basketball than sitting through what they often see as boring classes,” notes Mr. Handy.
Sports can serve as a powerful stepping stone, offering opportunities and opening doors that academics sometimes cannot. However, a strong academic foundation is equally important, as it equips young athletes with valuable skills that can benefit them in life beyond sports.
Academic excellence and success
“To motivate and guide student athletes, it is essential to regularly remind them of their key objectives,” says Handy.
The goal is to prepare students for a dual career excelling in high-level sports while building a strong academic or professional foundation. This approach ensures that athletes not only pursue their passion but also earn a diploma that can secure their future if their sports career doesn’t pan out. Additionally, academic training can open doors to careers in sports-related fields such as coaching, sports education, or event management, as well as opportunities in entirely different sectors.
Even for those focused on excelling in sports, it’s crucial to remember that an athletic career is often short-lived. Student-athletes should use their time wisely to develop additional skills, build networks, and prepare for life after sports, ensuring long-term success and stability.
Keys to succeed
Discipline and time management are essential for balancing studies and training while developing skills for future professional life. Kanyabutembo Noella, a doctor from Legacy Hospital and the Parisian Germain training center in Rwanda lists some of the key points that can enable student-athletes to become successful.
- Planning: Draw up a timetable that integrates training, lessons and study time. Use tools such as agendas or time management applications.
- Identify the most important and urgent tasks. Balance athletic and academic demands with deadlines.
- Prioritizing a balanced diet: As a student-athlete, eating well is critical not only to optimizing athletic performance, but also to preventing disease, injury and maintaining good health so a balanced diet is essential.
- Staying focused and motivated, even when tired. This also includes respecting sleep and recovery schedules
- Professional opportunities, athletes can benefit from scholarships and training that open door in the world of sports and beyond.
Dr. Kanyabutembo also emphasized on vital role of parents in motivating their children, especially during tough times. She said that their encouragement, whether through kind words or reassuring actions, help children build self-confidence and strengthens the student-athlete’s commitment to their goals. Additionally, athletics programs often come with significant costs, such as sports equipment, competition travel, and sometimes tuition fees. Financial support from parents can be crucial, ensuring that these young athletes can pursue their dreams without being held back by financial concerns.
it is also to train coaches and educators not only in their academic subjects but also in supporting young athletes’ sporting development. “A coach who understands the importance of education and respects the balance between academics and athletics can guide students in managing their time and priorities effectively, she said.
Sport studies can either be a challenge or a steppingstone, depending on how they are approached. When there is the right balance between athletics and academics, and when athletes have the necessary support, both academic and sporting success become attainable. The key is to adopt a holistic approach that values both sporting achievement and education, preparing young athletes for success in all areas of life.
