Balancing Academics and Athletics: 5 Tips for Success

At ICS, we are thankful that our students have so many great opportunities outside the classroom. Whether it be theater, Student Council (Stuco) or athletics, our students have the chance to serve God in many ways while growing in their knowledge through extra curricular activities. Although this is a blessing for our students, participating in these additional opportunities can be a challenge when it comes to academic success. Here are five key points to help our students balance academics and athletics at ICS:

1. Communication with teachers and coaches.

   Our coaches and staff always strive to work together with students to help them succeed. We encourage athletes to be constant and consistent in their communication as they seek to balance both their school work and after school activities.

2. Get ahead and avoid procrastination.

   Putting assignments off can always lead to challenges for student athletes. We suggest finding ways to get ahead on assignments, and not waiting until the last minute to get something done. This will help students from feeling overwhelmed, as their responsibilities increase.

3. Prioritize academics.

   We love our athletic teams and activities. We also want to encourage students that academics is their number one priority at ICS. We will always help students seek success in the classroom first, and see athletics as a privilege.

4. Write down important details.

As students begin to participate in multiple activities, it can be challenging to keep everything straight. A great way to make sure students balance activities is to keep a planner (either written or online) where they can manage their dates, events and assignments.

5. Keep a positive attitude.

Lastly, we encourage students and families to keep a positive attitude. It is a blessing and privilege to be able to participate in activities, and it should be fun. There may be tough times, but remembering to keep a positive attitude is essential.