Student-Athlete, Not Athlete-Student

The NCAA runs an advertising campaign in which it asserts that most college athlete are “going pro in something other than sports.” The message is clear: while athletics are important, and can be part of any individual’s foundation for success, they cannot replace the value gained in the classroom. Unfortunately, many youngsters don’t understand or believe that. They see the multi-million dollar contracts and sponsorships signed by their favorite players, and believe that one day, they will be there, too. The reality is, the vast majority will not - and even if they do make it to the big leagues, an education is still paramount. On your sports team website, you should provide a few reasons and reminders why young athletes should focus on their studies first and their skills second.

Homework always comes first

Send a clear message to your kids and their parents: missing a practice or a game due to scholarly reason will always be acceptable. If a student’s SAT exam is tomorrow, or final, or the 10-page research paper he or she hasn’t finished, that needs to be given priority. Additionally, underline the maturity and dedication to the team it takes for a player to manage school time effectively enough to allow participation in the team’s scheduled activities.

Most athletes don’t play professionally…

That NCAA commercial is right. Forbes revealed the odds of high school athletes going on to play in the pros, and they were slim. For baseball, 0.6% of high schoolers play in the majors, along with 0.08% in football, 0.1% in hockey, 0.03% in basketball and 0.04% in soccer. The odds are not in your young athletes’ favor. Not that it means they should give up - just that they should have a back up plan.

…and the ones that do still need their education

Talented college players get plenty of press for heading for the draft, but several go back to finish their education over the offseason, including NBA players Kyrie Irving (from Duke) and Jeff Green (from Georgetown). Injuries can quickly derail a career, and you have to be prepared for life after sports. As Richard Sherman, cornerback for the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, put it, the average NFL career lasts three-and-a-half years. “So what are you going to prepare for,” he asked a group of high-schoolers, “three-and-a-half years? Or the rest of your life?”

Kids dream big when it comes to sports, and that’s a good thing - but you can use your team sport website to keep them focused on academics at the same time.