Sports are one of the areas I start feeling uncomfortable talking about when it comes to students. It’s one of those areas that I’ve discussed that get wildly misinterpreted. I got this question and it felt like a rather safe opportunity to graze into the subject. (I’ve extracted a few details for brevity and privacy.)

I’ve been playing sports since I was 8. Over the years I’ve become pretty good at basketball. I’m currently a sophomore in high school and it looks like I’m not going to have too many problems getting on a good college team. (I’m already one of the best players on my team.) My number one problem is my grades. I’m generally capable of just getting good enough grades but I think I should be doing a little bit better (and I’m afraid I’m going to just miss the cut sometimes.) The thing is, I have a really full schedule as it is. I know the 15MSS could work but I’m always so exhausted I can hardly force myself to do it. Is this just a discipline thing? Do you got any tips for high school athletes?
-Anthony

I regularly discuss how students need to be careful when going to college. (I’ll get to your question.) Many students get to college just to waste tens of thousands of dollars to get into a field that won’t help them pay those costs off. They regularly go into filled job markets or, worse, fields with no job markets to begin with. That leaves them hoping to get any job capable of paying their loans off. Athletes have to be even more vigilant about this.

Making the mistake of getting a useless degree costs time and money. Making the mistake of getting a useless degree while playing college sports costs time, money, and sometimes lifelong injuries.

Is that to say you shouldn’t be moving in that direction? Hell no. It just means that you’re taking on more responsibility than the average student (not less.) This is a decision that needs to be made understanding the consequences. This is the most important point I need to emphasize when talking to high school athletes.

Sports are not an alternative strategy of getting through college (or high school.) Sports don’t mean you should give yourself slack when it comes to grades. (“Oh… well… I had to practice late… I’m comfortable with this lower grade.”) Sure, if you’re one of the greatest high school athletes in the country, perhaps a little slack is fine but quite frankly, grades are not difficult to get when you know what you’re doing.

The strategies on this blog are about as simple as they can get. They’re based on the most advanced science of today. (Short of a few dangerous and sometimes illegal drug regimens,) they’re the most effective strategies around. They require 15 minutes a night or less. They will give most students grades that are well above average.

Every student (student athletes included) have burdens that they accept beyond school. Getting better grades should only require discipline for a week or two. In reality, most students that get good grades get good grades from their habits. Once you develop a habit, like a regularly scheduled practice, it becomes a natural part of your day. After that week of disciplined studying, you’ll be on a habit. After a month of that studying habit, it will be harder to stop than to just keep doing it.

Don’t overthink it. Or as a certain sports company might say, just do it.

Do you want to know how to study in less than 15 minutes a night? That is what this blog is all about. Be sure to follow, check out the archives, and read the ebooks to learn it all.