Getting a college education is difficult enough, so trying to do it while training at a high level is an incredibly daunting task. The enormous pressure to perform well at games can adversely affect studies and vice versa. Fortunately, the special needs of student athletes are recognized by schools and athletic commissions. Several benefits are provided to help them achieve their full potential both in sports and academics. These typically consist of the following:

Tuition

Student athletes could have their tuition either fully waived or partially subsidized by the school depending on their sport and level of talent. This is the biggest draw for most young people. Tuition fees in the US and practically everywhere else in the world can be very high and an athletic scholarship is the only path towards college education available for many teens. It allows them to lay a good foundation for their future whether or not they continue to pursue sports after graduation. Having a scholarship also frees them from the burden of paying students loans once they get jobs.

Tutors

The typical day for student athletes usually involve waking up long before dawn, going to practice, rushing to class, and finally coming back to afternoon training. They barely have time to attend to homework and other requirements. When they go to class, they are often extremely tired and have trouble concentrating on the lectures. Proper time management and diligence allow many to achieve sufficient balance. However, some athletes need a bit more help in the form of tutors and advisors so that they can catch up on lessons and keep their grades at a decent level. Schools generally provide these if requested.

Free Meals

Nutrition is vital to anyone who wants to play at a high level. The amount of training that they do means that student athletes burn a lot of calories in a day and these have to be replenished for adequate recovery. Schools can arrange for free meals from the cafeteria up to a certain amount per semester. This ensures that the athletes will never have to go hungry just because of lack of money, and that they will always be adequately fed and strong enough to withstand the rigors of their daily schedules.

Health Insurance

The amount of training that they do can compromise their immune system and make them susceptible to injuries. Indeed, student athletes often get sick or injured while preparing for a long season. Such incidents will not only make them miss class but also important games, thereby compromising the team’s campaign. Without a job, students will have a hard time footing the medical bills by themselves, especially for injuries that require prolonged physical therapy. It is only fitting for schools to cover their health insurance so that they can get the best treatment right away.

Gear and Clothing Allowance

Every sport has its own specialized equipment necessary to play the game. Schools are expected to make training venues available to the student athletes like the gymnasium for basketball, the field for football, and the track for running. Gear such as shoes, jackets, balls, and uniforms are also provided each season so that they can train well and display the school’s colors with pride.

Although combining studies with athletics is a tough task, the infrastructure is in place to allow young athletes to excel on both fronts. These perks make the demanding lifestyle sustainable and even desirable for many students. If the athletes can make full use of these benefits, then they can look forward to several fruitful and memorable years in college, and even beyond.

Today’s guest post is from Ryan Ayers, a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he explains a few benefits to being a student athlete and aims to encourage further study through online athletic administration graduate programs.