Student athletes struggle to find a balance

Bournemouth university students have stated that they find it difficult to keep up with their studies due to their relentless sports schedule.

James Bennett, a member of the BU Bobcats, the university’s American football team, explained how busy his week was.

“Our game days are Sundays, so Mondays are rest days, but you could go in for a gym session if you picked up an injury. Tuesdays are strength and conditioning with a personal trainer, in which we get customised training routines for instance, leg exercises and motility training.

“On Wednesday’s we have training at Wallisdown from one o’clock until three o’clock, but usually runs over, some days we aren’t finished until five o’clock, so that’s a write off of the afternoon because I’m always tired after.

“Thursday is strength and conditioning again and after we have a session we call chalk, with is reviewing our practices and games because we film both, and that usually runs from 7pm until 9pm.

“Friday is training 8:30am to 10:30am And then on Sundays it’s either a game or training. This week is game week away to Bristol and that’s a three-and-a-half-hour bus journey there and back.

“It is really hard to keep up because our schedule is so busy, and it does take a lot out of you.”

Bennett isn’t the only student-athlete who struggles to balance their work and sport. Shauna Doherty, who plays for the women’s football team, also said how hard it is to balance the two.

“I do struggle to keep up sometimes, especially when some days I’m completely taken out by football, so I must make up for it on weekends which isn’t ideal, but that’s the only time I’m free.”

However, Bennett, Doherty and Kai Wieczorek-Numao, who joined the men’s hockey team this year, believe that their sport helps with their mental health.

“For me, without sport I’m going to be locked in my room doing nothing which obviously isn’t healthy, having a training session refreshes your mind and takes it away from the stresses of work.”