What is one piece of advice you would give to young athletes on how to balance their athletic pursuits with their education? What approach worked best for you?

Play the long game and work for balance. We all have 4 Dimensions of our being: The Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. Right now, you may be focusing on the physical, but you can only train so many hours a day. The rest of the day should be spent in balancing your life. Develop your mind to be better at your sport, and to have knowledge and skills that will be valuable to your life after your sports career ends. Develop your relationships -- not only with your teammates, but with your family, friends, and love interests. Develop your spiritual nature, because athletic prowess only lasts for a season, and when you are older and no longer able to compete or perform at peak efficiency, you will be left with the internal value you have created for yourself. Yes, excellence in your sport comes from focus in the now, but excellence in life comes with a focus toward the future.

Young athletes should prioritize time management by creating a structured weekly schedule that combines training and study sessions. Using digital calendars or planner apps can help keep commitments visible and manageable. Allocate specific blocks of time for both academics and athletics, considering peak performance hours for training and personal productivity times for studying, to achieve a successful balance.