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"According to the American College Health Association's 2012 survey of college students, the one greatest health obstacle to college students' academic performance was academic stress "(Brogaard). Having to balance playing a sport in college and also staying on top of your schoolwork can lead to a very hectic lifestyle. Being a student athlete in college is not only time consuming, but also one of the biggest commitments they will make in their entire life. For a student athlete to be successful not only do they have to balance schoolwork and their prospective sport, but also endure the physical and mental stress that comes along the way. A typical student athlete's day from start to finish is usually filled with work whether it's on the field or in the classroom. Usually beginning with morning workouts or practice, then a mixture of more practice, class, and studying, a student athlete can have a hectic schedule. At the end of that day, the student athlete will most likely be tired and must mentally prepare for the following day, which will consist of the same thing. .
Since academics are viewed as the number one concern for all student athletes, a majority of the stress that they face relate to their academic success. With most students having scholarships on the line, performing well in the classroom is an absolute must. In a study done with male and female student athletes, "95% of male athletes and 86% of female athletes were stressed by factors such as: tests and examinations, preparing papers for class, missing classes because of travel, and making up missed assignments" (Chan 228). According to statistics, it is clear that a good amount of student athletes are unprepared for the academic portion of college due to the pure fact that they have such a big commitment to their sport. The stress also has shown to lead to negative relationships with their professors, classmates, teammates and coaches.
