PLAY #10 | Why Academic Goals Matter for Student Athletes
Somewhere between early morning practices and late-night cram sessions, there’s this quiet question that creeps in:
“Does any of this actually matter?”
If you’ve ever wondered that—while sweating through drills or staring at a math problem that refuses to solve itself—you’re not alone. And the truth is… well, it depends on what your goals are. Because if you’re showing up just to “stay eligible” or “get by,” the answer might honestly feel like no. But if you’ve got your sights set on something more—college, a scholarship, a shot at building your future with options—then yeah, it matters. A lot more than you might think.
Here’s what people often miss: Athletic skill might open a door, but academics hold the key. College recruiters are watching how you perform on the field, sure—but they’re also paying attention to what’s happening in the classroom. GPA, discipline, follow-through. And not just because schools love report cards. It’s about seeing who can show up, stay focused, and commit when it’s not easy.
So why academic goals?
Because they aren’t just for straight-A students or kids who sit in the front row. They’re for athletes who want to control their story. Who want to show up ready—on paper and in person—when opportunity knocks. And if we’re honest, goals give you something more solid to run toward. Not just floating hopes, but actual checkpoints. Measurable, personal, and—here’s the catch—within your reach.
Maybe that’s: the part we forget.
The part we forget.
Academic goals don’t have to be perfect. Or huge. They just have to be real.
This series will help you figure out what that means for you. We’ll discuss setting goals that aren’t just about grades, but about personal growth. About building habits that don't drain you and about managing time effectively. We'll also discuss how to deal when things don’t go according to plan.
Because they won’t always. And that’s okay.
But for now, just sit with this: What would it feel like to be proud of what you’re doing in the classroom—not just relieved it’s over?
We’ll get into the “how” next time. For now, let’s just agree—this is worth your time.
Reflect on your GPA from the end of last year and set a simple goal for improvement.
Before you click out and go on with your day, take the 60 seconds—literally one minute—and think about your GPA. Not to beat yourself up. Just to get real with it.
Now ask: “What’s one small, realistic goal I could set from here?” Maybe it’s bumping Cs to Bs. Perhaps it's checking in with teachers before quizzes. Small wins add up throughout the semester. You don’t need a total overhaul—you just need a starting point for the year. If you’re not sure where your strengths and gaps really are yet, we’ve got something for that.
Take the Game Plan for Scholarly Funding Assessment—it’s free, quick, and built just for student-athletes like you. Think of it as your academic scouting report.
Let’s get clear, so you can get going.
