Being the parent of a collegiate athlete comes with unique challenges, especially when your child is away at school. Balancing rigorous athletic commitments with academic responsibilities can be demanding, and sometimes grades can struggle as a result of the many expectations athletes have. Parents of collegiate athletes play a crucial role in supporting your child’s academic success. The dynamic way you can support your child will change, which might be different in they way you supported your athlete as a high school or middle school student.
For example, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also known as FERPA) requires that a student provides “prior written consent” for a school or university to share education records or their contents with third parties—including parents. So while you are no doubt that you are one of their main, if not biggest supporters when it comes to their academic success, there are ways you can help them from a distance without coming off to invasive. Below are are practical ways to provide guidance and encouragement from afar.
Academic Support Tips for Parents of Collegiate Athletes
Establish Clear Communication Channels. The biggest way to prevent a misunderstanding is to foster open communication with your athlete. Discuss their academic goals, challenges, and schedule regular check-ins if your child wants to discuss their academic situation with you. As tough as it might sound (I’m a parent, so I know each stage is an adjustment) you technically don’t have the authority to be in their academic business. So, establishing clear communication channels ensures that you stay informed about their academic progress and can offer support as needed. I remember while I didn’t always share all of my grades with my parents, they knew I was eligible to compete at the DI level and on track to graduate. I also would share how my classes, projects or exams would go, so they generally had a good pulse on my academic status.
Emphasize Time Management Skills. Help your child develop strong time management skills. With a demanding athletic schedule, efficient use of time becomes paramount. Encourage them to create a realistic study schedule, prioritize tasks, and allocate dedicated time for both academics and athletics. Using a planner or agenda book really helped me keep track of all my school work and athletic commitments.
Leverage Academic Support Services. Ensure your athlete is aware of and utilizes academic support services provided by the university. This may include tutoring, study groups, or access to academic advisors. These resources can offer valuable assistance in challenging subjects. My dad was a big advocate of going to the ‘study center’ as he called it. 🙂 He always made a great point: sometimes working with a tutor can help you unlock a problem you were having in a particular subject. Getting help early can prevent you from struggling during a semester, or during many semesters.
Encourage Communication with Professors. It’s important to encourage your child to maintain open lines of communication with professors. In the event of a scheduling conflict or if they need additional assistance, encourage them to reach out promptly. Unlike how things work in high school, your athlete will need to be proactive in reaching out if they’re having trouble or need help with a subject. Professors appreciate proactive students who take responsibility for their education.
Set Realistic Academic Goals Together. Encourage your athlete to set realistic academic goals that align with their athletic commitments. Establishing clear objectives provides a sense of purpose and motivation, helping them stay focused and practical on both their sport and studies.
Provide Academic Resources. Support your child’s academic journey by providing relevant resources. Recommend textbooks, online materials, or educational apps that can supplement their learning. This proactive approach demonstrates your commitment to their academic success, and might provide them with tools they didn’t know existed. As a parent, you probably know how they learn best and can provide them with resources that help them succeed.
Stay Engaged with Coaches and Athletic Staff. Encourage your child to maintain a strong connection with the coaching staff and athletic department. If the coach doesn’t make it clear, make sure that academic expectations are discussed and a support system is in place for any academic needs they might have. Understanding the athletic commitments helps your athlete align your support with their schedule, especially during the busiest part of their season.
Attend Academic Events and Conferences. If you’re looking for additional ways to be supportive of your child, attend academic events or parent-teacher conferences at the university whenever possible. This involvement demonstrates your commitment to your child’s education and allows you to interact with educators, gaining insights into their academic performance.
Encourage a Healthy Work-Life-Study Balance. Remind your athlete of the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between their athletic pursuits, academics, and personal life. Burnout is a real thing, so it’s important that they find balance in their very busy schedules. Encourage breaks for relaxation and stress relief to ensure they don’t feel overwhelmed.
Celebrate Academic Achievements. Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s academic achievements, no matter how small. Whether it’s a good grade on a challenging assignment or a successful presentation, your recognition reinforces the value of their academic. Sometimes, just getting through the week academically for me meant exceeding my study hall hours, putting in extra time to read, submitting polished reports, or not feeling rushed to cram in material before an exam happened. These little steps helped prepare me for midterms and finals, and my parents were really good on reminding me how proud they were of my hard work- always.
Navigating the academic challenges of being a collegiate athlete requires a collaborative effort between parents, athletes, and the university. By actively supporting your child’s academic journey, you contribute to their overall success and well-being, helping them excel both on the field and in the classroom. Remember, being a supportive parent at the collegiate level might be very different than it was for your athlete when they were in high school. However, there are ways you can be supportive from the sidelines and while setting up your child up for success.