Living a Double Life: What is it like to be a Student Athlete?

Playing sports has been a constant in my life so far. For the past year, I have been playing Ultimate Frisbee, a sport where I have observed immense young talent. However, be it abroad or in India, the limiting traits of this emerging sport make it hard for players to commit to it professionally. 

In India, most players come from humble backgrounds, and cannot fathom a future where their primary income comes from this sport. Further, there is an excessive number of amateurs competing and individuals who only play the sport casually. This, in turn, lowers the standard of competition on field. This stunts the growth of the sport for upcoming champions as the country doesn’t support or sponsor its expert players.

It's a very daunting and intimidating situation.

Personally, playing ultimate frisbee is my safe space where I can make the field my world. It is a crucial part of my life, and I want to continue playing it in college. The confined fame of the sport, in my opinion, does not make it less challenging. It involves the skills of many other sports like basketball, soccer and American football, and has layers of complexity when it comes to the players. 

Yet, it is still not given the same amount of respect and recognition in the sports world. And it makes me question: Would the situation be different if it was a renowned sport? Would these gifted aspirants get a chance at being full time student athletes?

For well-known sports, there are endless opportunities for those who wish to be competitive athletes, and simultaneously also pursue a career through their academic proficiency. Even so, the path ahead isn't so easy for any student athlete.

The Balancing Act

Student athletes have an extraordinary level of commitment to their choices. They are locked in — no distractions. Their main aim is to compete in an organised sport, usually one that is sponsored by their university. It requires a lot of strength and will to be able to excel at two important aspects of your life, and student athletes are not credited enough for it. 

Early mornings, everyday practice, assignment submissions, participation in high stake tournaments and exceptional scores in academics. All of this requires balance. Flawless time management, dedication and a sense of responsibility are what make student athletes different from those who attend university for only academics. 

Is being a student athlete only possible in a well-known sport?

As the world offers more opportunities, it also provides the resources that are required for the dreams of these young athletes to come true. There are tonnes of educational institutions that offer various combinations (including minor sports) for these diverse careers. If they receive the necessary support, may it be coaches, professors or parents, there are no limits to what these athletes can achieve. 

Stanford Women's Tennis: Day in the Life | Connie Ma

However, it is easy to get swept up in the endless flow of these ambitious visions. Being realistic is just as important.

Even when we consider schools, most only offer sports which are popular, easy to manage, and have coaches in plenty. I had never heard of frisbee being taught as a school sport until I experienced it first-hand in DLRC through our sports facilitator who’s an experienced player. This indicates that countless teenagers attempt to play in the major and not-so-famous sports. And so, the stakes are even higher for them.

How naive is it to think college athletes can actually make it?

Compared to their only-academics counterparts, student athletes have a harder time relating to their student identity than their athlete identity. They have a lopsided relationship with their careers, and this is an undeniable fact. The majority give their sport priority and this staggers their footing on keeping academics a dominant facet in their lives. Such less time being reserved for academics leads to unhealthy dependency on their sports careers.

Unfortunately, not many are made for this path. Although there might be many with abilities to qualify, only a lucky 1-2% get to make it big. It’s worse than a do or die situation.

Some are unable to handle the unimaginable expectations and go through a fatal phase — burnout. This is another factor that negatively affects their chances of pursuing work related to their academic interest, as most of them underperform and barely graduate. Additionally, the stereotype of student athletes being unintelligent and weak causes them to internalise these negative ideas, leading to discouragement and reluctance in seeking support/help.

The Big Question: How many of us think student athletes should be paid? 

There are insurmountable arguments that give evidence for both sides of the story. Considering the revenue they generate for their universities, colleges and the NCAA, student athletes seem to be undervalued. But more importantly, note that only a small group of athletes contribute to this huge number. To be one these contributors, a whopping 40+ hours need to be spent on mastering the sport per week. 

The NCAA is quick to call D-1 football and basketball players “students who happen to play sports”. It’s not understood that such schemes, although ideal, might not be effective in the real world. They are "regular students first" and not paid professionals. A flaw in this approach is that it does not account for how inadequate and unfair the educational institutions are to these hopeful individuals — they are practically exploited and underpaid. 

Most are promised higher education in addition to their sports career. Colleges profit from using these players when they give them branded gear to play with, and their faces are used for advertisements. Such sponsorships mean that athletes are not only oblivious to the misuse of their position, as such brand deals aren’t supposed to be part of their contract with the university, but also, to the amount of money they can potentially generate for themselves. Some athletes have been publicly speaking up on this injustice and taking action through lawsuits.

So then, what can be done?

Know that the system is flawed and think for yourself. It is very unlikely that someone will conquer both the worlds — the odds might just be against you. However, the chances aren’t zero. Look at the people around you who compete and also attend school with you. They could be on their way to do both in the future! 

Whether you are a student athlete or part of the unjust system made of profit-hungry universities, the change needs to start somewhere. So, why can’t you be the one to make it?

After all, as Peter Parker aka Spiderman said, "It’s just a leap of faith”!

By Saee Patankar, Grade 11