English

Apr 29

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You wake up and the day starts
6:30

The alarm clock rings and morning routines such as bathing and packing a bag are done.

Breakfast
7:30

Together with teammates and fellow students, breakfast is served in the canteen areas on campus. The morning meal is very important in the US and the quality and variety is always high.

Continue to Athletic Center
8:00

After breakfast, as a Student Athlete, you typically walk to the Athletic Center with your teammates.
There are a wealth of facilities, such as large fitness rooms and fuel stations, to give you the best conditions to develop and perform as an athlete. Since you’re with your teammates, it’s also a good excuse to socialize.

Training session
9:00

After being both productive and social in the Athletic Center, it’s time for the first training session of the day.
Of course, depending on whether you have a match coming up or have just played, the training will be designed accordingly. A training session like this can therefore include anything from video analysis and individual technical training to team training sessions with a lot of matches and intensity.

Restitution
11:30

Directly after training, it’s off with the gear and into active recovery in the Athletic center.
There is a strong focus on this in the US and the facilities are designed accordingly.
While sipping a protein shake or a Gatorade from a fuel station, the possibilities are endless, whether it’s an ice bath, foam roll or a trip in a compression suit.

Breakfast and lunch
12:00

After a busy morning, it’s time for lunch – once again in the company of teammates and fellow students in one of the canteen areas on campus.

First module (Teaching)
12:30

Your first lesson of the day in a classroom. A subject is typically taught in modules of typically 1 hour and 20 minutes twice a week or alternatively once a week in a 2 hour and 40 minute module.

Pause!
13:50

After the 1st module, you will usually have a one-hour break.
It can typically be spent on homework, a snack or simply relaxing on campus with fellow students or teammates – it’s up to you!

Second module (Teaching)
15:00

After an hour break, it’s time for the second and final module of the day.

Free!
16:20

Your planned activities, trainings and classes are finished and the day is yours.

Dinner
18:30

After a long and hopefully fun and productive day, dinner is served in the campus dining hall. Like any other meal, it’s with fellow students, teammates and friends.

After dinner
19:30

The day is over and evening is approaching. The time is all your own, but as you live on campus with lots of other people, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize or relax, as well as do homework or work out.

Canteen facilities and dining options at Virginia Tech University. A dining hall at College is very similar to a food court at the malls we know.

Apr 29

Introduction to college life in the US

Of course, depending on what sport you do and what time of year it is, a weekday can vary.
Basically, though, there is a lot of structure to the days and time at college.
As a Student Athlete you have 2 different schedules:
The athletic schedule
and
the academic schedule.

Since you are admitted to the College as a Student Athlete, your academic schedule will always take into account your athletic schedule so that you can prioritize your practices and games.
Your professors and academic advisors will always understand the importance of your sport and will therefore also actively help you juggle and balance sport and study.

There is also the possibility to “build” your own school timetable. One of the advantages of college in the US and the fact that there are so many students is that there are many classes to choose from at different times of the day. Therefore, you can almost freely choose the time of day you want to have your classes, depending on whether you prefer morning, afternoon or evening classes.

The main constraint in terms of being able to choose freely is when in the day your training is scheduled. For the same reason, you will also have classes with a wide variety of people, as every student in a college has an individualized schedule – which is in stark contrast to, say, a university in Europe
In general, a Student Athlete will have approximately 2-3 hours of classes in a day and approximately 2 hours of training, excluding activities such as pre- and rehab both before and after training.

Mar 31

What is a college athlete?

 

Student-athletes are students who fulfill the responsibilities of both a student and an athlete. In addition to the courses offered by the college, student-athletes also attend practices, team meetings and events, and athletic competitions.

Universities and colleges alike often offer their students the opportunity to participate in a variety of athletic programs and opportunities for students, from Division I athletics to club sports and intramurals.

Keep in mind that many schools, universities, and athletic departments require student-athletes to maintain a certain grade-point average (GPA) to remain eligible and adhere to a code of conduct and ethics to play for the school. For example, Division II student-athletes, coaches, and staff at University of Bridgeport follow National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and East Coast Conference rules and regulations