Finding balance as a college athlete can be a challenge but it's a must. Thankfully,  FAU strength coach Chad Herring can offer athletes some tips and recommendations on how to balance athletics, academics, and recovery. Here are his best practices 

What do you think is the ideal percentage between sports and studies?

I'd say it depends on the level. For instance, students may choose to go to a Division II or III university rather than Division I so they can spend more time on their studies. At the Division I level, I'd say something along the lines of 50% for each, whereas at lower level universities I'd say closer to 35% sport and 65% studies.

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What advice would you give to a student who wants to compete on a college team?

Regardless of level, be prepared to spend a significant amount of your time training, practicing, etc. if you want to actually have results, and be prepared to compete with yourself and others.

What do you think is the most common mistake made by the student athletes you coach at the college level?

I believe it's not finding proper balance between everything that they have going on in their lives. Not finding balance between not only sport and studies, but socially as well, can really negatively impact performance in the sport, as well as joy and motivation.

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In terms of rest, what do you recommend to do physically to keep the body at 100%?

I'm a big fan of keeping it simple, so proper sleep, nutrition, and hydration will take care of most recovery issues athletes at the university level may have.

What advice would you give to an athlete that has never done weights and will start with that type of practice in college?

If possible, find a certified strength and conditioning coach prior to starting college that can help develop some basic movement patterns. If not, then just go into the training program with an open mind and take it seriously. Building a solid foundation will go a long way towards improving performance, so the first six months or so will be crucial.

What advice would you give to a college student athlete to balance school and athletics?

I'd say start with what I briefly mentioned before regarding choosing the proper university level you'd like to compete at. For instance, I played at the Division III level because I didn't have any higher opportunities, but we had several guys on the team that chose to play at this level rather than Division I or II because they wanted more time for school and social activities. Besides that, I always tell athletes to use the resources at their disposal, such as study hall, tutors, etc. I've found that academic support staff members can be extremely helpful if the student puts in some effort.

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* Originally published on September 12, 2022, by Camila Cramer