Social Life of a College Athlete

Balancing Greek Life with College Athletics

By Mary Archibald|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on March 28, 2022)

Historically, college life fosters some incredible relationships through different clubs and organizations. Among these, the most popular come from college athletics or Greek Life; but, did you know you can do both? It is actually quite prominent for athletes to participate in Greek Life on their campus. Some of the most successful college athletes are fraternity and sorority alumni, including Michael Jordan, Eli Manning, and Steve Spurrier.

If you stumbled upon this article, you are most likely trying to weigh the pros and cons of participating in these organizations. Below are some tips and tricks to making time and being proactive in both.

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Priorities

First and foremost, a fraternity or sorority is not paying you to attend the school, actually quite the opposite. It is therefore essential to understand your priorities for both organizations. Both programs require time and effort to be a contributing member. This is why it is crucial to speak with your coach about your interest in pledging with a Greek organization. Your coach may recommend you do not involve yourself at all with this organization, and while it is a bummer, being a student-athlete in itself is very rewarding both financially and mentally. Be respectful of the advice your coach may give you on balancing these two programs. If your coach does not have a problem with joining Greek Life, then it is a great opportunity to be involved on your campus and meet new people.

Time Management

If you find that you can participate in both, get ready, because being only an athlete already takes up a substantial amount of time; adding a fraternity/sorority on top of classes and practices will feel like you're spreading yourself thin. Do some research on the Greek Life options and your school; talk to the presidents of these organizations to see if you can be given some freedom when it comes to attending events when you have other obligations. Most times, a fraternity or sorority will understand your situation and allow you to give athletics top priority. Pledging or rushing a Greek Chapter will most likely consume all time outside of class and practice. You'll likely have social events such as charity events, parties, and chapter meetings (usually once a week).

Staying Focused

Over the years, Greek Life has been notorious for its debauchery and partying shenanigans. This is an important aspect to consider before joining a Greek organization. It is vital to maintain discipline and be responsible when participating in events. It is easy to get lost in the “fun” of college; however, everything you have worked for to get to this point can be undone with one stupid decision. For example, at the college I attended my first year, one student-athlete got caught up in partying with their Greek Organization. He made one irresponsible decision that reflected poorly on the team, and he was cut. This just goes to show it does not matter how talented you are on the field; if you cannot stay out of trouble off the field, it can ruin all the work you have done.

Overview

Being both a student-athlete and a member of Greek Life can be a gratifying experience; you can create great friendships and do fantastic things with both. It will not be easy, but the best things in life never are. Understanding how to balance these two priorities on top of school work will be challenging. But, if you maintain discipline, have good time management, and stay out of trouble, you can definitely make it work.
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