Daily Grind articles are posted the 15th of every month to provide a look into a day in the life of a college athlete and to give an example of time management skills.
Matthew White has a busy schedule as a college athlete at Rocky Mountain College–the freshman running back must balance an active school and football schedule. He knows that, above all, he is a student first and an athlete second and is making sure that he stays on top of his academics along with his game. He takes us through a typical day of practice and what it truly takes on a day-to-day basis to be a college athlete.
Related: Rate Rocky Mountain College
8:00 am – 8:50 am
To start his day, Matt wakes up, gets dressed, brushes his teeth, and takes his five-minute walk to the team facilities. Upon arrival at the team facilities, Matt changes into his workout clothing, grabs a granola bar, and makes sure to be early for his morning team lift.
9:00 am – 10:00 am
During this time, Matt is working hard in the lab. Matt knows how important lifting is to his growth as a football player, so he lifts with his team to grow stronger in such a demanding position as running back.
10:05 am – 10:45 am
Matt meets with the special team's coaches. They review the week's practice plans, drills, and general game plans. Matt emphasized how important it is to take the mental reps before the physical reps of practice.
Related: Do Recruits Need to Attend Football Combines to Get Recruited?
11:00 am – 2:45 pm
Matt is super focused in the classroom during this large block of time. He knows that his schedule is very demanding and ensures he is on top of all his assignments.
2:50 pm – 3:20 pm
During this short 30-minute back, Matt tries to utilize this time to the best of his ability. More often than not, he gets a snack from the team facility and tries to knock out an assignment or two before getting ready for practice. There is no time just to sit around and meander with a schedule as demanding as Matt's.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
3:25 pm – 4:15 pm
Now Matt has to prepare for the day's practice. It starts with position meetings where they review the practice and weekly schedule, highlighting areas of needed improvement. Following this brief meeting, Matt heads down to the locker room, gets his pads on, and exits towards the practice field.
4:20 pm – 6:00 pm
During practice time, Matt is locked in and focused on getting better with his teammates. He has to fight through the freezing temperature of Billings, Montana, and the grueling practice schedule but loves the work and dedication being a college athlete requires. After practice, Matt grabs a bite to eat, completes homework, and relaxes until the next day.
What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]
Image Credit: Twitter
* Originally published on December 7, 2022, by William Calhoun
