Sam Morgan plays Division I soccer at West Virginia University. The grind of an athlete is pretty rough at the Division 1 level, and this is evident as Sam shows us his weekly schedule in-season. Sam must work hard both on the field and in the classroom–and each day starts early.
7:00 – 7:30 am – Wake Up
Sometimes it is really hard to wake up in the morning and get out of bed. Depending on the workload with practice or classes, Sam likes to try and get a full eight hours of sleep. Sometimes you have to get your work done and go to bed late, but it's still important to wake up and start the day off right. Sam will usually go upstairs to the kitchen and make himself breakfast. A popular meal for Sam is three eggs with cheese and yogurt on the side. He has to get ready pretty quick and drive to the facility because practice starts soon.
Related: Daily Grind: IWU D3 Men's Soccer Player Scott Abramson
8:30-10:00 am – Training
After breakfast, Sam gets to training first thing in the morning. He will go through standard drills for his team and plan for the next game. Sam and his team play a lot of soccer during practice, often competing against each other. Sam is very tired by the end of training, he goes to the locker room and gets ready for the next workout.
10:15 – 11:00 am – Injury Prevention Lift
This is a short lift to maintain strength and recover after the practice. These lifts this week are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There is a large emphasis on leg and hip mobility because taking care of their legs is important. Sam will usually shower and change at the facility before going back home.
Related: 10 Questions About Injury Prevention & More With Athletic Trainer KatieRose Healey
11:30 – Lunch
Sam will usually eat lunch at home or in one of the dining halls on campus. He prefers to make a sandwich or cook a meal at home, but every day is different. He will take this time before class to prepare his notes and finish assignments.
1 pm – 1:50 and 3 pm – 5:50 – Class
Sam is majoring in Business Management and takes classes that he needs to take for his major. Sam takes 4 classes in season but takes five in the spring semester during the offseason. Classes are important for Sam who frequently makes the Dean's List and President's List for high grades and was on the Big 12 Commissioner's honor roll.
The next part of Sam's night is preparing for the next day of classes. He will spend a couple hours every night completing his homework. The rest of his (limited) freetime is spent hanging out with friends enjoying the sights of Morgantown.
10:30 – Sleep
Sam likes to get as close as he can to a full night's sleep as possible. Sleep is important for Sam's recovery and mental health…but he has his alarm clock set to 7:00 am to go at it again first thing in the morning.
What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]
Image Credit: West Virginia Athletics
* Originally published on March 29, 2023, by Ryan Wiley
