Daily Grind articles are posted every Tuesday to provide a look into a day in the life of a college athlete and to give an example of time management skills.

Being a college athlete is a challenge that many high school athletes hope to experience…But being a Division 1 athlete can be even more of a challenge that some may not realize. The days can be long and include many different (and difficult) tasks. Every day is not exactly the same, but the general schedule is similar. Here's what my daily grind looked like as a college hockey player.

Related: Daily Grind: IWU D3 Men's Soccer Player Scott Abramson

An Early Start

Typically, most days begin with an early breakfast and 8am classes. Most classes are to be taken between 8am and 2pm and once classes are done for the day, it is time for some lunch before going to workouts. Workouts start at 3pm and are about an hour long. The time after workouts are for the athletic training room for rehab and recovery. After rehab and recovery, it is time for a quick dinner before practice. Practice on the ice lasted most days for about 1 and a 1/2 to two hours. After practice, it is time for another quick meal before doing some homework and getting ready to go to sleep. 

Example of a typical day:

7:00 am: Wake up

7:30 am Breakfast

8:00 am: Classes Start

1:00 pm: Lunch

2:45 pm Arrive to Workouts

3:00-4:00 pm: Workouts

4:30 pm: Rehab and Recovery

5:30 pm: Dinner

6:30-8:00 pm: Practice

9:00 pm: Post Practice Meal

9:30-11:00 pm: Homework

11:00 pm: Time for Bed

Related: Need a Pick-Me-Up? 5 Easy Meals or Snacks for Athletes

I used any breaks during the day to do homework or get ahead on work if there are games coming up where travel days may be involved. Those times were also for meeting with teachers, advisors, or tutors.

Some days there were team meetings or video sessions that were held throughout the day. Since academics are important, there were also mandatory study halls that athletes had to attend, which also occur a couple times a week. Games days looked much different than a typical day since more time was spent at the rink or due to travel being involved. 

This schedule was very demanding at times, but it is what college athletes endure–make sure you're up for the challenge before you start your recruiting process.

What's a day in your life like? Share your Daily Grind at [email protected]

Image Credit: Franklin Pierce Athletics

* Originally published on February 22, 2023, by Marissa Massaro