A Day In The Life Of A College Softball Player
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Every softball player has a different story about how they first fell in love with the sport. For some of us it began in t-ball, others in little league, and some even as late as high school. Regardless of our starting points, we all stick with it for similar reasons: the smell of freshly cut grass, the crunch of dirt under your cleats, the warm sun of a spring afternoon on your face, the crack of the bat, the wind blowing through your helmet as you tear around the bases, the high fives from your teammates as your cross the plate, the pop of a ball in your glove, and the excited cheers from the fans. These are the reasons we work out in the off-season and spend hours at the field perfecting our game. They are the reasons for the aches and pains, bumps and bruises, and blood, sweat and tears. Through the rain, snow, heat, wind, and cold, a softball player’s life is filled with the agonies of defeat and the thrills of victory.
College softball is a whirlwind of activities, meetings, practices, workouts, games, and classes. Although the sport itself is a significant part of the experience, gaining an education is the main priority of an intercollegiate athlete. The excitement of the game, the long lasting friendships you build, and the priceless lessons you learn are all stepping stones leading to that ultimate goal: a college degree. A day in the life of a college softball player may seem overwhelmingly packed with responsibilities, but it all adds up to an experience that can never be replaced.
5:45 a.m.: “Beep, beep, beep...” The familiar sound of the alarm echoes throughout her room. She slowly wakes up and eases herself out of bed. It is almost time for weights and running, so she gets dressed in her workout clothes. She packs her book bag with her school work for the day and grabs an apple and a granola bar. There is little time for breakfast, so she eats on her way out the door.
6:20 a.m.: The team congregates in the weight room. It is still dark outside but the glare of the weight room lights forces them to wake up. After a quick warm up, the girls begin their weightlifting workouts. For the next half hour, the sounds of weights clinking together and people joking and laughing fills the air. An oldies song is blaring on the CD player as the team tries to sing along.
7:05 a.m.: It is time to head out to the football turf for running. Their legs tired from the strain of weights, they stretch for today’s workout: 100 yard sprints are on the menu.
7:45 a.m.: With no time to shower, she has to rush over to her 8 o’clock class. The sun has finally come up, but it is still a brisk morning. Arriving at the building a little out of breath, she throws on some sweatpants over her workout clothes and walks into the classroom.
8-9:20 a.m.: Yoga. This class is exactly what she needs: an hour and a half of stretching and relaxation after a hard workout.
10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.: Introduction to Sports Psychology. Today’s lecture is about motivation. She remembers her alarm going off at 5:45 and thinks about the things that motivate her to get up that early and train. Her love for the game and for competition keep her focused, as well as the friendship and support she receives from her coaches and teammates.
12:00 p.m.: Her stomach has been growling for an hour now as she walks to the campus cafeteria. She does not have time to leave campus to eat, but a quick lunch consisting of a sandwich and some fruit should tide her over until after practice. If today were a game day, she would be headed to the field to warm up.
1 p.m.-1:50: Spanish 211. She is studying for a Spanish minor, and this is her second year. Everyone told her that the minor would be too hard, but she enjoyed a challenge. The class may be taught entirely in Spanish, but she seemed to understand more and more as the weeks went by. She is thinking about applying for an exchange program to study in
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: After class, she pulls into the softball field parking lot. Surrounded by the cars of her teammates, she gathers up her equipment bag and hurries into the field. The practice plan changes from time to time, but it generally follows the same format: some offense, some defense, and some running. The team works hard, knowing that it will all pay off on game day.
5:15 p.m.: A hard day at practice usually equals a trip to the training room. Muscles will only recover if you take care of them, so these trips are not unfamiliar to any competitive athlete. Ice is a softball player’s best friend!
6:00 p.m.: Food! Dinner is calling her name as she runs home for a quick bite to eat and a shower before study hall.
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.: Team study hall on campus. The team has set a high standard for grades, and they are determined to meet them. Usually, they study together once a week in addition to required independent study hall hours. Because school is an athlete’s number one priority, these times are crucial to a student’s academic success. The life of a student athlete can become extremely busy in the blink of an eye, especially during their travel season. Without a reminder to study, it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity, and forget about homework responsibilities.
9:15 p.m.: Before she knows it, she has arrived back at home where it all began. Every minute of the day was filled with something to do, and it ended up flying by. She finally has some time to herself to relax and catch up with her roommates.
10:30 p.m.: Lights out! She is asleep before her head even hits the pillow. Much needed sleep will prepare her for yet another ‘day in the life of a college softball player’. “Zzzzzzzzz....”
