The Hidden Strain: How Year-Round Training Impacts College Athletes
Marzell Davis
The phrase “student-athlete” often paints a picture of a balanced schedule in the morning, afternoon practice, and weekend games. Today’s college athletes live in a 24/7 cycle of training, competition, and recovery that leaves little time for anything else.
The Never-Ending Calendar
For football players, the cycle is relentless. The season ends in December or January, and within weeks, athletes are back in the weight room preparing for spring practice. Once spring games wrap up, summer conditioning begins. By the time August arrives, training camp kicks off another grind of a season.
Basketball and other sports aren’t much different. There’s no downtime between travel schedules, off-season workouts, and skill sessions.
Physical and Mental Toll
The physical demands are obvious. Injuries don’t have time to fully heal, and constant strain raises the risk of long-term damage. But the mental toll is just as real. Athletes often juggle travel, practice, academics, and personal life with little room to breathe. Burnout has become a common issue, and some players quietly admit they feel like professionals without the protections or paychecks.
What Needs to Change?
Sports scientists argue athletes perform better when rest is built into their schedules. Some schools are experimenting with mandatory rest weeks or mental health days, but these are exceptions, not the rule. Until the NCAA sets stricter guidelines, the pressure to keep training will outweigh the benefits of recovery.
A New Era of Responsibility
As NIL and expanded playoffs raise the stakes, conversations about athlete welfare will only get louder. If college sports continue operating like professional leagues, schools may eventually face pressure to treat players more like professionals.
That includes protecting them from the hidden strain of year-round competition.
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