Being a student is difficult enough but tack on the word "athlete" at the end and you've got yourself a death sentence. Often which, we as athletes, love to praise, discuss and complain about. Whether you're a high school athlete, college athlete or even a *insert sport* parent, you will understand these 11 claims of an athlete. Non-athletes don't necessarily understand the ups and downs that come with being involved in a sport but surely they'll understand after reading this.
1. Waking up for morning practice is half the battle
Late practice on Monday and then turn around for a morning practice on Tuesday? Do coaches hate sleep? Not only are they punishing us but they're punishing themselves.
2. You bring breakfast to class after morning practice
I may be the only one guilty of this. I like food. Not everybody has time to stop at the dining hall to sit down to breakfast. Most of the time it's grab and go if practice ends at 7:30 a.m. and you have class at 8 a.m. The professors don't typically care anyhow.
3. Your teammates are there for you
Most people have a small friend circle and for us, that circle is mostly made up of our teammates. They're not going to tell anyone what you said unless they tell each other.
4. When your coach says "AGAIN"
This word is not something an athlete wants to hear. Especially if the coach is upset. Either someone isn't doing the drill right and "we're going to keep doing this until everybody does it right" or you're being punished for doing something wrong
5. Looking for the locker room at an away game.
At least one away game/meet the locker rooms are seemingly hard to find. As "adults" we refuse to ask for help because a. we can find it on our own or b. we're not comfortable asking. Ironic isn't it?
6. You feel like this when coach is explaining the workout
Can we all agree that as much as we appreciate Coach wasting time by talking, it gets boring after awhile?
7. Dressing up is a hassle
We live 85 percent of our lives in sweats, 12 percent is reserved for jerseys, swim suits, uniforms, etc. and the final 3 percent is for those mandatory banquets that we have to attend.
8. When normal people ask "Can you come hang out?"
The answer is always going to be no. Sorry. This question is the sole reason why athletes rarely have friends outside of the team.
9. When someone asks "why are you crying" after leg day
Nothing like the next three days after leg day, am I right? Quite possibly the greatest feeling on Earth.
10. Getting back at 3 a.m. from away trips looking like
Rolling up to the school late at night after a long bus ride is rough. No one wants to get up when they're comfortable and asleep. Plus everybody is grouchy and annoyed with each other.
11. Your team is a second family
Having that extra support from when you're away from that family is very fulfilling. My teammates have helped make me a better person. We're crazy and we argue but at the end of the day we sit down to dinner as a family. What more could you ask for?
