Anyone who dates an athlete knows the struggles in the relationship related to sports. I have had the privilege of dating my best friend and boyfriend for a little over two and half years. He plays football, basketball, and track. So, of course, he is busy every day of the year. Here are just some of the things I have learned from being a girlfriend to a year round athlete.

1. It is very important to him that you go to all his games.

If you are not there, he will know. He will text you right after the game and ask you why you did not come. He won't act like he is mad, but believe me, he is mad.

2. During school you will only have weekends to spend time together because of his three hour long practices after school.

Why are on Earth are they so long? What do they do for this long period of time? What am I supposed to do while he is practicing?

3. You are either the very first person he will talk to after his games or the very last.

While him being a well-known player in our little hometown, everyone wants to come up and tell him how well he did. You basically run to him so you can see him before everyone else crowds around him.

4. Girls will come up to him and want to talk to him.

This is where you come up and put your arms around him to let them know he is yours and to back off. Make sure you give them that smile.

5. You learn the true definition of "being proud."

At the end of every game you become prouder and prouder. Even if he misses a shot, you are still proud that he took that shot. In his failures, you see success.

In the end, all of the long games and drives are worth it. My boyfriend knows that I support him and do my best to attend all of his sporting events! I am sure I will learn a few more things as we prepare for him to transition into college football within the next year.