Athlete or not, good friends are hard to come by. If you are lucky enough to have a close group of reliable people to call friends, make sure you keep them close. With summer slowly making its way in, it is important to get our personal priorities straight. Are you going to get a summer job? Are you going to run 3 miles every morning? Or are you planning to just see where the wind takes you? Whatever you’re planning for these next few months, you’re going to want to make sure you can spend them with great people. Having good people around makes everything better. After one season of college basketball under my belt, and many seasons of sports I’ve tried, I can always say that my athletic friends were the ones who stuck by me and gave me the best memories. So as you finish up this school year, and you’re looking for some people to have a great summer with, consider these character traits most athletes have when deciding who you are going to spend your time with this summer.
1. They are dedicated.
If you’re an athlete and are serious about your sport, you know that the word “dedication” is not one to be taken lightly. Dedication in sports is the foundation of great teams. For any team, if all the players buy into what you are working to achieve, the effort will outshine any level of talent. This means that when you befriend an athlete, they will really dedicate themselves to making that friendship work, and to being a reliable person you can count on.
2. Time management.
If anyone learns the art of time management from a young age, it’s athletes. Making sure they have time to sleep, eat, practice, compete in games, get their work done, tend to family obligations, or maybe even have a social life is definitely a tricky feat. They like to stick to plans and schedules to make sure they get everything done and don't waste time getting distracted. This is why if they have time to pencil you into their busy schedule, you know you must mean a lot to them.
3. They are competitive.
One thing about athletes is that most of the time they are extremely competitive. To some this could be overbearing, but being friends with a competitive person makes everyday interesting. A boring study session can suddenly turn into seeing who can memorize more terms the fastest. An athlete’s competitive nature will always keep you on your toes, they will passionately fight for whatever they believe in, even if it’s as simple as pizza toppings. If you're lucky enough to have them on your side of the argument, then you know you are in good shape. 
4. They are supportive.
On and off any sports field or court, athletes always know how to be supportive, because they always appreciate when people support them. When people cheer them on in games or come support their team, it means the world to them. Therefore, it is usually easy for athletes to be more empathetic and supportive of all your problems and needs, because they are used to being there to support their teammates.
5. They will keep you active.
Playing any sport usually means that you have to be fit and in decent shape if you want to do well, this means that athletes know the importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle. Whether it's eating a little healthier on a lunch date or going for a morning jog with them to spend some time together, being active really brings people together. The idea of struggling through a workout together to achieve that summer beach bod will give you guys memories that are hard to forget.
6. They are problem solvers.
Sports embodies the idea of overcoming hardships to achieve a goal, and not much is more rewarding than that. Athletes are usually great problem solvers because they train every day in practice to work with others to achieve a goal. Not only does this mean they will give you advice with your problems, but they will probably want to make sure that you solve and get through any situations that have.
7. They are fun.
Life is short, and you can hear this countless times before you actually realize that time doesn't wait for anyone. You can never stop the clock or call a timeout in life, so why not make sure you are doing everything you can possibly can to make the most out of it? Relationships are very important, whether it be with family, friends or romantic partners. As long as you surround yourself with people who keep you smiling and laughing, then how could it get better?
