Many different aspects influence sports performances. One of the most influential, yet overlooked factors in determining the quality of a sport performance is the athletes’ interpersonal relationships and emotional state.
For the love of the game and dedicated fans, each season, college athletes put it all on the line. However, when issues such as rigorous practices, workout schedules, extensive travel, injury, fatigue, and expectations from coaches and media exposure demand their attention, how do they handle spending quality time with a significant other?
Many student-athletes find themselves managing the dual commitment of their love lives and obligations to their particular sport. As social beings, athletes rely on their relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, coaches or teammates for encouragement. Relationships such as this help them stay balanced by providing a wide range of support.
Athletes are entitled to a life outside of his or her sport. Coaches often provide mentoring and guidance to athletes and share advice with their athletes about relationships.
“Academics, athletics and socialization are all apart of the student-athletes college experience,” said Pete Richardson, head football coach at Southern University. “Time management is the key to maintaining healthy relationships, as long as the student remains respectful (and) doesn’t lose focus of what they’re here for.”
Southern University freshman strong safety DeLarian Dyson begins a typical football season day with weight training at 6 a.m., followed by a full training session, classes and a practice again at 3 p.m.
While Dyson does not have an exclusive relationship, he said still finds time to spend with a close friend.
“I’ve always loved playing football, but there is more to life than my love of the game. (There’s also) my love for the ladies” Dyson said. “My education comes first but at the end of the day I want someone that I can share some laughs with.”
Joshua Combs, a sophomore track and field sprinter/ jumper discusses his relationship with his girlfriend of five months sophomore, Shadawnya “Mikki” Ceasar, a Southern University dancing doll.
Combs said the hectic schedule of classes from 8 a.m. to noon and practices from 3 to 6 p.m., along with the two to three days on the road, makes it very difficult to spend time with her.
“We try to see each other every free moment we find,” Combs said. “We have to spend a lot of time talking to each other on our cell phones.”
Combs said the two met in class during their fall 05 at Southern, but were each in a different relationship at the time.
The pair exchanged numbers for academic purposes and after the class, the couple kept in touch and upon returning to school in the fall of 2006, their affection each other grew.
Because the two are athletes, they both seem to understand the time constraints.
“When he’s away, I often find myself searching for something to do,” Ceasar said. “I’ll go shopping to pass the time or visit his mother.”
Luckily for the athletic couple, they are active during opposite seasons, which allow the other to supportively travel with the team.
“I love it when Mikki follows the team” Combs said. “I always put my best foot forward but when she’s there. I’m even more conscience of my performance. Having her there is like an added incentive.”
Senior receiver, Roshawn Jacobs of Baton Rouge, and senior soccer defender Miriam Akinfosile of San Diego, aren’t as fortunate as Combs and Ceaser.
“During off season, our schedules are identical so we don’t have many individual gaps which make it easier to spend time together,” Akinfosile said. “Unfortunately, in the fall neither of us have free time, so we squeeze in time whenever we can.”
The duo met through mutual friends who were dating. They hit it off from the very start.
“Miriam has all the qualities I like in a female,” Jacobs said. “When I first met her, I had to holla. We are so compatible that we can look at something and know what the other is about to say.”