EFFECTIVENESS AND CHALLENGES OF TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN BALANCING ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS AMONG STUDENT-ATHLETES

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and challenges of time management strategies among student-athletes in balancing their academic and athletic responsibilities. Using descriptive quantitative research design and total enumeration sampling, 30 junior high, senior high, and college student-athletes from one of the private institutions in Sariaya, Quezon, were surveyed. The results showed that among the strategies, goal setting (WAM = 3.64) was the highest in effectiveness, followed by task prioritization (WAM = 3.63) and scheduling and planning (WAM = 3.59). All of these variables got a qualitative index of Strongly Agree. For challenges, the most significant was athletic training and competition schedules (WAM = 3.17), followed by academic workload and deadlines (WAM = 3.01), and time conflicts between academics and athletics (WAM = 2.89). All of these variables got a qualitative index of Agree. Scheduling and planning were the least effective time management strategies commonly used by the respondents. On the other hand, the most challenging is the athletic training and competition schedules. As an output, the researchers suggested a time-management strategies presented in an informational brochure entitled “Smart Time Management Strategies: A Student-Athlete’s Guide to Effective Time Management,” which provides practical strategies such as SMART goal setting, proactive planning, and balancing techniques to enhance the effectiveness and minimize challenges in balancing academic and athletic responsibilities of the student-athletes.