female college soccer players

A Day in the Life: Women’s Football Player at College in the USA

Gain an Exciting Insight into a Typical Day for a Student-Athlete on a Football Scholarship

What does a typical day look like for a student-athlete in the United States? Olivia Appelberg, university football player at Averett College in Virginia, shares what an ordinary day looks like as a women’s football player in the USA!

Balancing Studies as a Football Player at a US College

I’m currently in my first year at college, studying for a major in Communications while playing college football in NCAA Division 3. A typical day for a student-athlete can be quite demanding. It’s essential to stay organised and find a good balance between training, academic studies, and other activities outside of school and football.

Before the semester begins, you’ll meet with an academic advisor to help you choose the courses you want and need to complete your degree. Most students take five courses per semester. On days when I start at 8:00 am, I finish my classes before lunch, leaving the afternoon free for other activities like football training.

Training and Daily Routine as a Student-Athlete

Twice a week, we have strength training sessions in the gym at 6:00 am. Since everyone has different schedules and classes, it’s easiest to fit in a team workout early in the morning. On three out of five days, my first class starts at 9:10 am, and on the other two days, it begins at 8:00 am.

During the season, we train six days a week, plus two to three matches. Training usually takes place in the afternoons after classes. After training, the team often has dinner together in the school cafeteria before heading back home.

All first-year students live in dormitories. All the rooms are the same, typically shared with one other person, and come with a bed, desk, chair, dresser, and some form of wardrobe.

college soccer practice

A Typical Schedule as a University Football Player:

Morning:

  • 6:00–7:00: Strength training with the team
  • 7:30: Breakfast

Mid-Morning:

  • 8:00–12:00: Classes and academic studies

Lunch:

  • 12:00–1:00: Lunch break, either alone or in the campus cafeteria

Afternoon:

  • 1:00–3:00: Free time for studies or other activities
  • 3:00–5:00: Football training

Evening:

  • 5:30: Dinner
  • 6:30–10:00: Free time for studies or other activities

It’s important to note that the schedule can vary depending on the team’s match fixtures, travel, and other commitments. Regardless, finding a good balance between football and studies is crucial for success as a women’s football player at college in the USA.

Balancing School and Responsibilities as a Student-Athlete

Matches are scheduled on both weekdays and weekends. For example, if we have an away match four hours away on a Wednesday, we’ll likely leave early in the morning or late in the morning. This means you might miss classes and lectures. You must take full responsibility and inform your lecturers beforehand, saying something like, “I have an away match on Wednesday and will unfortunately miss class. Is there anything I can do from home instead?”

University lecturers in the US are often very understanding about student-athletes since they know how much training and matches are involved. As long as you inform them that you’ll miss a class, you won’t be marked as absent without an excuse.

Away Matches and Travelling with the University Team

Away matches are a lot of fun because you sometimes travel further afield and get to see new places in the US. On the bus, there’s always snacks and drinks that the team gets to choose, and we always stop for food along the way, paid for by the school.

Last season, we travelled all the way to Virginia Beach for a match. The game was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but we left on Friday after lunch. Upon arrival, we checked into the hotel where we’d spend the night, sharing rooms with two other players. After that, we had time to visit the beach and swim before heading out for dinner together. Since we had a match the next day, we went to bed early, and the next morning, we had a hearty breakfast before heading to the pitch. Travelling for away matches is great for team bonding. It gives us extra time together and the chance to enjoy fun activities as a group.

college soccer players in the bus

Does playing football abroad at a US college sound exciting?  With a football scholarship for university, you can cover your tuition fees and football-related expenses while developing as a player. Fill out our interest form, and Keystone Sports will evaluate your chances of securing a football scholarship in the US – completely free and without obligation!

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About the author

Paulina Romo

Paulina Romo, SEO Specialist at Keystone Sports, holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and has a background in equestrian sports, specializing in dressage. Shaped by international experience gained from work and studies in Sweden, South Korea, Germany, and Spain, Paulina brings a diverse blend of marketing skills and perspectives to her role.

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