Chapter 6Chapter 6

Lesson 4: Balancing School, Lesson 4: Balancing School, Sports, and Home LifeSports, and Home Life

BELL ACTIVITYBELL ACTIVITY

Draw a simple chart that Draw a simple chart that shows the relative time and shows the relative time and energy you feel you put into energy you feel you put into each of the three aspects of each of the three aspects of your life:your life: SchoolSchool SportsSports Home lifeHome life

Deciding What Matters to Deciding What Matters to You p. 166You p. 166

Sports may be a large part of your Sports may be a large part of your life right now. Winning a game and life right now. Winning a game and being part of a team can make you being part of a team can make you feel great. However, you are also a feel great. However, you are also a student and a family member. student and a family member.

Sometimes you may find it difficult Sometimes you may find it difficult to balance sports activities with your to balance sports activities with your other interests and responsibilities.other interests and responsibilities.

Balancing… p. 166Balancing… p. 166

Balancing your roles does not Balancing your roles does not necessarily mean giving them equal necessarily mean giving them equal importance.importance.

Although each is significant, one area or Although each is significant, one area or another may take a leading role at a another may take a leading role at a particular point in your life.particular point in your life.

It’s always a good idea to be aware of It’s always a good idea to be aware of how your commitment to sports is how your commitment to sports is affecting your schoolwork and family life.affecting your schoolwork and family life.

Did you know?Did you know?

Sports have been a part of human Sports have been a part of human life for a very long time. In fact, the life for a very long time. In fact, the oldest sport in the world may be oldest sport in the world may be bowling. A bowling ball made of bowling. A bowling ball made of stone was found, along with bowling stone was found, along with bowling pins, in the tomb of an Egyptian pins, in the tomb of an Egyptian mummy. The tomb was built about mummy. The tomb was built about 7,000 years ago.7,000 years ago.

Using the Decision Making Using the Decision Making Process p. 167Process p. 167

Figure 6.7Figure 6.7 State the situationState the situation List the optionsList the options Weigh the possible outcomesWeigh the possible outcomes Consider your valuesConsider your values Make a decision and actMake a decision and act Evaluate the decisionEvaluate the decision

Warning Signs p. 167Warning Signs p. 167 One of the purposes of the decision-One of the purposes of the decision-

making process is to help you guard making process is to help you guard against overcommitment.against overcommitment.

Overcommitment is obligating yourself Overcommitment is obligating yourself to more people or projects than you to more people or projects than you have time or energy to follow through have time or energy to follow through on.on.

Can cause you to feel tired and irritable.Can cause you to feel tired and irritable. You may also feel guilty if you believe You may also feel guilty if you believe

you are letting others down.you are letting others down.

BurnoutBurnout

Overcommitment can lead to Overcommitment can lead to burnout. burnout.

Burnout – a sense of exhaustion Burnout – a sense of exhaustion caused by exerting too much energy caused by exerting too much energy for too long a time.for too long a time.

Can be physical, mental, or Can be physical, mental, or emotional.emotional.

Figure 6.8 Warning Signs of Figure 6.8 Warning Signs of Overcommitment p. 168Overcommitment p. 168

You miss homework assignments or do poorly You miss homework assignments or do poorly on tests because of sports practices or games.on tests because of sports practices or games.

You neglect household chores or miss family You neglect household chores or miss family activities and gatherings.activities and gatherings.

You lose touch with friends who are not on You lose touch with friends who are not on your team.your team.

You experience fatigue or frequent injuries You experience fatigue or frequent injuries caused by carelessness or by overuse of caused by carelessness or by overuse of muscles.muscles.

You no longer enjoy the sport or lose interest You no longer enjoy the sport or lose interest in it completely.in it completely.

Skills for Balancing Your Skills for Balancing Your LifeLife

If you feel that you need to work on balancing your If you feel that you need to work on balancing your life, try talking with family members, teachers, or life, try talking with family members, teachers, or friends. Sometimes someone else can see a solution friends. Sometimes someone else can see a solution that you might never consider.that you might never consider.

If you want to play several sports, choose sports with If you want to play several sports, choose sports with seasons that don’t overlap.seasons that don’t overlap.

Eliminate one sport, but continue others. Consider Eliminate one sport, but continue others. Consider staying with a sport that you might enjoy for a staying with a sport that you might enjoy for a lifetime.lifetime.

Look for a different team or league – one that might Look for a different team or league – one that might require less energy and time.require less energy and time.

Play only one season each year in a sport. For Play only one season each year in a sport. For example, play soccer in the fall but not in the spring.example, play soccer in the fall but not in the spring.

Balance the sports you play by using cross-training Balance the sports you play by using cross-training techniques. Select those that complement one another techniques. Select those that complement one another in terms of fitness benefits and skill development.in terms of fitness benefits and skill development.

ClosingClosing

1. Explain. How can the decision-1. Explain. How can the decision-making process help you make making process help you make choices about balancing your life?choices about balancing your life?

2. Vocabulary. What is 2. Vocabulary. What is overcommitment?overcommitment?

3. List. Identify 4 warning signs of 3. List. Identify 4 warning signs of overcommitment.overcommitment.

4. Distinguish. What is the difference 4. Distinguish. What is the difference between dedication to excellence in a between dedication to excellence in a sport and overcommitment?sport and overcommitment?