 You can always find a reason to not do something if you look hard enough. Being a STUDENT-athlete at any age is not the simplest feat to accomplish, but it is possible. It is learning to manage time effectively, putting all excuses aside, and figuring out a way to MAKE IT WORK! To simply put it, being a student-athlete requires DISCIPLINE, which is one of our core values at KODC. Here are a few ways to stay on track to make sure you fulfill your academic and athletic goals!  1. Carve out time in your day to work on your game. Most parents and kids look at homework as a definite priority, and it should be. But if you are serious about your goals in your sport you have to make getting better individually a priority. Think of it as homework for your sport. Find a moment, even if it’s only 15 mins here and there, to do something that will improve your skills. A great way to start off your day is to get up before school and work on a skill. As the day goes on, we get more and more busy, and give ourselves more excuses as to why you don’t have time to workout. You have to make the time if it is important to you. Remember, someone somewhere is always getting better. 2. Journal your workouts. @mikeleehoops recommends this in his video here: ow.ly/fz9p4. It's also a great way to tangibly see your progress and how much you are actually working out. By writing down everyday what you are doing, it provides a great snapshot of your productivity or if you are just wasting your time. 3. Use your in-between times to study. Being a student-athlete means maximizing your time out of school. Use travel time to practice or a game, or time before practice or a game to get some focused studying & homework time in. I cannot stress how beneficial this really is. As a student-athlete you do have plenty of travel time and down time, especially before games, so using it wisely can mean the difference in a good and bad grade. This way you accomplish what you can get done, before competition or practice, and you have less stress on yourself after to complete assignments. Hopefully these tips on time management are helpful. Please feel free to comment or to share with your student-athlete or a student-athlete you know. Author Whitney Mitchell | IG • www.instagram.com/itswhitneymitchellWhitney is a former Division I student-athlete (Rice) and founder of King Of D Court (KODC) youth development program. Athlete turned actress, wife to a pro player & mother of two – she enjoys pouring her over 17 years of knowledge and experience into the youth of today in both Texas and California.
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  Aston Francis, a 22-year-old Tyler, Texas native played collegiate basketball at Wheaton College for three years after one year playing for Tyler Junior College in 2016. With a father who doubled as his coach at All Saints Episcopal School and in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Francis was taught the fundamentals of basketball at an early age, a rare gift which many children aren’t given. While playing on the men’s Basketball team at Wheaton College, Francis received the prestigious 2019 Division III National Player of the Year award. He was the first Wheaton athlete to earn the award since its invention and only the second player from the CCIW to receive it. His visceral love for basketball and the service Tommy Mitchell and his wife Whitney are supplying for the east Texas community is contagious when explains the difference in KODC and other basketball leagues. He believes that the focus on player dedication causes the year-round league to stand out as one of a kind because of the unique infrastructure that allows children ranging from grades 1 through 7 to learn the fundamentals of basketball, like footwork and ball handling, from current or former collegiate coaches; people who have mastered them and excelled throughout the process. As a player on the court, Francis describes himself as competitive and motivated. His background as a strong defensive player and precise scorer allows him to not only push himself as a player, but also communicate these ideals to the players he coaches. However his rare ability to step outside of his hyper-competitive nature as a player and into a mentoring role allows him to function well within and emphasize the mission of the league when he explains, I care more about the kids improving week to week more than I care about them being better than the team they're playing. His favorite moment from his first season coaching with KODC League was getting to watch a right handed eight-year-old boy dribble down the court to make a left handed layup during a game. “We had been working on it the week before in practice and it was awesome to watch him take what we’d taught in practice and apply it to help his team during the game. That’s what we’re teaching.” says Aston. In October, Francis will be playing for the Wisconsin Herd, The Milwaukee Bucks Minor League and later he plans to try out for The European Basketball League. Aston Francis’s unique skill set as a player and supportive coaching mantra merge together and embody KODC D League’s mission. As a coach he provides a fresh perspective and specialized skill set to the KODC League Coaching Staff. For more info on the D LEAGUE or to register for our upcoming Fall League, click here. Author Caroline Kidd | IG • www.instagram.com/kidd_you_notCaroline Kidd is an east Texas native who loves meeting new people and sharing their stories. When she isn't busy interviewing athletes and consulting on digital marketing matters, she can be found in San Marcos, TX, floating the river and exploring the hill country with her dog, Rio. |
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