Reading on the Road; Suggestions for the Student Athlete
From Becoming a Master Student Athlete, page 120. Copyright ©2006.

Use travel time to get some reading done. Student athletes at the college level can spend a lot of time traveling to and from competitions. You might even find that staying on top of your assignments while you’re on the road reduces your precompetition stress. Remember that your classmates are not on break while you’re on the road. Neither are you.

Estimate reading time

To begin, estimate the hours you have will have available for reading on the road. Take into account the number of days you will travel. Also determine when you can study between meals, sleep, practices, and competitions. Your coach might schedule quiet time for study while you are at a hotel.

Also consider how you will travel. A coach bus or airplane with air conditioning, overhead lighting, and comfortable seats lends itself to quality reading time. If you’re squeezing into a 15-passenger van or small commuter plane instead, then reduce your reading estimate accordingly.

Weather changes and equipment breakdowns can significantly increase your time on the road. In turn, this can decrease the time you have to complete assignments once you return to campus.

On the other hand, you can take advantage of delays or sudden cancellations. They offer opportunities to make extra progress on a reading assignment.

When estimating your reading time for road trips, be fair to yourself. It’s easy to overestimate. At the same time, don’t underestimate what you can accomplish. Budgeting your reading time is a skill that improves with practice.

Plan your reading

Once you estimate how much time you have, you can efficiently choose what to read while you’re on the road.

Start with a current and complete list of your assignments. Be specific. For instance: “Pages 23-67 of Business Ethics.” “Section 16 of Keys for Writers.” If you’re assigned exercises or review questions related to your reading, then list those items also.

Before you pack, rank the items on your reading list by ABC priority.

On your A list, include assignments that you’re confident you can complete on the road. Examples might include shorter pieces—articles, handouts, and printouts of Power Point presentations. Other possible A’s are textbooks divided into short sections with bold headings and summaries. Also consider bringing along copies of class notes that you can summarize and review.

B-priority items call for longer sessions of focused attention. Short stories from an English class and longer, denser textbooks could fall on this list. Consider taking one of these assignments along to tackle if you finish your A’s.

The items on your C-priority list will probably be most challenging and least useful on the road. Examples might be long, complex novels and technical texts in science and math.

Keep in mind that the word reading can include a variety of tasks. While sitting in a bus, plane, train, or van, you could: preview a long assignment and list questions to answer later after a more detailed reading; outline or underline a chapter you’ve already read; create flash cards or Q-Cards and quiz yourself with them; or talk to teammates about what you’re reading or form a study group.

Some reading assignments may be so challenging that you simply choose not to take them on the road. That’s fine. Just schedule time for this reading when your trip is done.

Also be aware of the times when you can be most effective by focusing on the upcoming competition—not macroeconomic theory or math problems.

Seize the moment

Pack reading assignments that you can pick up during spare minutes. Sandwich these tasks into your travel schedule as study time becomes available. Whenever possible, tote along an extra small textbook or paperback novel. Be prepared to shift gears and grab these materials whenever unexpected reading opportunities come your way.