Student vs. Athlete
It’s a lot harder to play a high school sport than you may think.
Collection of my research, assumptions, and problem solving design while working with Hudl. If we can fully understand the struggles of our audience, we can create a better foundation for our product.
Priorities
The silliest thing that adults tell teenagers is that they need to get their “priorities in order”.
At the age of 16, it’s hard to have anything in order. But if you are a student/athlete, expectations can run high. The conflicts and pressure faced is a little overwhelming. Throw in a little thing called puberty and you have that mess we call our youth. That is where my design exploration started.
I faced an interesting challenge in expanding the design of profiles for student-athletes. Identifying what I wanted the priorities to reflect. Help you get recruited? Make the athlete look cool? Show the best videos?
What are the design priorities? Constraints?
Some of the main things to consider when creating a profile to promote a student-athlete is that they all are not created equal.
Personas
Early in the process, I sought to identify our users and define them in more detail than just ‘kids’. When it comes to student-athletes in particular you find that unique members that make up their community.
The All-American is usually athletically gifted. Fierce competitor and focused on playing the sport at the next-level. Reserved. Usually coached in all facets of communication. Extremely likely to have high parent involvement. Naturally gravitates as a leader because of the spotlight. May have a #fan club. Recruit-focused because of natural ability as well as massive support from coaches, friends and family.
The Team Player loves football and his teammates. Always around to help. Works hard on and off the field to help teammates win. Dependable. Excellent work habits. Balance between school priorities and athletic goals are defined. Always looking to improve techniques and ability. Looking for recruiting opportunities and a way to continue playing ball after high school.
The Scholastic Varsity is always education first. Playing a sport takes backseat to academic goals. Usually well organized. Highly motivated. Parents involved in both school and athletics. Picks up plays rapidly, but may not have the athletic ability to get in games.
By looking at our audience as distinct personas, our goals become more than subjective wish lists. Iterations become personalized solutions.
Conflicts
With the excitement and incredible experience of playing football comes the natural conflicts that every teen faces. Some are obvious, but others I think may surprise people.
Acceptance / Peer Pressure v. Individuality
Maybe one of the biggest forces in a teenage daily routine. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to fit in, be liked, hot, popular, macho, smart, trendy, slim, strong, not-a-sissy, and any other terrifying unrealistic expectation that age throws at you.
At the same time, from tenth grade on, teens start to shape their individual mold. Who am I? What do I want do? How do I personally feel about people? Should I keep just saying no to drugs? How do I pick the right career?
Homework
It’s funny how when you grow up, homework seems such a small task when you look back. But for some,homework and scholastic activities and the pressure to keep it all in order make it a big task. Kids are in school to learn, athletes are no different.
Parties + Social Life
Enough said.
Practice + Training
Imagine having four days to learn how to do your job only to get a 360-peer review on day 5. That is the cycle for student athlete’s playing football. The physical and mental toll of playing football is an immense concept to tackle. Practices can sometimes be more grueling than an actual game. In addition, weight training and diet are an equally important piece of this puzzle.
Eligibility
College is usually the first priority for student-athletes. The student part always comes first. With college costs rising and acceptance rates dropping, getting into college is more about strategy than hard work.
Puberty — It still sucks.
Remember this wonderfully awkward time in your life? Now think about going through it and playing a high school sport. Outstanding?!
http://www.healthofchildren.com/P/Puberty.html
Quest for Guidance
At this age it’s hard to balance knowing it all and still needing to be taught. For some, football provides the only structure in their young lives. The coaches can play a huge role in shaping these young men.
I’m sure there are more. But our users will be surprised to know that this much thought is going into creating a unique experience that aims to truly help them navigate their student/athletic experience.
src. “The Triple Bind” by Stephen Hinshaw. Copyright (c) 2009
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