A high degree of self-discipline is one quality exhibited by all athletes who have reached the uppermost levels of competition, whatever the sport. This amount of self-discipline is in evidence long after the initial excitement of a sport has worn off, and an athlete has had to keep going through years of painful and repetitive training sessions. The example of top athletes suggests one approach to improving student behaviour and educational achievement. If more young people could begin training programmes akin to those of elite athletes, they too would develop exceptional levels of personal discipline to apply within their studies.