Effects of Interscholastic Sports on Academic Achievement



Effects of Interscholastic Sports on Academic Achievement

Introduction

The part that is played by the sports for the students in their educational processes has been and still is a topic of great concern and debate for many decades now. According to the observations of various critics, students who are greatly involved in various sports activities, deflect away from their class room time. However, those who support the very idea of sports being a healthy activity as far as academics are concerned, argue that the students are motivated to put in more effort in their studies, achieve good grades and also feel a rise in their aspirations for education through participation in various sports activities. They argue that sports keep them fit and keeps their minds fresh and increases their concentration levels, (Slavin, 1979).

They are of the opinion that proper exercises and fitness programs help the students to learn to handle diversity and also are helpful in making them learn about themselves. Sports teach them discipline and teach them to respect their colleagues. However, it still remains a controversy whether the sports activities benefit the students positively or negatively, for that matter. The amount of research in regard to this is growing; however, the uneven quality of the availability of the research literature in this field is very limited and also fails in offering any evidence for a clear understanding of the very nature on this issue.

The paper focuses on the possibility of the effects that are eminent among the students of high school or colleges, who are involved in various sporting activities. The paper discusses about these effects on the academic performance of the students.

Discussion

Relationship between academics and sports

The availability of the literature on the relations among the many psycho and psychosocial elements and the participation of the students gives a very ambiguous set of findings. The findings of various groups of studies point out that the participation of the students in various sporting activities raised the overall commitment and interest to schooling and the engagement of the students in more teacher-student relationships. According to the various findings, there were more positive attitudes regarding schooling and more school- parent contact. Apart from all this, it was found that sporting activities can positively facilitate good ethnic/racial relationships along with the positive inter-group behaviors and attitudes. Many researchers gave attention to the influences and the impacts of the participation in sporting activities on many psychosocial factors of the students of the High School. According to various literature reviews, sporting activities can be beneficial in providing the students with extrinsic rewards and assisting them in forming social relationships and bonds within their school premises.

Apart from this, participating in sporting activities is also beneficial in creating intrinsic rewards for the students. A study revealed that students who were very active were also very optimistic and achieved a sense of self- efficacy that was much greater than those who were not that ...