In past years Athletes were “THE” role models for both schools & the community. They were seen as leaders often praised for their ability to inspire both on and off the field or court. However, we have watered down the expectations for today’s athletes, often creating division and false hierarchy. Many teams are not holding their athletes to a consistent standard of excellence and it shows in their performance both in the classroom & on the court. It even shows up in their display of sportsmanship.
When we think about academics and sports, we often just focus on whether or not the players going to play, but there are some unintended benefits that players, parents, coaches & community needs to understand and take an active role in increasing youth in sports.
However we really need to look beyond the superficial perks and look at the lasting impact and opportunities being in sports can have on the students but the school as well. For the school, when you have more students involved in sports, you have less atudents with attendance issues. More students are focused on their health and academic performance, which in turns means more learning is taking place.
The direct benefit for students being in sports is, academically it’s helping improve their cognitive functions, like memory and concentration. It helps with learning discipline and time management skills. It also is fundamental in building individual & even team resilience as they work to persevere and accomplish set goals. And typically students involved in sports benefit health wise from the regular physical activity and typically encouraged to work on learning how to balance commitments.
All of these have a direct correlation on better academic performance and improved behavior outcomes. And if modeled and supported correctly, by the various adults shaping or influencing their lives, would likely increase a students chances of carrying those same attributes into adulthood and careers.
At the end of the day, we want youth to be prepared for the future, so let’s focus on creating shared expectations and standards for academic excellence in athletics.
Join us as we continue the conversation & discuss how we can Take Action Together to prepare our Academic Athletes now and better their foundation to be the best leaders in the future.
1 Unique Voice 