According to the NCAA, there are roughly 8 million high school student-athletes, so whether in the classroom or running on the track, students’ brains are constantly learning and developing. According to hebronacademy.org, even throughout one season of sports, students learn how to manage their time better, which reduces stress and increases self-esteem. Being around a team will also help build social skills and lasting relationships with other students.
Clarissa Vereen (10) says she thinks sports and school go hand in hand by helping her learn from mistakes and solve problems.
“I believe that more students should be involved in sports. I think that sports have helped me academically because they have taught me how to work with others and solve problems. Academics have helped me in sports in the way that they make me a smarter player and helped me realize that you can learn from little mistakes,” Vereen said.
Being physically fit can also help students become mentally fit. According to WebMD, while working out, the body releases endorphins, chemicals that help relieve pain and stress. This reduces stress hormone levels and makes athletes calmer. By focusing on the sport, students can set aside any worries about school and concentrate on the task at hand. Sports can also help fight addiction and treat depression, almost becoming an antidepressant for students.
Omner Grinder (12) says he believes students should try sports they are interested in. Grinder says sports have helped him spend his time more wisely.
“I would encourage students to be involved in more sports by taking an assessment of what they’re good at and just trying out for sports they’re mildly interested in. Sports have helped me in academics by encouraging me to spend less time procrastinating. Because I have less time, I must be more focused and have practice doing hard things,” Grinder said.
Most coaches keep track of their players’ grades to ensure all their players are passing their classes. This helps keep students accountable on a stricter level than in other areas of their lives. Teammates can also impact a student’s performance. By giving a sense of dependency on one another, students can rely on each other to help them in a game and with academics and studies. While most high school student-athletes won’t go on to play a sport in college, they take the discipline, time management skills and work ethic achieved from playing sports and apply it in other aspects of their daily life.
Taleisha Moore, an English teacher at Spartanburg High School, says she believes doing well in school can help students do well in sports by helping them focus and stay disciplined.
“If the student does well in class, I think it translates to the sport he or she is participating in. I think doing well in class relieves some of the stress that comes with being a student-athlete and helps the player stay focused on the sport and therefore do well in that sport,” Moore said. “Playing a sport provides structure and discipline and helps hold them accountable, not only on the field or the court but in the classroom. It keeps them focused on their goals for success and opens so many more opportunities for students beyond the high school walls.”
