The Effect Of Extracurricular Activities On Academic Success

Children who participate in sports are less likely to be overweight or obese, have higher self-esteem on average, and are generally more invested in their academics. Sports are oftentimes seen as a gateway to academic opportunity, particularly for kids with fewer resources. While this logic is inherently problematic, it is true that high schoolers who were involved with organized sport were more likely to be enrolled in college later on. Youth sports also give children a place to develop socially by teaching them about teamwork, leadership, and compromise. Team sports in particular can provide children with a sense of belonging to a group, and therefore increase their self-esteem and improve their social competence. There are dozens of reasons why youth sport is important and beneficial to a child’s development, and with millions of participants each year in the United States alone, it doesn’t look like youth sports will be going anywhere anytime

In conclusion, the benefits of sports cannot be denied. There is no doubt that interscholastic athletics in high schools are generally good for student’s mind and health. It is the mental and conceptual area that many use to support the importance of participation in competitive sports, something many can wholeheartedly agree with. It is also the same area that some point to when behavior exhibited by some athletes does not seem to support what is believed they should be learning. As with anything, however, one can only get out of something what one puts in. Athletics also provides social benefits and center on concepts such as cooperation, teamwork, and friendships. All of which can also benefit them in school and the workplace. Physical benefits

A study published in 2007 focused on “high poverty high schools,” where at least half the students were on free or reduced lunch, it showed that the students that did not participate in extracurricular activities graduated from high school 69 percent of the time while students who did participate in extracurricular activities graduated 82.7 percent of the time (“Extracurriculars Boost High School Graduation Rates”). Furthermore students who participate in sports or extracurricular activities compared to those who do not participate or who have not been involved in extracurricular activities show; higher grades and attainment, improved personal confidence and self esteem, greater connections with school, attachments and support from adults,

Also sports help kids with their grades.” According to a 2013 evaluation conducted by the Crime Lab at the University of Chicago, Becoming a Man--Sports Edition creates lasting improvements in the boys’ study habits and grade point averages. “ (“ Bowen & Hitt”). Sports are the number one reason for a kid who is thinking about dropping out to stay in school. Think about it if you need a 2.0 to stay in sports and you struggle in school but, you love sports and want to do it in college you will stay in school to achieve your dream. Also with sports that helps me is you don’t get time to procrastinate because if I know I have a game tomorrow and I have a big essay do the day after that I will do it tonight because I know I can’t do it after the game. Which is why most people who aren’t in sports struggle with procrastine. “Neish (1993) that found positive correlations between high, medium, or low levels of involvement in extracurricular activities and students’ GPAs and involved students attained higher GPAs than did students who were not involved.”(“ Lumpkin & Favor”). This proves again that sports truly do help are kids in school.

To many educational institutions, it is controversial whether or not sports are beneficial to scholastic success. Offering athletic programs is said to supply students with an enhanced learning experience, as well as adding amusement to a rather dull school year. Therefore, sports should be provided in all schools to reduce stress, improve academic performance, and develop teamwork skills and equal opportunity in school.

Sports teach important life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, leadership and time-management that benefit males and females alike. Women who participate in sports are more likely to have a higher self esteem, positive body image, better physical and mental health and greater educational success. Youth who participate in athletics learn positive social behaviors, have better academic performance and have lower participation rates in destructive decisions such as drugs, alcohol and pregnancy. The number of positive

Jan Kievlen, Positive Climates for Learning Specialists at the York Region District School Board stated that, ""When parents remember why they are enrolling their child into a sport, it helps them to keep the focus on the development of the character rather than just ‘winning’. It also is important to keep the sport ‘fun’” (tvoparents.tvo.org, 2011). One may believe children play sports just to have fun in their free time, but it also has a positive impact on them. ““Children’s participation in organized extracurricular activities has been associated with positive short-and-long-terms outcomes”” (Guèvremont, 2011). Therefore, extra-curricular activities should be mandatory in a student’s life because it helps them gain new skills, exercise and is a stress reliever.

How can sports help a student’s performance in school?  To be able to play sports in school, students need to maintain their grades, thus motivating learners to do well in school (Harris). In addition, a sport allows a person to come out of their comfort zone to meet new people and build up their self-image. Athletes also experience positive health benefits. Especially at a young age, playing sports can help to reduce diabetes, heart diseases, and other sickness that could be very harmful to students (Morris). Sports is something all students should participate in because of its positive effects. Therefore, schools should require students to join at least one sport. Participating in sports will help students build their academic success, develop character and improve their

Looking at the opposing side, one can see the benefits of high school sports. Due to academic eligibility rules to play on sports teams, dropout rates have decreased for at-risk students that play sports (Bowen and Hitt 11). This has caused student-athletes to be more likely to go to college, earn higher wages, and have positive relationships with school employees (Bowen and Hitt 10). Obviously, students who participate in sports have higher fitness levels compared to those who do not play sports. Also, a survey done in 2002 by the Department of Education showed that

Catastrophic injury is devastating not only to the injured athlete, but also to the athlete’s family, school and community. The Washington Post indicated that an estimated 800 thousand boys and girls take part in high school sports yearly. This demonstrates how high school sports is a major part of the school extra curricular activity. In Daniel Gould article "Are High School Sports Good For kids?" he found that students who took part in high school sports got educational benefits and extracurricular activities have positive effects on adolescents .Experts may argue that high school sports allow kids to be physical active, but they must also recognize the clear dangers. Playing high school sports come with serious consequences and life altering changes such as physical injuries, peer pressure and psychology effects.

Studies show that children need at least an hour of physical activity a day, and with athletics they can easily achieve this. Exercising regularly leads to a healthy weight and body mass and has been shown to improve memory retention, result in better moods, less stress, and even increase focus and concentration levels(Aiu In Online Learning). Teens who are involved in sports are less likely to spend time playing video games, watching TV, and other electronics and more time being active (10 reasons). Studies show that students who aren’t involved in extracurricular activities are 49% more likely to use drugs, and 37% more apparent to becoming teen parents, and students who take part in sports are less likely to participate in unsafe and risky activities, leading to a healthier lifestyle. Children’s health would be at a risk if schools all across America were to start cutting sports

If you asked my teachers about extracurriculars, they would say they take students’ time away from homework. If you asked me, I would say they keep students’ motivated in school and spark their interest. Almost anywhere you go, kids involved in sports are referred to as “student athletes.” Being a student should always come first, but athletics holds importance too. For many of us, sports are our whole lives. For me that is definitely true right now. Athletics have played a huge role in helping me develop through my adolescent life, but I am not sure they need to continue to play as large of a role going into my future.

Sports are embedded in many American schools in a way they are not anywhere else. One element of our educational system consistently surprises them, “Sports are a huge deal in American schools,” says Earl Smith of the New York Times. The positives have always outweighed the negatives in the case against high school sports. As Sato Kai state, “The benefits of sports as part of the education process are abundant and sometimes beyond quantifications,” According to many academic specialists, sports offer formative and life long lessons such as: discipline, responsibility, self confidence, and accountability. These skills can furthermore excel your later life and give you a greater chance of being employed in a high level job. Participation in high school sports helps your later development as an adult and teaches you life long skills that can't be taught elsewhere.

Sports programs have been an integral part of all schools. They support the academics of the school and therefore foster success in life. These programs are educational and help produce productive citizenship. They help students experience and build skills that may help them in their future, like interpersonal and time management skills. Education may kindle the light of knowledge, but sports help to maintain the proper physique. Sports are also an important means of entertainment and a use for energy after long hours of study. Sports increase a student’s performance not only in the classroom but also in their life.

It is important for adolescents to participate in extracurricular activities. Student who participate in these activities improve their academic scores and social life. Extracurricular activities can also help reduce many peer pressure related problems. “They enrich the lives of the students, their families and our communities. These activities create well rounded children who learn what their interests and talents are because they have been exposed to such opportunities” (Extracurricular Activities, Blogadmin). For most adolescents extracurricular activities should be required among what they do outside of school.