You are on the bus home from your soccer game when you realize you have not eaten dinner and need to complete three assignments; the time is already 10 p.m. This is a relatable experience shared by many student athletes. However, with proper preparation, it does not have to be the case. As with many things, there are various positives and negatives to the athletic-academic experience.
For starters, seventh grade is a big year for middle schoolers. Not only is it the year between arriving at a new school and leaving it the next year, seventh grade is the year students can try out for their school’s sports teams. Some athletes may already have experience with playing on a travel or town team; however, this level of athletics introduces new conflicts between balancing schoolwork and after-school sports. By freshman year, students will have experienced managing busy schedules for two years, but the level of schoolwork in high school is much greater than in middle school, and the sports schedules are often more demanding. Nevertheless, ninth graders make it work. Freshman Alison O’Hara, who is on varsity swim and junior varsity lacrosse, explained, “Before school started, I was nervous I would be late to classes, and I was stressed, [but] I have been able to manage all my schoolwork while also going to swim practice daily.” As a current sophomore, I can agree that this transition was stressful, but it lays the groundwork in building good habits and has aided me in multitasking and balance. The transition from middle school to high school can be enough pressure and change for some without the added stressors of sports, hence why athletics freshman year may not be the choice for everyone.
As a result of having such hectic schedules, procrastination is a battle many student athletes fight daily. Despite this, according to an article from St. Agnes Academy, studies show that “participating in high school sports can offer students […,] time management skills, organizational skills, and communication skills…” When students have sports, they may be forced to get their work finished earlier as they may have games/meets that run late. It does not take long for students to learn homework strategies that work for them, as many athletes have experienced finishing homework late at night due to sports dominating their afternoons. Senior Tyler Paige, who is on varsity cross country, winter track, and spring track, shared his methods for staying on track: “As someone who plays sports all three seasons, I have certainly had my fair share of late practices and meets that forced me to find ways to get all my homework and projects done. One thing I really like to do is make a list of everything I have for the week every Sunday night […] I’ll often organize everything by class and take it one at a time, taking 20-30 minutes in between until I get everything done.” Having good organization and preparation techniques is crucial to maintaining a good sport-education balance. While this may be something that deflects students from playing a high school sport, it has helped me learn how to manage my time more efficiently.
Furthermore, sports are also a great way to release energy. After sitting for five-plus hours in a classroom, those who go home right away to do more work may have a hard time. While sitting in class, I always dream about going to my sport’s practice and getting to move. Having school sports in between is a good break from the static motion of the day, and this transitions into good kinetic movement for the body and new stimulus for the brain. Assignments can be heavy and are an added stressor for many, yet sophomore Kennett Curtis, who plays JV volleyball, kickline, and lacrosse, explained, “Sports have been a helpful way to reduce stress because it is something I look forward to during the day.”
Academically, all three interviewees agreed that their academics have been positively impacted by sports. Paige said, “Being a student-athlete has helped me [learn] a lot of valuable skills that translate outside of school.” O’Hara added, “I like to be on top of my schoolwork and always have to get things done [earlier] than the due date.” Curtis explained, “I think playing sports has improved my academic performance.”
Ultimately, although sometimes the struggle of getting work done on time may be difficult, athletics often have a positive impact on a student’s overall educational experience.
