It is known that participating in sports can provide many benefits to the participant whether it is learning how to work with others or how to persevere against struggles. However, there is research that also states that participating in athletics may have negative consequences as well. One of these studies is “Alcohol Use, Sexual Activity, and Perceived Risk in High School Athletes and Non – Athletes” by Reagan Wetherill and Kim Fromme. Their article was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2007. The study examined whether there is a relationship between risky behavior, such as alcohol use, and athletic participation among high school students. Perceived risk was also studied to see if it is a mediator between the variables of dangerous behavior and sports participation. This non-experimental study used 2,138 completed surveys from recently graduated high school students who would be attending college (Wetherill & Fromme, 2007). After analyzing the data with techniques such as generalized linear modeling, the results showed that student athletes do report having greater alcohol consumption, greater number of sexual partners, and lower perceived risk as compared to non-athletes. The study was able to conclude that perceived risk is a mediator or exogenous variable between sports participation and alcohol use for both senior high school males and females.
There are limitations to the study that must be addressed. The information gathered for this study was self – reported. Therefore, students were able to subjectively identify themselves as athletes. Also, the survey only pertained to the last three months of high school. During this period, students may have been in the off season of their sport or in seaso...
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...k factor. The longitudinal study could also be continued into the student’s college career to determine whether or not sports participation in high school has an effect on the student’s behavior and risk perception in college. Future studies could further examine the relationship between perceived risk and specific sport participation, such as football, basketball, or baseball. Focus could also be drawn towards determining what specific factors play a role in influencing a student’s perceived risk such as special treatment by community or success in one’s sport. With news stories of not only student athletes being involved in behavioral risks but also professional athletes, future studies may shift towards professional sports as well. Future research is needed to not only design better prevention programs for students, but also for professional athletes as well.
Taylor, Hopkins. Substance abuse issues to Offending Athletes. Miami: Beachwood Press, pages 35-37. 2009. Print.
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
Marcovitz, Hal. How Serious a Problem Is Drug Use in Sports? San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2013. Print.
Athletics in American schools have always been controversial for many reasons. Some of these reasons include health concerns, safety precautions, and academic significance. Daniel H. Bowen and Colin Hitt wrote an article titled, “High-School Sports Aren’t Killing Academics” to present the factors of positive correlation between success in athletics and academics. I believe that athletics in high schools not only benefit students socially, but also academically.
“The Effects of Sport Participation on Student-Athletes’ and Non-Athlete Students’ Social Life and Identity.” Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics. College Sport Research Institute. 2010, 3, 176-193. Cosh, Suzanne. Tully, Phillip.
Student athletes live very busy lives. A typical school day runs from 8:00-2:30, add in a two- hour practice or game, score a part time job, dive into some family time, a grand slam of homework and catch a little bit of sleep. Students are more stressed due to the many activities they are a part of. This issue affects a lot of people not only in this school district, but most other high schools throughout the country. All student athletes exercise more than other children who are not involved in an extracurricular sport. In school athletics, the players are called “student athletes” meaning that school activities come first. There are strict rules for student athletes, not only on the field but in the classroom as well. In physical education
Vickers, E. (2014, February 11). Mental Health in the Student-Athlete. - The Sport In Mind – Sport Psychology. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.thesportinmind.com/articles/mental-health-in-the-student-athlete/
Sports can help many at- risk youths. In order to participate in sports you need to be committed and willing to work hard. You also have to learn to respect others and accept that winning isn’t the only measure of success. Losing can build character as well. When youth participate in a sports they enjoy, they are less likely to engage in behaviors that are harmful or dangerous to themselves and others. It is for these reasons schools should strive to maintain athletic programs for their students.
According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent who begin playing a sport quit before they turn 13” (Binns). The children could have quit because they did not like the disappointment of losing, or because they are exhausted from their parents pushing them too hard. But parents have their reasons for pushing their children into sports. “Studies show that kids who play sports are less likely to become obese, abuse drugs or alcohol or to perform poorly in school” (McCormick). If children are not active, then they will most likely become overweight, and if they have nothing to do in their pastime, they may turn to drugs and alcohol, which usually leads to a decrease of grades in school. A parent putting his/her child in sports gives the child something to do and keeps them fit. Parents also put their child in a sport hoping that he/she will get success out of it “Eager to nurture the next A-Rod or Michelle Kwan, parents enroll their 5- or 6-year-olds in a competitive sports league or program” (Stenson). While not all parents are pushing for future Olympians, the fight for a sports college scholarship is competitive and parents may feel that their child will have a better chance of gaining one if he/she starts competitive sports early. Parents push their children to succeed, and children--not wanting to disappoint their parents--push themselves, sometimes harder than they should. If done right, pushing a child into sports can have a positive effect on the child’s interaction with other children while teaching them commitment and healthy competition. However, focusing on winning and earning a scholarship versus having fun may backfire, because the cons...
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it” said John Wooden, Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach. Sports have become very popular over past years and it seems like nobody really joins the sport knowing the true benefits coming from these sports. After all, most people do watch sports on tv more than reality shows or movies. Many teens join sports in their high school years, and most don’t know that these sports are the things keeping teens out of conflicts. A new disagreement has arisen over whether or not sports can keep teens out of trouble. Participating in sports keeps teens out of trouble because it prevents depression and stress, creates a community, and averts boredom.
Coalter et al. (1994) illustrated that those who stayed in education after the minimal school leaving age had higher rates of sports participation than the school leavers. This statement inspired the author of this review to research, and essentially ascertain what implications and constraints occur in an adolescent and adult environment when considering participating in sport.
It has been known a proven fact that participation in high school sports encourages better moods, self-esteem, and a higher level of academic achievement. This has been proven through various studies, one of them being a study done in New York. In 2006, the Carnegie Corporation of New York discovered that students benefited from participating in high school sports. An improvement in grades, confidence, and personal health and welfare were appreciably noted in ...
The major issues associated with drug use and abuse in professional sports. The reason why athletes may take drugs and means of primary prevention is addressed. The belief that athletes take drugs because they have not developed effective intra- and interpersonal skills to cope constructively with the pressures exerted by management, media, and fans. A broad-based program of primary prevention is offered that attempts to circumvent the most significant causes of drug abuse. Drug education that provide honest, straightforward information about the benefits and detriments of various drugs. Drug use is not believed to be controlled by purely rational decision-making, emotional education modeled after the scared straight programs with juvenile delinquents would be used to reach young athletes at the gut level. The general life skills would be taught as a means of providing the athletes with ways of constructively handling the pressure. A supportive environment would help develop and assist the athletes in coping with their lifestyle and the associated difficulties.
First, playing sports teaches students many valuable life lessons such as responsibility and a hard work ethic. Responsibility is a very crucial in life, and people use it everyday Responsibility ties into a student’s academics because a student needs to have responsibility to do well in school. According to Dr. David Geier, playing sports can actually increase success in the classroom. Numerous tests prove that athletes have higher GPA’s, higher standardized test scores, better attendance, fewer dropouts, and a better chance of going to college (Geier, D. 2012). Owning up to a mistake also falls into the category of making a mistake. When a student fails while playing a sport, he learns to face the fear of admitting he made an error. The second valuable life lesson playing sports teaches is a hard work ethic. “Sports are one of the best places for kids to learn the importance of practice and determination,” says Grown and Flown. Teammates depend on each other for participation and performance so without everyone working hard, the team will reach their maximum potential (Grown and Flown). A hard work ethic ties into everyday life because without out, a student would never accomplish anything.
At some point students has had trouble either at home or at school and need to release stress or tension. Some of these times the teens choose to do activities that are wrong. Youth want to feel comfort and accepted, therefore they sometimes will do events that are not well for their body just to fit in with a group. There is evidence that proves sports can reduce the likeliness of teens committing crimes, or getting into trouble. Tees look at the negative substances such as drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, and think that they can do whatever they want. Many teens look at these activities and think they are “exciting” or “cool” and want to try them, but if they are busy with sports they most likely will not be as easily influenced. Participation in sports helps keep teens out of trouble by taking up their free time which could be used for mischief, gives them an opportunity to meet new friends for positive role models, provides teens an outlet to develop a higher self-esteem, and also enables student to set goals for on and off the field.