'How Does Playing A Sport Affect Your Grades?'

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School sports can have both positive and negative effects on academic performance. The “How Does Playing a Sport Affect Your Grades?” written by Crystal Lopez, discusses the benefits of sports such as improving focus, attendance, and motivation. “The Negative Side of a Student-Athlete” written by Mickey Strauss from BYU claims the opposite. He states that athletics have a negative impact on academics because student athletes may base their success and happiness on athletic performance. He claims that sports performance acts as another stressor added to the stress of academic performance. Both articles use rhetorical situations and strategies to make their argument for or against sports. The purpose behind Lopez’s article is to defend school athletics and inform people about the …show more content…

Strauss’ first claim directly counters Lopez’s. He says that being committed to being a good student and getting high enough grades to be eligible to play is stressful, “Students had trouble managing their requirements for academic demands as well as their sport demands” (Strauss 4). It can be extremely difficult for some students to balance everything while still taking care of themselves. “These stressors cause a decrease in energy level and sleep which has an impact on the athlete’s wellbeing resulting in illness and/or injury” (Strauss 4). Strauss argues that participating in sports in college is just more added stress to an already stressful time. Going off the college is full of change and stress. “College is full of changes for all students, academics, social changes, being away from home, finances, etc.” (Strauss 4). Students have to figure out how to cope with all of these big changes while also spending so much time trying to participate in their sport, whether that means going to competitions, training sessions, traveling, or coaches and scouting

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