Athletics vs Acedemics
The struggle between athletics and acedemics has been a long fought battle that ranges
from the elementary school level all the way up to the collegiate level. In many institutions
the emphasis has shifted from acedemics to athletics, but in reality athletics in some aspects
can be just as important as acedemics. The benefits of focusing souly on acedemics for the
most part are obvious, such as a better education usually means a higher paying job and also
the feeling of self-accomplishment for achieving your goals.
Playing sports is an important element in the lives of many American children. “More
than 40 million kids between the ages of and both male and female participate in athletics
in the United States”(Gomez 2011 ). Most kids participate in sports simply to have fun , but
the benifits of such activities go far beyond the love of the game.
The health benefits of sports are numerous, especially for kids. “In 1997 the CDC (Center
for Disease Control) published “The Guidelines for Schools and Communities for Promoting
Lifelong Physical Activity,” where the agency noted that regular physical activity in
childhood and adolesence improves strength and endurance. Sports may also help build
healthy bones and muscles, help control weight, may improve blood pressure and cholesterol
level.
The psycological benefits can also be significant such as improved self-esteem and help
build social and leadership skills. Acedemic benefits can be significant from sports in the
classroom. A 2002 study published in “Sociology of Education” concluded that
participating in athletics helps high school students perform well academically more than any
other extracurricular activity. A study published in “Educational Psychological Review”
stated that systematic exercise programs may acrually...