Athletics have always been an integral part of the secondary school experience. Over the last decades, high schools have added new sports, like lacrosse, and vastly increased others. In some cases, both parents and students make important decisions about where to attend solely on the basis of athletic considerations. To what extent have sports lost the balance between academics and athletic prowess? How does an athletic program impact the so-called “other wing” of the campus?
The Downside of Large Athletic Programs
As Athletic Directors add more non-conference games, participating students often find themselves unable to adequately fulfill academic course requirements. It is not uncommon for coaches to counsel key athletes to drop elective classes, even if those classes may significantly affect the college application process.
Many school teams must travel great distances for their competitions, resulting in students getting home at very late hours, yet they are still required to complete homework or other academically-related assignments. The notion that students can complete such work while on a long bus ride is hollow: few students have the self-discipline to devote quality time to studies amidst lively team members.
Relentless practices that usually begin with the final school bell prohibit students from seeking after school academic help or clarification. Even if coaches acquiesce, the athletes are typically “benched” or forced to run punishment laps. Sports are a serious high school business that frequently includes weekend practices or invitational competitions.
The Risk of Injury
Expanded practices (including summer camps) and greater rigor have proven to increase the risk of student injuries. According to the CDC, the High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study (monitoring the 2005-2006 school year) confirmed the negatives trends. The CDC reports that, “High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations annually.”
The highest percentage of injuries were found in high school boys football and wrestling. In a June 1997 report issued by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, of 458 male wrestlers tracked in 14 high schools, there were 219 injuries in 418 wrestlers. The “overall injury incidence” was 52 injuries per 100 wrestlers. Interestingly, “hard wrestling during practice and the takedown position resulted in the highest occurrence of injury.” A final result of the study disclosed that “the older and more experienced wrestler may be at greater risk of injury.”
A study completed by Children’s Hospital in Boston on children aged five to fourteen disclosed that “sports…contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American students and adolescents.” The Boston study, it should be noted, looked at many factors including non-school recreational activities such as snowboarding and skateboarding.
Finding the Appropriate Balance
The educational process has always included athletics and such competition was encouraged as part of a total package of broad learning and experience. Every ancient culture that valued education, such as the Greeks, for example, prized athleticism as a vital part of social expectations.
School sports today can be the ticket to tuition-free college, or at the very least, a more affordable financial aid package. But the percentages of students benefiting from this are usually very low. Sports also add prestige to a school, instilling a sense of pride and building positive school spirit. Clearly, there is a role for athletics.
That role, however, must be tempered as a partnership within the overall task of academic standards and expectations. Too many late nights at distant fields may negatively affect academic performance levels. Inordinate practice sessions may needlessly impact student studies as well as the ability to facilitate and participate in other activities such as student clubs or community service projects. Administrators and parents need to work with coaches to establish this equilibrium.
