Many youngsters dream of playing sports and becoming a key part of a winning team. Competing hard and learning to push yourself to achieve success is one of the benefits of playing sports. That experience can carry into the classroom as well, because youngsters who push themselves in sports will push themselves to succeed in other areas of life.
Eligibility
An athlete who plays sports in high school or college must understand that competing on the athletic field is a privilege and not a right. To ensure that the athlete continues to have the privilege of competing, he must maintain a high standard in the classroom. The athlete must pass all his classes to remain as an eligible athlete. Standards that athletes must maintain differ by community and school. In some cases, the athlete must maintain a "B" average or better, while in other locations it merely means not failing. An athlete has to put forth significant effort in the classroom to play sports.
Achievement
Many athletes enjoy sports because it gives them a chance to compete at their highest level. The best athletes don't compete on a once-in-a-while basis; they do it every day, whether it's in practice or a game. Competitiveness becomes a part of athletes' everyday life. They compete and try to do their best in everything they do, and that includes the classroom.
In his book "Life On The Run," former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley detailed his life as a basketball player. Prior to playing with the New York Knicks in the NBA, Bradley was a Princeton University Rhodes Scholar. He said that competition on the court fueled competition in the classroom and pushed him to study harder when others were more involved in recreation.
Brain Protection
Exercise can help the brain function better. According to University of California-Irvine professor Carl Cotman, director of the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, exercise and athletic competition help the brain release growth factors that helps the brain in intellectual pursuits. Cotman says these growth factors help neurons in the brain function better. "They make neurons stronger, healthier and improve their ability to learn," Cotman told LiveScience.
Better Use of Time
Students who participate in athletics must make better use of their time. Instead of playing video games, watching television or talking on the phone, student-athletes have to budget their time and use it wisely. The athlete's mind also stays focused on activities like homework and studying. According to Stewart G. Trost, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences writing for Active Living Research, students who participate in sports are much more likely to perform better in the classroom. One 2006 study found that elementary school students who got breaks for physical activity during classroom time increased their on-task behavior up to 20 percent.
