Balancing School and Sports for the High School Student-Athlete
Monday November 13, 2006
For high school athletes, the period while their sport is in season should be the most enjoyable of the year. It also has a great likelihood of being the busiest. I have played high school sports for two years now, and sports are extremely fun. However, an athlete must understand that the away games and late nights, complete with lots of homework, are inevitable. In order to enjoy a season and to continue to succeed in school, it is crucial for every athlete to learn how to balance school and sports. (Jessica Church/About Volleyball)
Comments
I agree. It is important to know how to balance that, but it is a lot easier said than done. Unless someone is a super-athlete, academics should always take precedence over sports because that is what will truly matter in the long run. But with that logic, wouldn’t you just end up not playing the sport at all if it doesn’t really matter at all? I think there has to be some value to that sport (more than being just ‘fun’) that makes it worthwhile. It has to have some lasting effect on your life. Do you agree?
Jessica’s proposal on how to balance school and sports is very interesting but fundamentally flawed. Her viewpoint presents a common misconception. I do, however, agree with her that playing sports should be enjoyable. But her outlook on school is simply elementary. She, along with many people, has lost sight of the fact that the purpose of school is to learn, not to get good grades or complete “what is assigned.” It’s not about school but about education, about learning. Therefore, someone who merely does “what is assigned” will not go far in this world – a true second-rate scientist in the making. The fact of the matter is that there is no universal way of balancing sports and education. If a person wants to reach his utmost potential in a sport, his efforts should focus on that sport; if a person wants to reach his utmost potential in education or a specific field of education, he should likewise completely focus on that field. A student, who decides not to do a sport but instead decides to focus those two extra hours everyday learning, will certainly come out ahead educationally than an athlete. Overall, balance and time management is difficult but not for the reasons that Jessica presented. She believes that an athlete should do just enough to succeed in the classroom, not what will augment the student athlete’s education overall. I believe that a student should not do the bare minimum in the classroom or on the court. Instead, balance should exist between education and sports based on the overall happiness a student receives and will receive from each respectively.