Middle School Sports

By: Claire Whitby

Bump! Hike!Play ball! Defense!Pass it!

The Positive and Negative Effects of Middle School Sports on Education

History• 1968: only 50% of middle schools

had interscholastic sports

• 1993: only 77%– Only 58% of middle schools had

intramurals

Stats• Study -> 59.5%

white, 43.1% “color” participated in interscholastic sports

• 53-71% of middle and high school students had participated on at least 1 sports team in the past 12 months– Middle school boys

were more likely – 41-61% were engaging

in the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day• 60% of boys met this

goal, 40% girls

All effects, positive and negative, have an effect on a student’s education.

Development• Physical– Overuse injuries– Too hard, too fast. (body burn out)– “No pain, no gain.” -> NO!

• Emotional– Cuts– Peer ridicule for skill or lack there of

• Personal– Combo of everything

Potential Positive Effects• Higher GPA theory?• Increased physical fitness/kinesthetic

value• Self-Esteem boost• Gain friends/team relationships• Decrease in risk behaviors

– school connectedness

Negative Effects• Less homework/study time

– “Estimated 25-30% of high school football and basketball players graduate being functionally illiterate” (McEwin).

– Under-developed academic skills, and career-planning• Health risks• Injuries• “No transportation” embarrassment• “Being cut” embarrassment

– Beyond their control• Comparison to others/feeling inadequate

Dakota’s Interview• No effect on social status• No effect on physical fitness (in middle school)

– Was still ridiculed for chubbiness• Self-esteem was lowered

– Coach told him he had no talent• Gained a couple friendships• Sports left little time for school work/studying

– Grades suffered, never really learned how to study• Sports induced asthma, broken bones,

concussions, tendon tearing• No transportation embarrassment

Here’s Dakota in High School

And In College…

Huffman’s Interview• “Normally, the stars in the classroom are

also the stars on the field/court because they can handle the schoolwork and sports time.”

• At West Wilkes Middle, they use intramurals as a reward system.– Offered for 20 min during the school day– Gets taken away if work is not completed

• They have “cut” teams

Recommendations for Future• More intramurals in schools• No “cut” teams • Multiple teams• Knowledgeable coacheshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=s6uWPCqNDFs• Adequate funds for both interscholastic and intramural• Safety first attitude• Participation, not specialization• Productive parent participation• Encourage academics• Appropriate rule changes

• Ball sizes, length of fields, having coaches in the huddle• Make it fun!!

• Make sure to provide resources– For parents and students

• Advocate for both athletes and non-athletes

• BE A FAN!• Encourage involvement in

other clubs/activities for non-sports-playing students

• Team with parents– potential study times and

homework times– recognize sleep habits– tutoring needed?

Classroom

This We Believe

• Leadership and Organization– “Leaders are committed

to and knowledgeable about this age group, educational research, and best practices.”

• Culture & Community– “inviting, safe, inclusive,

and supportive to all.”– “Health and wellness

supported”

Works CitedCouturier, Lynn E., Steveda Chepko, and Mary Ann Coughlin. "Student Voices-- What Middle and High School

Students Have to Say about Physical Education." Physical Educator 62.4 (2005): 170-77. Academic Search Complete. Web.

Fox, Claudia K., MD, Daheia Barr-Anderson, PhD, MSPH, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD, and Melanie Wall, PhD. "Physical Activity and Sports Team Participation: Associations With Academic Outcomes in Middle School and High School Students." Journal of School Health 80.1 (2010): 31-36. Web.

Harrison, Patricia A., and Gopalakrishnan Narayan. "Differences in Behavior, Psychological Factors, and Environmental Factors Associated with Participation in School Sports and Other Activities in Adolescence." Journal of School Health 73.3 (2003): 113-19. Web.

Kiefer, Sarah M., and Cheryl R. Ellerbrock. "Understanding Middle Grades Students' Perceptions of Their Peer Worlds: Implications for Teaming." Middle School Journal (2010): 48-53. Web.

Ryska, Todd A., and Sarah Vestal. "Effects of Sport Motivation on Academic Strategies and Attitudes Among High School Student-Athletes." North American Journal of Psychology 6.1 (2004): 101-15. Web.

McEwin, Kenneth C., and Thomas S. Dickinson. "Placing Young Adolescents At Risk in Interscholastic Sports Programs." Clearing House 69.4 (n.d.): 217-22. Academic Search Complete. Web.

McEwin, C. K., and John Swaim. "Trends and Issues in Middle-Level Sports." Principal (2009): 51-52. Web.Strahan, David B., Mark L'Esperance, Hoose John Van. "Social, Personal, and Moral Development." Promoting

Harmony: Young Adolescent Development & Classroom Practices. 3rd ed. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association, 2009. 61+. Print.