Academic Achievement and High School Football Participation: Grade Point Average Comparison In-Season Versus Off-Season

Abstract

This study examined differences in mean GPA of high school football players relative to being in-season or off-season. Study results indicated no significant difference between means for football player GPA's (n=33), in-season versus off-season (two-tailed test; pc.05). The 0.98 correlation (r) between off-season and in-season GPA's indicated the participant's achieved equally well in-season and off-season. Statistically the present findings did not support previous research for athletes performing at higher GPA levels in-season (Silliker and Quirk, 1997) or when compared to the remaining student body population (Whitley, 1999). However, neither did the present study add to evidence of negative impact on academic performance as indicated by other research on revenue sport athletes (Maloney et al., 1993).