The Effect of Athletics on Academics in Secondary Education: How to Best Use Athletics to Help Academics

Abstract

Do athletics help or hinder academic success? Research shows that athletics helps academic success, but how then do athletic programs, specifically athletic directors and coaches, best use athletics to help student-athletes optimally achieve academically and athletically? Using a historical method, I interviewed three athletic directors and three coaches, with various levels of expertise and experience, from local public and private schools of varying sizes. I asked eleven questions, paying particular attention to the methods and requirements they use to promote academic achievement in their respective athletic programs. I typed the responses in summary form to capture the essentials of their answers. The resulting answers allowed me to generalize that athletics indeed have a positive effect on academics, and if academic programs focus on high academic standards and expectations of excellence, work on good communication with all those involved, and be consistent in attitudes and implementation, then they will help their student-athletes optimally achieve academically and athletically.