Effects of Athletic Participation on Children and Adolescents

Abstract

There is a problem in education today and it has to do with athletic programs. In many schools sports programs are being cut, and of the schools that do offer sports, the costs associated with joining is more than many parents can afford. Studies show a positive con-elation between athletic participation and student academic achievement, and psychological and social aspects of students’ lives. In this study I use a philosophical approach along with statistical data to show some of the positive links associated with sports participation. The results show that while, not large, there is a positive correlation between the two. These results, which are based on research in the literature review, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory, along with supporting evidence from other experts in the field, also show that the positives of sports far outweigh the negatives. I conclude my research by reminding the reader that students can enjoy more success in many aspects of their lives if they are allowed access to sports in school.