In my short time writing on TrackMom.com I have notice a common, very good theme, and I am sure many of you have noticed it as well. Our youth athletes are good students and even though they have much more hectic , busy schedules than their peers at school , their grades are rarely suffering from the time they may miss (from additional studying they could be doing) while they are training.
Week after week I have highlighted athletes such as Aaliyah Brown, Patrice Jones, Kaliegh Winner, Jaylen Nailor, Kendall Williams, Hannah Cunliffe, Taiysyn Crutchfield, Adrianna Holloway, Elias Geydon, My own daughter Lauren, Just to name a few. Each of these gifted youth athletes and hundreds more out there have a common high GPA. In many cases 3.85 and above and lots of 4.0′s These youth athletes were chosen to be highlighted because of there outstanding achievments athletically but, could have been chosen just as well for their academic excellence.
What The Experts Say
The authors or the paper ”Does Physical Activity Influence Academic Performance?“ Leslee J. Scheuer, and . Debby Mitchell, Ed.D. state that “there is a positive relationship of physical activity and academic performance that has been explored through several studies” conducted by California Department of Education; Dwyer, Sallis, Blizzard, Lazarus, & Dean (2001); Dwyer et al. (1983); Linder (1999); Linder (2002); Shephard (1997); Tremblay et al. (2000); and others. This studies state overwhelmingly that when school time is dedicated to physical activity these students academic performance meets or exceeds that od the non active student(Shephard, 1997).
These were some of the points were made in the study
- Children that participated in additonal physical activity showed increased brain function
- higher energy/concentration levels
- improved behavior
In Australia, Dwyer et al. (2001) completed a study on 7,961 Australian school children (7-15 year olds) using a questionnaire/fitness test for measurement of physical activity/physical fitness and a 5-point scale to depict academic performance
After analysis of the results, Dwyer concluded that “consistently across age and sex groups, the [academic] ratings were significantly correlated with questionnaire measures of physical activity and with performance on the 1.6 kilometer run, sit-ups, and push-ups challenges, 50-meter sprint, and standing long jump”.
Debby Mitchell, Ed.D. states: “Enhanced brain function, energy levels, body builds/perceptions, self-esteem, and behavior have been attributed to physical activity and to improved academic performance. One cannot make direct correlations from the information offered. However it is obvious that many positive relationships have been suggested. Perhaps instead of decreasing physical activity, school officials should consider developing enhanced physical activity programs”. Read the entire paper synopsis
In the article written by Sci/Tech News Staff, at Softpedia.com
Vigorous Exercise = Better Academics states in part the following:
Until Next Time
Over all the years I have been coaching, the one common thread I have noted with my gymnasts is their success in the classroom. These athletes learn one of the most important life skills – time management – at an early age. Regardless of the athletic success they achieve, they take with them skills that often take their non-athlete peers much longer to accomplish.
Such a good point, time mamagement is a skill we need for the very long haul of life and family life.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lorraine
Neat to see an article about this. I have noticed while reading your write ups on athletes that they do all seem to have the common denominator of good grades and great smarts. I have thought about this in the past and I was thinking too that maybe having a higher level of intelligence somehow helps them run a better race. But like you said what came first….the great grades or the great athletics?
Interesting.
For sure with the right home support and focus these talents on and off the track can really flourish. If it were as easy as just running fast or good grades ,all student athletes would have sucess on both fronts, Humm??
This is a great blog and a great topic. I was reading on this other blog site, http://www.urbanthoughtcollective.com , this morning about how African-Americans play sports to go the pros while white Americans play youth sports to have opportunities to further their education. I think as an African-American athlete myself, that it should be grades first then athletcis. If you are playing sports and get hurt, you have nothing solid to fall back on withut an education. So lets take this approach people.