The Link Between Student Athletes and Their Grades By Michele Picozzi

While there is no comprehensive data to compare student athletes’ grades to those of their non-athlete peers, it is clear that the difference really comes down to personal drive, determination, and ability to organize and balance. If the student doesn’t balance their schedule and make enough time for school, then they are most likely in a bad place.

Recent studies have shown an increase of student athletes slacking off or failing in their classes. Kids are sleeping, dozing off or just not caring about their classes and schoolwork. These studies have shown that this is because of their tough schedules involving sports, family and school all combined together. Students may not be getting enough rest or down time for themselves because they have games, practices and homework. The main reasons the students are tired and are slacking off is because they are having trouble balancing their schedule and they are more focused on sports than anything else. Most studies show that the more exercise one gets, the higher one’s mental performance. Although it is much more complicated when it comes to college students who are also serious athletes. These high-level athletes struggle to stay in shape, attend practices, travel to games away from home, and still fulfill all the requirements of other college students.

Brandon Paglia, a sophomore at Coventry High School stated that his schedule is one of the most difficult things he has faced. He said that having sports right after school and then going home and having a huge stack of homework makes it extremely hard for him to get to bed early.  One possible problem that was studied is that student athletes don’t think their teammates take academics as seriously as they do. When they see some teammates slacking off it makes them slack off and start to not care as much anymore. The hardest thing kids have trouble with is staying awake. Kids are up all night studying and finishing homework, but the next day they are falling asleep and not paying attention to what they should be learning. “Student athletes need to develop a time management skill and stay organized,” said Jonathan Bartlett, a teacher and coach at Coventry High School.

Grades and GPA averages are not always the only measure of academic success. Many student athletes work hard to find a balance between their responsibilities. While some students may not have personal responsibilities, athletics, or the need to earn a living outside their studies, and post straight A’s, other students may have any or all of these other responsibilities and yet manage to post 3.9 GPAs throughout college. With all those responsibilities outside the classroom, no one could deny that 3.9 to be an impressive achievement. In short, while there is no comprehensive data to compare student athletes’ grades to those of their non-athlete peers, it is clear that the difference really comes down to personal drive, determination, and ability to organize and balance. If the student doesn’t balance their schedule and make enough time for school, then they are most likely in a bad place.

Brandon Parton of Coventry High School stated that even though sports is a huge commitment to him, he will always have academics come first. This is a good strategy because academics is going to help you more in the long run. Many kids have a poor strategy and this is why it hurts them. They need to balance their schedules so they have time for sports and school equally. Jake Martin, a student athlete at Coventry High School, said that he keeps up to speed with school mostly by using study hall or his free time in school to finish homework. If he needs to study he will do it after practice but he won’t need to start or finish any homework because he did it in his free time. Playing sports while in high school is great but if you can’t keep your grades up because of those sports then it’s not worth it. Kyle Froberg, a soccer coach at URI said that the most important thing about playing sports in high school or college is school. Everything comes after school and maintaining good grades is extremely important in succeeding in the future.

Student athletes have been slacking off in class due to being busy and tired and worn out from sports the night before or the day of.  An important thing for them to do is to maintain a balanced schedule that makes it possible for them to enjoy some free time while playing sports, spending time with family and keeping their grades up. If you are having trouble in school and don’t have time to stay after or get extra help because of a sport, then you need to learn that school comes first and you should stay after and miss sports because of school. In the long run school, will help you more.  Keeping your grades up and graduating high school and college is more important than your sports team.