School sports are often seen as a way for students to stay active and have fun, but their influence stretches far beyond the field or court. For many student-athletes, participating in sports teaches valuable skills like time management, discipline, and teamwork. All of which can directly boost their academic performance. However, balancing practices, games, and schoolwork can also create challenges that not every student finds easy to overcome. As more schools emphasize the importance of athletics, it’s important to ask: do sports really help students succeed in the classroom, or do they sometimes stand in the way of academic goals?
Today we went around Doherty and asked students about five different questions, how do you balance your schoolwork with practices and games? Has playing sports made you better at managing your time? Have you ever struggled to keep up with school because of sports, how do you handle it? Do you think your grades are better, worse, or about the same during your sports season?`
High school student-athletes face a unique challenge balancing the intense demands of academics with the equally demanding schedules of practices, games, and travel. While this juggling act can be stressful, many student-athletes say that participating in sports actually helps them become more responsible and efficient in their academic lives.
One of the biggest factors in academic success for athletes is learning how to manage time effectively. Syron Odie, a student-athlete, explained that playing sports has helped him avoid procrastination. “I just manage my time wisely,” he said. “It forces me to take responsibility and not procrastinate.” For many students, having a structured routine is key to keeping up with both academics and athletics.
Soren Olsen agrees that sports create a healthy structure. “It’s definitely helped me to have more of a defined schedule,” he said. “Like this is sports time, then after is family time, then homework time.” With limited free hours, student-athletes often find themselves planning ahead to make sure assignments are completed on time.
Different students take different approaches to balancing their responsibilities. Kameryn Baggett keeps it simple by doing her homework before practices or games. Olivia Applebee, on the other hand, tackles her schoolwork after she’s finished with her sports commitments. Charizma McCall uses her school day to stay on top of things, “I try to do all my school during school and then on all my free time try and finish it,” she said.
Even with good planning, the balance isn’t always easy. Some students admit to struggling when their schedules get too packed. “Sometimes it gets a little rough,” Soren said, “but I just stay up a little later or get stuff done over the weekends.” Charizma added that she occasionally falls behind, but makes up for it by communicating with her teachers and staying focused.
For students who travel for sports, the challenge can be even greater. Amelia Ebright, who often competes out of state, sometimes finds herself slipping academically. “Sometimes grades tend to fall a little worse,” she admitted, “but that’s because I often put sports over my academics.” However, she works hard to catch up. “I would go to tutoring or Saturday school and get help from the teachers.”
Despite these challenges, most student-athletes feel that their academic performance is not negatively impacted by sports—in fact, many say it improves. “Honestly, better,” Syron said when asked if his grades are higher during sports season. Kameryn and Olivia agreed that they tend to perform better academically when they’re also in season.
Overall, participating in sports appears to have a positive effect on many students’ academic success. Not only does it encourage discipline and time management, but it also fosters communication skills and responsibility. While it’s not always easy, the lessons learned on the field often carry over into the classroom, helping student-athletes succeed in both areas of their lives.
