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Volume 4 Issue 1 2024

https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJCIAM/2024/4.1.192413 Page | 19

The Relationship between School Sports Participation and

Academic Performance: A Comprehensive Review
Udoh Ephraim Jude
Department of Education Kampala International University Uganda
ABSTRACT
This paper delves into the intricate relationship between school sports participation and academic performance
among children and adolescents. It explores three primary types of physical activity in schools: physical education
classes, school sports, and free-time activities. While physical education is typically mandated, school sports
represent a voluntary but popular form of physical activity. The paper investigates existing literature on the
impact of school sports on academic outcomes, considering both biological and social mechanisms. It examines
how sports participation influences cognitive function, brain structure, and academic achievement. Additionally,
the paper explores the development of key skills consistent with educational values, the role of social relations, and
the psychological benefits associated with sports participation. Moreover, it scrutinizes potential drawbacks such
as time allocation and energy devoted to sports at the expense of academic pursuits. The synthesis of findings
reveals a nuanced relationship, emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate causal mechanisms and
inform educational policies promoting holistic development.
Keywords: Sports Participation, Academic Achievement, Cognitive Benefits, Athletic Identity, Competitive Sports

INTRODUCTION
Student participation in physical activity at school school sports may enhance student academic
encompasses three main types: (a) physical education outcomes through social contexts, increased
classes, (b) school sports, and (c) free-time activities engagement with school resources, and alignment
[1]. Physical education is typically the most with school values [3, 4]. Given the popularity of
common form of physical activity in schools, school sports and their significant contribution to
mandated by most school districts. The structure of children's physical activity, additional research is
physical education classes varies widely based on needed to further explore the relationship between
factors like school, teacher, location, and season. school sports and academic performance. Nationally
Typically, students engage in individual or team- representative data indicate that over half of high
based activities and undergo periodic skill tests to school students participate in school sports annually
assess fitness levels. However, questions persist [5, 2]. Overall, there is a pressing need for more
regarding the actual amount of physical activity research to expand upon the established connections
students achieve in these classes. between general physical activity and academic
School sports represent a second type of physical achievement within the context of school sports.
activity that has garnered increased attention from Physical Activity and Academic Performance
researchers. Sports programs in middle and high Physical activity has been shown to have a positive
schools vary widely based on factors such as school impact on academic performance in children and
level, grade, district resources, and student adolescents [6]. A recent systematic review of 12
preferences, encompassing both team-based (e.g., reviews of experimental studies found that while half
soccer, basketball) and individual sports (e.g., tennis, of the studies reported a positive effect of physical
cross country). Unlike physical education, activity on academic performance, the other half
participation in school sports is typically not reported mixed or inconclusive results [6]. One
mandated by schools or districts. Despite the commonly proposed explanation for this positive
potential benefits of school sports on physical association is the enhancement of cognitive function
activity and academic outcomes, research in this area and brain structure and function [7]. [8] conducted
has been limited compared to physical education or a systematic review that supported the beneficial
specialized physical activity interventions [2]. effects of physical activity on cognitive function,
Nonetheless, promising evidence suggests that brain structure, and function in children.

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Additionally, [9] systematically reviewed majority of the reviewed studies reported
experimental medical imaging studies and found statistically significant improvements in academic
that physical activity can lead to improvements in performance among children who engaged in
white matter integrity in the corpus callosum, a additional or enhanced physical activity, such as
brain region crucial for cognitive processing. extended sessions, compared to those who engaged
Physical activity also influences changes in the in no physical activity or typical physical activity
frontal lobe, responsible for executive processes, routines [14]. Additionally, other observational
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cognition, attention, and information processing. analyses consistently demonstrate that increased
These findings suggest that the changes in brain physical activity is directly linked to improvements
structure and improved cognitive function resulting in academic achievement outcomes [15].
from physical activity may contribute to enhanced Sport and Academic Performance
academic performance. Sport is a unique form of physical activity distinct
Sports and Academics: Biological Links from recreation (e.g., going to the gym or dancing),
Academic achievement has long been a focus of active transport (e.g., walking or biking to school or
interest for social workers concerned with child work), and other physical activities (e.g., physically
development, and research consistently indicates active employment or household chores). It involves
that physical activity, regardless of type, can physical exertion, skill, and/or hand-eye
enhance children's academic outcomes. One crucial coordination as the primary focus, with elements of
mechanism underlying the relationship between competition and rules set formally through
physical activity and academics is a direct organizations. Sports can be individual or team-
physiological connection between activity and based and are commonly organized during both
cognition. Evidence from biological and neurological school and leisure time, on weekdays or weekends.
sciences suggests that physical activity activates Apart from the benefits derived from general
cognitive resources and facilitates faster cognitive physical activity, participation in sports offers
processing through stimulus encoding [10]. additional advantages.
Additionally, physical activity can promote cellular Recent experimental studies have revealed that
stability and mitigate the negative effects of stress compared to moderate to vigorous physical activities
on the body, which is particularly significant for with low cognitive engagement, participation in
children as their brains and intellect are still sports offers additional cognitive benefits. These
developing [11]. benefits are likely attributed to the heightened
[12] conducted a meta-analysis encompassing cognitive load associated with engaging in moderate
observational, quasi-experimental, and experimental to vigorous physical activity and skills within the
studies examining exercise interventions and dynamic and ever-changing environment of sports.
participation in physical education to determine Furthermore, the type of sport and skills involved
whether physical activity positively impacts may influence the cognitive advantages observed.
children's cognitive abilities. Analyzing 44 unique Sports can be categorized into open skills
studies and 125 effect sizes, they found a mean effect (performed in dynamic and changing environments
size of .32 (p<.05) for physical activity on cognitive like tennis or basketball) or closed skills (performed
development. However, it's important to note that in predictable and stable environments like
the review did not include any studies specifically swimming or cycling). Open skills, which entail high
focusing on school sports. cognitive demands, provide practice in cognitive
The correlation between physical activity and functions such as visuospatial ability, information-
academic achievement is directly tied to enhanced processing speed, multitasking flexibility, working
cognition, which is reflected in core academic memory, and inhibitory control. Two systematic
abilities and outcomes such as grades and test reviews have indicated that sports involving open
scores. Recent observational studies have provided skills are more effective in enhancing cognitive
robust evidence supporting the link between function compared to those with closed skills [16].
physical activity and academic performance. For Therefore, participation in sports may yield
instance, a multiple regression analysis involving additional cognitive benefits, including improved
4,746 middle and high school students revealed that academic performance, compared to more
increasing physical activity levels from less than 2.5 generalized physical activity [17]. However, the
hours per week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise to evidence specifically examining the association
7.0 hours per week was associated with 5.7%–9.1% between sport participation and academic
improvements in students' grades [13]. Moreover, performance has not yet undergone systematic
[14] conducted a systematic review of 127 positive review or meta-analysis.
associations between school-based physical activity, Literature Review
including school sports, and academic achievement Research on the correlation between extracurricular
across 50 unique studies published until 2008. The participation and subsequent academic achievement

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has concentrated on identifying plausible Development of Key Skills consistent with
explanations within specific contexts, particularly Educational Values
among physically active student populations [18, In the realm of athletics, success is often attributed
19]. Theoretical frameworks have been presented to to traits like self-discipline, concentration,
elucidate different perspectives of this relationship perseverance, determination, and hard work. These
[18]. Previous studies have explored participant qualities, when translated into the academic domain,
characteristics (e.g., gender, race, background, and can serve as indicators of achieving good grades. Page | 21
academic credentials for college entrance) relevant Physically active students who are motivated not
to understanding the academic performance of only in sports but also in academics demonstrate
students involved in sports activities. Additionally, self-confidence, maturity, locus of control, and a
external factors influencing the relationship between strong work ethic. They develop skills consistent
sports participation and academic performance have with educational values, which contribute to
been examined, such as the support system's successful academic outcomes [23, 3].
negative impact on physically active students' Moreover, participating in extracurricular activities
academic performance at university [20]. Research such as sports empowers students to take personal
has considered various types of universities (e.g., initiative. By engaging in activities they genuinely
private versus public) and a wide range of sports, enjoy on a voluntary basis, students are motivated to
including basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, put in effort to overcome challenges they've chosen
hockey, track and field events, and swimming [21]. for themselves. This intrinsic motivation fosters an
Some studies have distinguished between revenue environment conducive to academic success, as
and non-revenue sports activities [22]. students are capable of learning, setting goals, and
Despite the expanding literature, findings remain identifying the factors and resources necessary to
inconclusive. While some researchers assert that achieve their desired outcomes [24].
student engagement in extracurricular activities, Social Relations
such as sports, enhances academic performance, Participating in extracurricular activities like sports
others argue that sports participation negatively can positively influence academic performance by
affects academic achievement or yields null results. fostering the development of various skills,
Discrepancies in research findings can be attributed including non-cognitive abilities, and facilitating
to variations in data gathering methods and strong social connections. Engaging in such
methodologies. Studies utilizing large national activities offers opportunities to build interpersonal
samples differ from those using smaller samples relationships with peers and adults outside the
from specific states or universities, affecting classroom, enhancing social acceptance and reducing
comparability and external validity. Moreover, antisocial behavior [25]. Additionally, participation
differences in qualitative and quantitative in sports promotes the development of skills like
approaches, as well as the extent to which a causal teamwork and self-confidence, reinforcing traits like
argument is pursued, contribute to the self-control and perseverance. It also encourages
inconsistency. Most studies have predominantly interaction with others, providing opportunities to
focused on assessing participation levels and learn from individuals who possess valuable values
examining correlations with other variables, such as and skills relevant to education [26]. In summary,
academic performance, without explicitly exploring sports activities serve as a pathway to college
causation. attachment and a sense of belonging, contributing to
Some researchers have erroneously interpreted the accumulation of social capital [27]. They serve
correlations between sports participation and as platforms for the dissemination of educational
academic performance as indicative of a causal information and resources, encouraging students to
relationship, implying that participation either adhere to norms and positively impacting the overall
enhances or diminishes academic achievement. academic environment.
However, studies merely comparing participants and Need to Achieve a Goal
non-participants fail to establish causal relationships. Engaging in sports not only fosters social
A significant methodological issue in research on relationships but also reinforces the importance of
sports participation involves self-selection bias, goal achievement [28]. Participants learn to
where students autonomously choose to participate perform in front of an audience and navigate
or not. This self-selection introduces the risk that feedback from others, including coping with both
pre-existing differences between groups of students, success and failure. This aspect becomes even more
rather than the influence of participation itself, may significant in team sports, where individuals are
explain observed disparities in academic assigned specific roles and must collaborate ethically
performance between participants and non- with teammates [29, 26].
participants.

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Mental Health Capital qualities among physically active students might
Engaging in sports also offers psychological benefits positively influence academic performance, other
to participants, including increased happiness, stress factors could have a negative impact. For instance,
tolerance, self-perception, concentration, sociability, the time and energy devoted to sports programs
and extroversion, while reducing the likelihood of may result in less time allocated to studying,
experiencing depression and anxiety [30, 31]. potentially compromising academic performance
Consequently, college students involved in sports [32]. Additionally, the significant effort exerted in
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are anticipated to develop skills aligned with sports participation may hinder the development of
educational values, thereby enhancing their necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies in
academic performance. academic areas [23]. If students allocate excessive
Time for Sporting Aspirations hours to sports, they may prioritize these activities
While there are arguments supporting a positive over classroom attendance and academic aspirations
relationship between sports participation and [23]. In essence, sports participation may be
academic performance, it's important to consider perceived as a zero-sum game, where increased focus
counterarguments suggesting that a student's on non-academic pursuits detracts attention from
involvement in sports activities may not always lead academic performance.
to favorable academic outcomes. While certain
CONCLUSION
The relationship between sports participation and social relationships, there are concerns regarding
academic achievement is complex, influenced by time allocation and potential diversion of attention
various factors and mechanisms. While sports offer from academic pursuits. Therefore, while sports
additional cognitive benefits compared to general participation can contribute to holistic development
physical activity, excessive focus on sports may and mental health capital, it's essential to strike a
compromise academic performance, particularly balance between athletic endeavors and academic
among high-level athletes. The demands and goals to optimize overall student success and well-
aspirations associated with competitive sports may being. This nuanced understanding underscores the
detract from academic tasks, leading to negative importance of comprehensive support systems and
consequences in academics. Despite the potential strategic time management strategies to ensure that
positive impact of sports on developing skills students derive maximum benefits from both sports
consistent with educational values and fostering participation and academic pursuits.
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of physical activity and fitness on academic

CITE AS: Udoh Ephraim Jude (2024). The Relationship between School
Sports Participation and Academic Performance: A Comprehensive Review.
NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT ISSUES IN
ARTS AND MANAGEMENT, 4(1): 19-24
https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJCIAM/2024/4.1.192413

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