Option B: School-Sponsored Sport

Damir Collins

Idaho State University

HPSS 2223-01 Foundations of Physical Education & Sport

Dr. Foster

October 7, 2022

Option B: School-Sponsored Sport

The Purpose of Sports in College

According to Educational Based Sport lecture material, the purpose of college sports should be to provide opportunities for student-athletes to develop leadership skills, grow, participate in their communities, and earn a degree.

Are Sports in College Aligned with the Purpose

Sports in college educational settings align with the purpose mentioned above because of many reasons. Firstly, sports help student-athletes to earn a degree through athletic scholarship programs (Kretchmar et al., 2017). The ultimate goal for most student-athletes in college is to receive an athletic scholarship to compete at the college level. Research reveals that a significant number of colleges and Universities in the US give opportunities for talented students to play for college teams as a way of paying for their education (Curington, 2020). Also, sports allow college student-athletes to earn degree by improving their academic performance. Compared to their non-athletic peers, students who participate in sports and other forms of physical activity in college do better academically and are more likely to remain enrolled throughout their academic careers (Caparrota, 2020).

Secondly, sports in college provide student-athletes with an opportunity to engage in their communities because, through sports, colleges get an opportunity to welcome fans, including local residents, as sports spectators. Besides, some colleges invite residents to participate in exercise programs and recreational sports leagues. Through college sports, strangers become neighbors, and friends and communities flourish when students together with residents play, compete, and sweat together.

Furthermore, sports in college allow student-athletes to develop leadership skills by allowing students to acknowledge the need for teamwork, responsibility, and accountability, which are attributes of a leader. Through sports, students are able to work together with their teammates for a greater goal (Kretchmar et al., 2017). College sports also help student-athletes to develop leadership skills by helping them to understand the importance of teamwork in the outside world. While sporting, every team member is responsible for ensuring that their team wins; thus, college sports help students become responsible in their lives. Consequently, this molds them into effective leaders.

Additionally, sports in college align with the above-mentioned purpose of sports in college because it allows student-athletes to grow through promoting healthy living. Participating in sports and other forms of exercise have been shown to enhance a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, and academic performance (Kretchmar et al., 2017). Besides, sports participation helps reduce the risk of developing mental health problems and enhances cognitive performance in students. According to Educational Based Sport lecture material, one of the benefits that college student-athletes enjoy is healthy living. Also, research reveals that many colleges acknowledge that sports help improve students’ performance by boosting their self-esteem and reducing anxiety and depression (Kretchmar et al., 2017).

The Future of School-Sponsored Sports

Future sports will look quite different from their historical precedents. It will have a stronger scientific foundation and be more open to all perspectives. This will not diminish the team sports program that has extended distinguished independent schools. They will maintain their position of power indefinitely. It is possible; however, that real support may go further, reflecting some deeper philosophical foundation for the massive budgets devoted to sports. An institution that was serious about preparing its students for a lifetime of physical activity would not be interested in keeping alive a program from the 19th century (Shand, 2018). In the future, virtual reality (VR) goggles will become standard equipment for e-athletes, and today’s online activities will evolve into actual sports. With the incorporation of technology into sports, a need for the next generation, kids are more likely to become involved in sports again.

References

Caparrota, M. (2020). Why Sport And Exercise Are So Important For College And University Students. The Sport Review. Retrieved 7 October 2022, from https://www.thesportreview.com/health-and-fitness/sport-exercise-college-university-students/.

Curington, R. J. (2020). The Importance of NCAA Student-Athletes’ Financial Literacy and Mental Health in Anticipation of the Historic Fair Pay to Play Act. DePaul J. Sports L., 16, i.

Educational Based Sport Lecture Material. https://elearn.isu.edu/moodle/pluginfile.php/4555016/mod_resource/content/1/HPSS%202223%20Educational%20based%20sport.pdfKretchmar, R. S., Dyreson, M., Llewellyn, M. P., & Gleaves, J. (2017). History and philosophy of sport and physical activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.  

Shand, T. (2018). The future of the sport – Independent Education Today. Independent Education Today. Retrieved 7 October 2022, from https://ie-today.co.uk/sports-leisure/the-future-of-sport/.