<p> The majority of American high school students compete in school sponsored athletics (NCES, 2017; NFSH, 2017). Therefore, it is important for students, parents, educators and other pediatric professionals to be aware of the benefits and costs of participation. High schools and their associations are also often put in a position of determining what, if any, academic requirements should exist for athletic eligibility. This paper provides a thorough literature review of more than sixty references related to the benefits, costs, eligibility standards and legal issues associated with high school athletic participation. In addition, to gather and analyze input directly from the classrooms and playing fields, a novel survey on the topic was conducted with more than 130 high school employees at various high schools in Northern California, including teachers, coaches, athletic directors, administrators, psychologists, counselors and other staff. Findings from the literature and survey overwhelmingly support the immediate and long-term academic, occupational, social-emotional and health benefits of high school sports. More controversial, however, is suspending athletic participation for students who do not meet academic requirements. The author explores this issue taking into account the proven benefits of high school sports, procedural and legal concerns, and best practices for students. In particular, the effects are considered by gender, race, English-language status, socio-economic status and students with disabilities. Conclusions and recommendations are provided to assist stakeholders in understanding the role of high school athletics and developing fair and appropriate procedures and interventions for supporting all student-athletes. </p><p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10816019 |
| Date | 22 May 2018 |
| Creators | Slone, Michael J. |
| Publisher | Alliant International University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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