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An Analysis of Youth Participation in Athletics

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)

Keywords

School sports--Social aspects; Sports for children--Psychological aspects; Sports for children--Social aspects;

Abstract

This study is an exploration of the differences between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not. Specifically, the study examined how youth academic performance, behavior referrals, whether or not they participated in the free or reduced lunch program, and such variables as grade level, age, gender, and ethnicity influences athletic participation.

To determine the differences and relationships of youth that participate in school athletics and those who do not participate, an existing dataset of 4,078 students from a mid-sized Midwestern school district was provided from a local nonprofit organization.

The study found that there was a significant difference between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not based on academic performance (GPA), behavior referrals, age and grade level. The study found that there was a significant relationship between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not based on participation in the school’s free or reduced lunch program and ethnicity. There was no significant relationship between youth who participated in school athletics and those who did not based on gender.

The results suggest that that youth should be actively involved with school athletics because the findings have demonstrated to have a significant impact on the study participant’s GPA and behavior. A reason that this may occur is athletes may be held to a higher standard by their coaches. If they do not achieve a certain grade or they are misbehaving, they may not be able to participate in athletics.

Start Date

4-4-2017 1:00 PM

End Date

4-4-2017 4:30 PM

Faculty Advisor

Julianne Gassman

Department

School of Kinesiology, Allied Health, and Human Services

Department

Division of Leisure, Youth, and Human Services

Comments

Location: Maucker Union Elm Room

Embargo Date

4-4-2017

Electronic copy is not available through UNI ScholarWorks.

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Apr 4th, 1:00 PM Apr 4th, 4:30 PM

An Analysis of Youth Participation in Athletics

This study is an exploration of the differences between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not. Specifically, the study examined how youth academic performance, behavior referrals, whether or not they participated in the free or reduced lunch program, and such variables as grade level, age, gender, and ethnicity influences athletic participation.

To determine the differences and relationships of youth that participate in school athletics and those who do not participate, an existing dataset of 4,078 students from a mid-sized Midwestern school district was provided from a local nonprofit organization.

The study found that there was a significant difference between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not based on academic performance (GPA), behavior referrals, age and grade level. The study found that there was a significant relationship between youth who participate in school athletics and those who do not based on participation in the school’s free or reduced lunch program and ethnicity. There was no significant relationship between youth who participated in school athletics and those who did not based on gender.

The results suggest that that youth should be actively involved with school athletics because the findings have demonstrated to have a significant impact on the study participant’s GPA and behavior. A reason that this may occur is athletes may be held to a higher standard by their coaches. If they do not achieve a certain grade or they are misbehaving, they may not be able to participate in athletics.