Effects of School Sports Participation on the Development of High School Students

This action research project examined the effects of school sport participation on the academic achievement and perceived life satisfaction of students at a public high school in rural southwest Minnesota. The grade point averages of all 823 students were analyzed for the academic achievement measurement while 86 students were surveyed using the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) and the Student Demographic and Activity Participation Survey. Analysis of the data consisted of means and standard deviations to compare the grade point averages and survey results of the student-athlete and non-athlete student groups and independent-samples t tests to determine if the results were statistically significant. The findings of the study revealed that high school sport participation appears to be positively linked to higher academic achievement. However, the findings of the study do not support the idea that school sport participation is associated with higher levels of perceived life satisfaction. Results of this study will provide valuable information to school administrators and policy makers in helping to understand the value of high school athletics programs.