Education

Playing the game: sports as a force for promoting improved academic performance for urban youth.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Using qualitative research methods involving observations and interviews with four students, their families and friends, this paper examines six ways that student involvement in sports promoted student success: structuring schedules, creating incentives, building confidence, developing positive adult and peer role models, and its role in getting students to develop future aspirations. It then turns to consider how students use their involvement with sports to negotiate the challenges they faced in adopting a successful student identity. Participation in school sports became a powerful justification for successful school performance for the participating students in this study. Finally, this paper ends with several policy implications for considering sports programming in urban schools.

Publication Title

Journal of cultural diversity

Publication Date

12-2010

Volume

17

Issue

4

First Page

127

Last Page

135

ISSN

1071-5568

Keywords

case reports, urban population, students, sports, student involvement, student success, school sports, school performance

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS