High school is a time when students juggle a lot of responsibilities. From homework to sports practice to a social life, balancing everything can be even harder for student-athletes who have long, exhausting days filled with practice and classwork. The pressure to perform academically and athletically often leaves no time for rest. Student-athletes should not have to take a gym class if they are playing a sport through the school. Gym class should be replaced with a period of study because of the workload they acquire throughout the school day.
Athlete workloads
Considering the massive amount of work that athletes acquire throughout the school day, a period of study should be granted to them to get some of that work done. If they have a game, they get home late and they are tired. As a result, they are not going to give their full attention to their homework. Student-athletes spend less time studying because they are busy with sports trying to compete at the highest level possible for the team to succeed.
“A period of study would be very beneficial especially given the high workload of many athletes during their sports season, sometimes I catch myself doing homework and studying for long hours into the night because of the times I would get home from my sport events,” says senior Armani Smith.
Athletes put many hours into studying and doing homework after practice or games because they need to balance being an athlete and a student at the same time, and sometimes that is not easy. Others argue that student-athletes act as role models in gym classes, explaining how they serve as role models with their leadership skills, teamwork and work ethic, motivating others to go out of their comfort zone and try something new. Acting as a role model in gym classes also allows athletes to interact with all kinds of people and not just the other players on the team.
“Student-athletes should have a gym class because they are role models to the other kids in the class, while [it is] also a stress reliever and a break between classes throughout the long school day,” said high school gym teacher Mary Drago.
Despite these claims, student-athletes already are asked to do a lot whether that is mentally or physically. While gym class provides a break from schoolwork, it could also increase stress, as that time could be spent working on an assignment that’s due. Student-athletes may worry about not having enough time to complete their work after their sport, especially if practice or games run late. Additionally, they don’t need gym class to serve as role models to others. Just being part of a team is enough for others to look up to them and aspire to be like them.
Safety and Injury Concerns
The risk of getting hurt in gym class may not seem high at first glance, especially since many of the activities are designed to be safe and fun. However, injuries do happen, and for sophomore Logan Reany, this became a reality.
“During gym class last year I dislocated my knee in gym class and knocked me out of sports for a while putting my season in jeopardy, and if I am going to be able to compete during the season,” said sophomore Logan Reany.
Reany plays on the varsity golf team. Even though the chance of injury during gym class is very slim, Reany got the worst of it. This is the last thing you want to see happen to an athlete in gym class, getting hurt and not being able to play the sport that they love. For him and any athlete, missing a game or match is unbearable because of how much they enjoy playing the sport that they love, especially when you put a lot of time and effort into the sport and it all goes to waste because of an injury that could have been avoided.
Student-athletes shouldn’t have to take gym class because their sports schedules already provide enough physical activity. With long practices and games, they often don’t want to spend another 45 minutes in a gym class that may not benefit them. Instead they can use that time to be studying or doing homework, while still staying active playing the sport they love.
