Millions of kids in the United States participate in sports each year. By age 13, up to 70% of them dropped out of organized sports (Ulcek). This is largely due to the pressure being put on youth students in order for them to become the best, in and out of the classroom. Although stress stemming from inside the classroom is talked about often, athletic stress is not. The following information presented will focus on how athletics can both harm and help youth students mentally and physically.

Stress in general can impair a student’s ability to concentrate, cause mood swings, and disrupt their sleep schedule. These mental symptoms often lead to a decline in academic performance and this can then lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and muscle pain. The aforementioned problems are common both inside school and outside of it. Furthermore, stress may prove to be an even bigger obstacle in a student’s life based on their participation in sports. When a student chooses to join a sport, they are risking double the stress – some from academics, some from their sport, and other outside activities that may produce stress/anxiety.

While not always present in an athlete’s life, stress can make participating in a sport miserable. A quote by Amelia Ulcek – who is an expert on the subject – tells it best, “Not only did you have to meet the requirements physically, but you also had to have the same thought process that you’re there not to enjoy it but to improve your skills enough to get into the college you want.” What Ulcek is trying to explain is that athletes must be athletic enough to make a difference while focusing not on having fun but being the best athlete on the team. Furthermore, the older an athlete gets, the more time they must spend perfecting their sport to maintain being the “best.” The expectations of an athlete are near perfect. Most athletes are told to “be the best” rather than just “try your best” and are scrutinized even after a miniscule mistake. Parents/guardians and coaches are also more harsh on their athletes/children than they should be. In an interview with track coach Brian Swenson, he stresses the importance of coaches being a positive influence on their athletes rather than “belittling or putting them down.” Despite the harm sports can cause on some individuals, it can impact others in a beneficial way.

“Sports have been known for their positive impact on child and adolescent mental health” (Kuntz). Rather than sports having a negative effect on the youth, this quote tells how participating in a sport can benefit someone. Kuntz then lists some benefits of sports, which include: better academic performance, a source of exercise, a way to meet new people, and skills that are transferable to all aspects of life – perseverance, problem-solving, and teamwork. Along with physical and social benefits, sports can have mental benefits. “A study examining sports participation found that it can also help protect against depression and suicidal ideation by boosting self-esteem and increasing social support” (Kuntz). The results of this study showed a 25% lower chance of depression and a 12% lower chance of suicidal ideation as sports participation increased. Positive mental results from sports can also stem from sanguine feedback from parents/guardians rather than feedback that is hurtful. This positive feedback will result in an athlete realizing that their mistake isn’t the end of the world and that they can come back from it. Outside of what’s currently happening, sports can “teach kids how to navigate stressful life events and build resilience in the face of defeat.” This quote, said by Simone Biles, explains how sports can teach students lessons that they carry for the rest of their lives. Based on the previously mentioned information, the impact sports can have on someone greatly depends on the type of people they have in their life.

For me, sports resulted in a decline in my mental health but for my friend, Kyera Krayecki, they helped her. She and Biles have both had instances in life where their sport hurt them more than it helped. Unlike some athletes though, they realized the importance of putting their mental health first and took appropriate breaks to improve it. Another important aspect of sports is giving it your all. If you do both – giving it your all and putting your mental health first – sports can become “an escape from life” (Krayecki). “If stress becomes too much, find someone you can talk to” (Krayecki). This applies not only to sports but for everything in life.